Getting Started in Sports

[awu]

I want to pick up some kind of sport in addition to working out and swimming by myself. While exercising solo has its benefits, it's not the same as playing some kind of sport with at least one other person, which brings a sense of healthy competition, excitement, friendship and great conversation.

Team sports are a possibility, but I suspect that, like many people on this board, I am not particularly athletic, having never been in any kind of team sport from a young age.

In the past, I have played squash (which was great, but the issue now is finding a partner) and inner-tube water polo (also really fun, but intramural sign-ups are closed for the semester; I'm a college student).

To my frustration, I don't know many people who'd like to just play capture-the-flag or something of that sort. Steve Pavlina mentions frisbee golf once in a while on his blog.

If anyone has ideas on what I, or anyone else on this board can do to get at least one sporting activity going, please share your ideas.

[Hsiang-Lin]

Tennis is a great one. Great for making friends and also exercise.

I'd say you can make swimming a social event too. Invite your friends and you can show off your swimming skillz

Try clubs, recruiting your friends, or...haha I don't have anything else off the top of my head.

[micth]

Try soccer... it's really easy, you can play it with any number of people, and everyone knows how to play

[David Hausladen]

I bought a couple of wooden swords (bokken) off Amazon and occasionally spar with one of my brothers. It's a great workout and a lot of fun, especially for people like me who love movie swordfights.

A couple warnings regarding the above, though: Both combatants have to have some self-control. If you get angry and go crazy with wooden swords, or if you just swing with all your strength, you will at best break a sword and at worst seriously hurt someone. For the same reason, you should never aim for the head, and if a sword breaks you should stop fighting immediately (as the splintered broken part is sharp and therefore dangerous).

[Lotus]

Martial arts are great for body and mind.

[RT Wolf]

Bike Trials.

Trials-Online.com : Your source for trials mountain biking info has more info.

Here's a video:

Toronto Trials 2 - Google Video

[Milo Riano]

How about if you start with your circle of friends, colleague network, or any group close to you on a day to day schedule. See what their gig is and joining them would be more fun than a wanderer looking for sports mates. Who knows you might end up liking the sport.

[sk8joyful]

Originally Posted by awu

I want to pick up some kind of sport
in addition to working out and swimming by myself. While exercising solo has its benefits, it's not the same as playing some kind of sport with at least one other person, which brings a sense of healthy competition, excitement, friendship and great conversation.

Team sports are a possibility, but I suspect that, like many people on this board, I am not particularly athletic.

Ideas?

You might try Iceskating choices:
1. freestyle = alone
2. synchro = team
3. dance, or
4. Pairs

[givejonadollar]

Goodness, you can try anything. Heck, try everything if you must.

The best choice would be to participate in a sport you already like, or love, and that is geographically suited to where you live. For instance, it's hard to play baseball in the winter, but indoor basketball can most certainly be done at a local gym or YMCA.

Good luck!