How To Get More Involved In Sports In 2015
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Jan 20 2015, 8:01 AM
It’s a new year, time for a new start. For many, their new year’s resolution list will be populated with things like ‘get fit’ or ‘start a hobby’. Well, what better way to do both of these things than get more involved in sports? Sports are the ultimate way of staying fit and healthy. Unlike the gym, sports are centered around fun and excitement. They put challenge and competition at their heart.
Taking up a sport means that you are much more likely to stick out a long term fitness plan. We get bored of the gym very easily thanks to the mundane routines and the limited equipment. With sports, there is always something new. There’s always a new challenge or another competition. You can constantly push yourself and push the boundaries. Not only that, but there will be others around you to encourage you.
The best thing about sports is the collaborative nature. It’s a chance to make new friends and meet new people. It will open your eyes to new ideas and push you further than before. It will expand your social circle and open up other areas of your life. Most importantly, you’ll stay fit and healthy. Sports will also help you release that pent up energy and stress from the working day. Get stuck into sports in 2015 and work out that stress!
PICK A SPORT
First things first, you need a sport to commit to. Hopefully, you’ll already have a few ideas in the back of your mind. There should be one or two activities that you’ve always felt drawn to. Cast your mind back to school. What activities did you enjoy? What were you good at? Perhaps it’s time to pick it back up again. If that doesn’t help, watch a few sports programmes on TV. Which ones get you excited? Is it football, rugby, cricket? Glance at the olympics and see what discipline takes your fancy. For those who want an adrenaline rush, look to extreme sports. Try rock climbing, off road biking or skiing.
IMMERSE YOURSELF
The key to choosing a sport and sticking to it is passion. You need to have a strong connection to the discipline. You’ll want to wake up excited about the exercise or competition ahead. You want to go to sleep thinking about how you can push it to the next level. That means completely immersing yourself in the sport. Find the specific TV programmes that cover it and watch them regularly. Follow the progress online and go to the competitions. Watch the professionals in all their glory. If that doesn’t inspire you, then you’ve picked the wrong sport. Learn the basic rules and techniques by immersing yourself in the game.
INVEST
Sports often come with their own equipment and you may need to invest in the basics. It could be as simple as the right pair of shoes or as complex as mountain climbing harnesses. Try to keep the budget low to start with. Buy entry level gear while you still explore the beginnings of the sport. If you love it, you won’t mind upgrading to better equipment. If you’re not taken by the sport, then never mind, at least you haven’t spent too much. Speak to people at your local sports store for more information on this.
COVER YOURSELF
Some sports can be quite dangerous and require protection and cover. Of course, if your passion is snooker or boules, then you’re probably fine. However, if the adrenaline junkie inside of you is desperate to get out, you’ll need cover. Sports like skiing or climbing require specialist insurance cover from the likes of Protectivity. You’ll have to do your own research into your chosen sport here and see what’s appropriate.
START SLOWLY
Try not to jump in at the deep end (literally, if you’ve picked swimming) with your new sport. Explore the basics and, if possible, pay for a few beginner lessons. Learning the very basic techniques early will help you progress much faster. Beginner sessions will help you get a taste of the sport and whether you want to take it further. Most sports offer these tutorials, look around for your local service.
IMPROVE YOUR FITNESS
Whatever sport you choose, you’ll need a basic level of fitness. While you’re starting the beginner lessons, it’s worth making a plan to improve your general fitness. Most sports have the same core fitness requirements. The most important here are stamina, strength and balance. These can be achieved by weekly jogs and some core strength exercises. When it comes to sports, you’ll find stamina and sheer energy to be the most important. Work on this with regular cardio exercises outside of the sport.
GET SPECIFIC
Once you’re into the swing of your new sport, you’ll be desperate to push yourself further. Now it’s time to work on specific muscles and exercises. What are the core fitness essentials for your sport? If it’s climbing, you’ll need extra back strength and balance. Work on back exercises in the gym and implement Yoga into your routine for balance. This will vary from sport to sport, so choose your specific workouts to suit.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
To get great at your new sport, there is no substitute for practice. Try to keep this as light-hearted and as fun as possible. Most sports can be practiced by more than one person. Try to incorporate friends into your practice sessions. Football players can set up goals on empty fields and have a kick around. You can then practice specific skills on your own at home.
GET COMPETITIVE
The key to maintaining interest is setting goals and targets. Get competitive with yourself and others. Join competitions and tournaments. Racquet sports like tennis and badminton are great for this. If it’s football or rugby, join the local leagues and compete every week.
Once you find the right sport, everything else will fall into place. Your drive and passion comes from a love of the game. Start with the sport you love and take it from there.
It’s a new year, time for a new start. For many, their new year’s resolution list will be populated with things like ‘get fit’ or ‘start a hobby’. Well, what better way to do both of these things than get more involved in sports? Sports are the ultimate way of staying fit and healthy. Unlike the gym, sports are centered around fun and excitement. They put challenge and competition at their heart.
Taking up a sport means that you are much more likely to stick out a long term fitness plan. We get bored of the gym very easily thanks to the mundane routines and the limited equipment. With sports, there is always something new. There’s always a new challenge or another competition. You can constantly push yourself and push the boundaries. Not only that, but there will be others around you to encourage you.
The best thing about sports is the collaborative nature. It’s a chance to make new friends and meet new people. It will open your eyes to new ideas and push you further than before. It will expand your social circle and open up other areas of your life. Most importantly, you’ll stay fit and healthy. Sports will also help you release that pent up energy and stress from the working day. Get stuck into sports in 2015 and work out that stress!
PICK A SPORT
First things first, you need a sport to commit to. Hopefully, you’ll already have a few ideas in the back of your mind. There should be one or two activities that you’ve always felt drawn to. Cast your mind back to school. What activities did you enjoy? What were you good at? Perhaps it’s time to pick it back up again. If that doesn’t help, watch a few sports programmes on TV. Which ones get you excited? Is it football, rugby, cricket? Glance at the olympics and see what discipline takes your fancy. For those who want an adrenaline rush, look to extreme sports. Try rock climbing, off road biking or skiing.
IMMERSE YOURSELF
The key to choosing a sport and sticking to it is passion. You need to have a strong connection to the discipline. You’ll want to wake up excited about the exercise or competition ahead. You want to go to sleep thinking about how you can push it to the next level. That means completely immersing yourself in the sport. Find the specific TV programmes that cover it and watch them regularly. Follow the progress online and go to the competitions. Watch the professionals in all their glory. If that doesn’t inspire you, then you’ve picked the wrong sport. Learn the basic rules and techniques by immersing yourself in the game.
INVEST
Sports often come with their own equipment and you may need to invest in the basics. It could be as simple as the right pair of shoes or as complex as mountain climbing harnesses. Try to keep the budget low to start with. Buy entry level gear while you still explore the beginnings of the sport. If you love it, you won’t mind upgrading to better equipment. If you’re not taken by the sport, then never mind, at least you haven’t spent too much. Speak to people at your local sports store for more information on this.
COVER YOURSELF
Some sports can be quite dangerous and require protection and cover. Of course, if your passion is snooker or boules, then you’re probably fine. However, if the adrenaline junkie inside of you is desperate to get out, you’ll need cover. Sports like skiing or climbing require specialist insurance cover from the likes of Protectivity. You’ll have to do your own research into your chosen sport here and see what’s appropriate.
START SLOWLY
Try not to jump in at the deep end (literally, if you’ve picked swimming) with your new sport. Explore the basics and, if possible, pay for a few beginner lessons. Learning the very basic techniques early will help you progress much faster. Beginner sessions will help you get a taste of the sport and whether you want to take it further. Most sports offer these tutorials, look around for your local service.
IMPROVE YOUR FITNESS
Whatever sport you choose, you’ll need a basic level of fitness. While you’re starting the beginner lessons, it’s worth making a plan to improve your general fitness. Most sports have the same core fitness requirements. The most important here are stamina, strength and balance. These can be achieved by weekly jogs and some core strength exercises. When it comes to sports, you’ll find stamina and sheer energy to be the most important. Work on this with regular cardio exercises outside of the sport.
GET SPECIFIC
Once you’re into the swing of your new sport, you’ll be desperate to push yourself further. Now it’s time to work on specific muscles and exercises. What are the core fitness essentials for your sport? If it’s climbing, you’ll need extra back strength and balance. Work on back exercises in the gym and implement Yoga into your routine for balance. This will vary from sport to sport, so choose your specific workouts to suit.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
To get great at your new sport, there is no substitute for practice. Try to keep this as light-hearted and as fun as possible. Most sports can be practiced by more than one person. Try to incorporate friends into your practice sessions. Football players can set up goals on empty fields and have a kick around. You can then practice specific skills on your own at home.
GET COMPETITIVE
The key to maintaining interest is setting goals and targets. Get competitive with yourself and others. Join competitions and tournaments. Racquet sports like tennis and badminton are great for this. If it’s football or rugby, join the local leagues and compete every week.
Once you find the right sport, everything else will fall into place. Your drive and passion comes from a love of the game. Start with the sport you love and take it from there.
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