30 April 2020

Benefits of…sports

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There really is an activity out there for everyone. For some of us, a gentle introduction to walking is the perfect place to start. For others, activities we can do on our own in the home are the ideal way to start moving more in our everyday life. There are some though, who might benefit from the cut and thrust of sport to help them start leading a more active lifestyle. If you’re struggling for motivation, read on to find some of the benefits of taking up a sport – and remember its never too late to find the perfect sport for you!

Camaraderie of a team

Sport is not just about being more active – it is a fundamentally social activity. Whether you’re part of a club, an informal gathering that gets together once a week, or perhaps your sport is a one-on-one activity like golf or badminton, sport is a really fantastic way to enhance your social life, and strong friendships can grow out of a shared sporting experience.

A sense of accountability

If you’ve made a commitment to your teammates, or you’ve told the organiser of the match that you’re going to be there, it makes it much harder to back out! Simply knowing there is a group of people relying on each other to keep an activity going provides a strong incentive to keep turning up and staying active.

A release from everyday stress

Once you lace up your trainers, cross that line or get out on the court, sport is an ideal way to shift your focus off your everyday routine and onto something else for a while. If the idea of doing an activity by yourself bores you, or you struggle to switch off, that isn’t something you need to worry about with sport. Sport demands your full attention for the duration of the match or the event, and can provide a welcome distraction from the stresses and strains of everyday life.

For those with a competitive edge

Taking up a sport can be a big help if you struggle for motivation when it comes to being more active. Some people are naturally competitive, and keeping score can provide that extra incentive to push yourself that little bit further. It doesn’t need to be about winning medals or breaking records, sometimes just scoring the winner in that weekly five-a-side football kickabout is enough to keep you coming back for more.

Variety is the spice of life

While some activities benefit your health, or certain parts of your body, in very specific ways, many sports provide a real variety of physical benefits. Netball, for example, is a brilliant way to improve your strength and balance, as well as providing a great workout for your heart and lungs, while the focus and hand-eye coordination required in sports like table tennis has been shown to improve cognitive function, which could help to fight against conditions such as dementia.

There are hundreds of sports clubs and leisure providers running sports sessions across the county, for people of all ages and experience levels. Click the link below to head to our activity finder and search for sports opportunities near you.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE ACTIVITY FINDER