Sports

Sport can be a polarising subject for many people and can fill you with dread! Memories of rainy days doing PE at school playing hockey or rugby do nothing to inspire you to become active in sports again. However, finding the right sport with the right group of people can be just the thing to help you be more active. The range of sports available nowadays is huge and the vast majority will bring wider benefits to your life, whether be physical, mental or social health.

How Sport can benefit you

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 playing a 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 it’s never too late to find the perfect sport for you!

Camaraderie of a team

Sport is not just about being active, by playing sport it enables you to build and develop friendships. The core of sport is about the social activity and meeting new people.

Having the feeling of responsibility

When playing sport you are making a commitment to those playing in your team. If you have told your teammates that you are available to play and train, you know they are now relying on you to be there and turn up. By knowing that people are counting on you to be there, you are more likely to turn up!

Helping to manage stress

Sport and other physical activity produce endorphins—chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers—and also improve the ability to sleep, which in turn reduces stress. Another benefit of playing sport is that it requires your full attention meaning it can take your mind off things as you focus solely on being in the moment.

For those with a competitive edge

Naturally we are all different and for some people, being competitive really drives them to take part in sport. Being competitive doesn’t mean you have to be an Olympic gold medalist, you can get just as much enjoyment by scoring the winning try in a Rugby match.

Variety is key

Sport doesn’t have to be the ones you see in the media such as Football. There are a variety of sports which have great benefits to the body. There are hundreds of sports clubs and leisure providers running sports sessions across the county, for people of all ages and experience levels. For more information on individual sports, check out the National Governing Bodies of Sports link below or for local opportunities, go to our directory on the link below for more information.

Directory