Sport guides
Short guides to start well: what to buy and what it costs, the basic rules, simple drills, etiquette and safety. 43 sports so far.
These guides are drafts. They are general information and are being checked by people who play each sport.
Open the app Then find a game, a court or a shop near you.
Archery
Shooting arrows at a target with a bow. It builds focus, posture and calm control, and beginner lessons teach safe range habits from day one.
Read the guideBadminton
A racket sport where players hit a shuttlecock over a high net. It is quick, tactical and easy on the joints.
Read the guideBaseball and Softball
Bat-and-ball team sports where players score by hitting a ball and running around four bases. Softball uses a larger ball and underhand pitching.
Read the guideBasketball
Fast five-on-five team game where you score by shooting a ball through a raised hoop. Works as a full pickup game, a half-court three-on-three, or solo shooting practice.
Read the guideBeach volleyball
Two-on-two volleyball on sand. With only two players per side, everyone touches the ball a lot, and the soft sand is gentle on joints.
Read the guideBird watching
Spotting and identifying wild birds in parks, wetlands and your own backyard. It is quiet, flexible and free to start, and you only need curiosity and a bit of patience.
Read the guideBoard games
Tabletop games from quick card games to long strategy adventures. They are social, easy to learn and a good way to meet people at game cafes, libraries and club nights.
Read the guideBowling
Roll a heavy ball down a lane to knock down ten pins. It works for all ages, is easy to learn, and is a relaxed way to socialize.
Read the guideChess
A strategy board game for two players where each side tries to trap the other's king. It builds focus, planning and patience.
Read the guideClimbing
Using hands and feet to ascend walls or rock, either indoors on gym walls or outdoors. Combines strength, balance and problem solving.
Read the guideCricket
A bat-and-ball sport with deep roots across Asia, Australia, Africa and the Caribbean. Short formats like T20 or backyard tape-ball games make it easy to start.
Read the guideCycling
Riding a bicycle for transport, fitness or adventure, from city commuting to road racing and mountain trails.
Read the guideDarts
Throw small darts at a round board and score points for where they land. It is quick to learn, needs very little space and is easy to play with friends in a pub or at home.
Read the guideDisc Golf
Like golf, but you throw a flying disc at metal baskets. Cheap, outdoorsy and friendly to beginners.
Read the guideDog parks
Fenced places where dogs can run off leash and socialize. A good visit gives your dog exercise and gives you a friendly community, as long as everyone follows the park rules.
Read the guideFishing
Casting a line from shore, a pier or a boat. It is a relaxed way to enjoy the outdoors, and a simple setup is enough to catch your first fish.
Read the guideGolf
A club-and-ball sport where players hit a ball into a series of holes in as few strokes as possible, played on a course or at a driving range.
Read the guideHiking
Walking on trails in nature, from easy park paths to mountain climbs. A low-barrier way to build fitness and enjoy the outdoors.
Read the guideIce hockey
A fast team sport on ice where skaters pass a puck and shoot it into the opponent's goal. Beginner and adult learn-to-play programs make it much easier to start than people expect.
Read the guideIce skating
Gliding on ice at a rink. Public sessions are open to all ages, and a few lessons will turn shaky steps into smooth glides.
Read the guideLacrosse
A fast team sport played with a netted stick and a small rubber ball. Players cradle, pass and shoot, with versions for field, indoor box and no-contact formats.
Read the guideMartial arts
Drop-in classes in styles such as judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, karate, taekwondo, boxing, kickboxing and Muay Thai. You learn technique, build fitness and practice respect, and most schools let you try a class before you commit.
Read the guidePaddling
Kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding on calm lakes, slow rivers and protected bays. Rentals make it easy to try, and a short lesson teaches the strokes and safety basics.
Read the guidePadel
A doubles racquet sport played on a small enclosed court with glass walls. You can use the walls like squash, but the scoring is like tennis, so rallies are long and social.
Read the guidePhoto walks
A slow stroll with a camera or phone, looking for pictures. You do not need fancy gear, just a curious eye and a willingness to notice small things.
Read the guidePickleball
A paddle sport on a small court that blends tennis, badminton and table tennis. Easy to learn, social and one of the fastest-growing sports.
Read the guidePool and Billiards
A cue sport played on a cloth-covered table with pockets. The common game is eight-ball, where players pocket their group of balls and finish with the eight.
Read the guideRugby
A fast, physical team sport where players carry the oval ball and pass it backward to move forward. Tag and touch versions let beginners play without tackling.
Read the guideRunning
Moving forward on foot at a pace faster than walking. It can be done anywhere, from casual jogs to marathons, and builds endurance and mood.
Read the guideSkateboarding
Riding and doing tricks on a skateboard. A creative sport that rewards persistence and practice at skateparks, streets and ramps.
Read the guideSkiing
Gliding down snowy slopes or across flat terrain on skis. Alpine skiing uses lifts, while cross-country skiing uses flatter trails.
Read the guideSnooker
Snooker is a cue game played on a big green-baize table with 15 reds, six colours and a white cue ball. You pot a red, then a colour, and build a run of points called a break. It is slow, tactical and very popular in the UK, where snooker halls, clubs and pubs have tables you can play at by the hour.
Read the guideSnowboarding
Sliding down snowy slopes on a single board. The first days involve falls, but with a lesson and some patience most people link turns by their second or third day.
Read the guideSoccer
The world's most popular team sport: two teams try to score by getting a ball into the opposing goal using their feet and bodies (not hands).
Read the guideSquash
A fast racquet sport where two players take turns hitting a small rubber ball against the front wall of a four-walled court. Easy to start, a great workout in 30 minutes, and rallies can be long and tactical.
Read the guideStargazing
Looking at the night sky for planets, constellations, meteor showers and the Milky Way. It costs nothing, works from a backyard, and gets better with a darker site and some patience.
Read the guideSwimming
Moving through water using strokes like freestyle and breaststroke. A low-impact full-body workout and an essential life skill.
Read the guideTable Tennis
A small-scale racket sport played on a table with a lightweight ball. It is fast, social and demands quick reflexes.
Read the guideTennis
A racket sport played one-on-one or two-on-two across a net on a rectangular court. Great for fitness, and quick to start if you have a partner and a ball machine or wall.
Read the guideUltimate Frisbee
A fast, non-contact team game with a flying disc where you score by catching it in the end zone. Known for sportsmanship and self-officiating.
Read the guideVolleyball
A net sport in which two teams hit a ball over the net and try to ground it on the opponent's side. Played indoors in sixes or on sand in pairs.
Read the guideWalking and strolling
The simplest way to move more. A regular walk lifts mood, builds fitness gently and can be social, from a dawn stride to a relaxed evening stroll.
Read the guideYoga
A practice of mindful movement, breathing and relaxation that improves flexibility, strength and focus.
Read the guide