5 Best Sports for Beginners

Here are the five best sports for beginners to try when playing their first sport.

Whether you’re looking to get/stay in shape, looking for a fun social activity, or interested just because, getting into sports is a valuable experience. Sports can transform your life with positive effects on your physical and mental well-being. And some sports are easier to test out if you’re brand-new to the life of an athlete. Here’s a list of the 5 best sports for beginners to try. 

5 Best Sports for Beginners 

We ranked our list of the 5 best sports for beginners on a few different factors. These include: 1) how easy is the sport to play/understand, 2) is the sport physically demanding or less prone to injuries, 3) how fun is the sports (PS all sports are fun!), 4) and what are the social benefits of this sport. 

Soccer

Perhaps one of the most accessible sports on our list, all you really need to play is a ball and net. And for first-time beginners, the net isn’t even required (you can create a makeshift goal with plenty of items). Not only is soccer accessible, it’s fairly easy to understand for beginners. The sport involves two main priorities. 1) Score a goal on your opponents net (with your feet only!) and 2) stop the other team from scoring on your goal. 

Soccer is a lifelong journey for many who try it, and that’s testament to how rewarding and fun the sport can be! Check out the Major League Soccer (MLS) website to learn about the professional game in the United States. 

Basketball

Take a drive, walk, or bike ride around your local neighborhood. We think you’ll be surprised how many basketball courts you find in your local park. And those are just the ones outside. From there, all you need to get access to the wonderful sport of basketball is a ball! 

Similar to soccer, this sport has two many goals. Score points by tossing the ball into your basket and stop your opponent from scoring on their basket! It’s really that simple. 

Played by nearly 4 million youth athletes across the United States in 2022, according to Project Play, it’s clear basketball is a game loved by many. Similar to soccer, basketball offers its athletes great aerobic fitness activity and is a great way to stay/get in shape!

Swimming

Swimming was an easy choice on our list because of it’s accessibility and general ease on your physical demands. There are plenty of local/community pools for new athletes to access. And, swimming is as easy/tough as you want to make it. All you need is a swimsuit and you’ve started your journey to beginning a new sport. 

Although swimming doesn’t have to be physically demanding, it’s low-impact nature prevents a major toll on your body. But, it’s also one of the best workouts on this list. Swimming is a good fir for any beginners reading this list because it’s a full-body exercise that incorporates great levels of aerobic endurance.

Volleyball

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), volleyball is the second most popular sport amongst female athletes in the 2022-23 school year. Nearly 500,000 girls played high school volleyball, ranking only behind track & field. And, for good reason. 

Volleyball is a sport loved by many because of the ability to build true team camaraderie and play in a variety of locations. You only need a ball, a net, and a floor (gym) to play on. Volleyball is a great opportunity to build your social network and skills through its heavy priority on teamwork. And, as many of the sports on this list, it’s a great way to get/stay in shape. 

Baseball/Softball

Ah, baseball and softball. They call this sport America’s pastime for a reason. A top-five sport for both males and females (in terms of participation rates), baseball is rooted deep in American culture. With a bat, ball, and glove you’re already on your way to playing the game loved by millions. 

Remember that exercise of trying to find basketball courts in your local area? Do the same with baseball and softball fields. Again, you’ll be surprised by how many pop up. 

This is another sport that requires a nice mix of individual skill and high levels of teamwork and sticking to the basics prevents confusion with the main rules of the game. Baseball and softball are less physically-demanding than many of the other sports on this list and offer participants great ways to improve their hand-eye coordination and overall physical fitness. 

Are you a beginner looking to try out sports for the first time? Try one of the five best sports for beginners and report back on how much you enjoyed your new experience!