7 Most Fun Sports You Can Enjoy as an Adult
As we leave adolescence in the rearview and no longer have schools to organize sports or parents willing to drive us to camps, it can be difficult for adults to find ways to keep active and have fun. But there are many sports out there that you can enjoy as an adult, whether you're looking for something new to try or just need a way to get some exercise.
Here is a list of the 7 Most Fun Sports You Can Enjoy as an Adult.
#1 - Pickleball
The first sport on our list is pickleball, a combination of tennis, badminton, and ping pong that was invented in 1965. This fun, fast-paced game is easy to learn and can be played with just a few people on a small court. It's also one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. In fact, during 2019 and 2020, pickleball participation grew by 21.3%!
It's even garnered interest among many celebrities, and there are rumors of a celebrity pickleball tournament coming to CBS with Stephen Colbert some time in 2022-2023.
Where is it Most Popular?
According to Pickleball Portal, the top US states for pickleball include Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Virginia, Nebraska, Texas, and Hawaii.
The Basic Rules
One of the reasons pickleball is growing so fast is that it's fairly simple to play and its rules ensure fair and competitive play among all ages (from young kids to older adults).
The basic rules of pickleball are:
The game is played with a ball (similar to a Wiffle ball) and a paddle–bigger than a ping-pong paddle, but smaller than a tennis racquet.
It's also played on a court about half the size of a tennis court.
The game is played with two players (singles) or four players (doubles).
To win a match, you must be the first team to score 11 points. Only the serving team can score a point. You must win by at least two points.
Serving is done underhand only. This means, your paddle cannot rise above your waist on the serve.
On the pickleball court, there is an area called the non-volley zone or “the kitchen.” This area is close to the net and can only be stepped in when the ball bounces. If you step into the kitchen and hit the ball before it bounces, then it is a let–meaning the volley is over and the next serve must begin.
Of course, there are more rules than this, but these are enough to get anyone started. For a full list of pickleball rules, check out our blog!
Need to find a pickleball court near you? We offer help on our blog for that, too.
#2 - Golf
Golf is one of the most popular sports for adults. It's less demanding on your body than most sports, which encourages play throughout your entire life. Whether you prefer to play at a public course or in your own backyard, there are countless opportunities to enjoy this relaxing sport.
Where is it Most Popular?
The modern game of golf began in the 15th century in Scotland. However, some historians date it much further back to a Roman game called paganic as early as the first century, in which players used a bent stick to hit a stuffed leather ball. As such, it's popular across the world. The most popular places for golf are Ireland, Canada, the UK, and the US.
The Basic Rules
The basic rules of golf include that each "round" of golf consists of 18 holes (though it is okay to play 9 holes instead). It can be played by any number of people, but most groups will have between 1-and 4 people in it. Using approved golf clubs, your goal is to hit a golf ball into each hole with as few shots as possible. The lowest score wins the round.
As most will tell you, golf may be an easy game to play, but it takes a lifetime to master. Fortunately, for most of us, it's less about mastery and more about getting outside and enjoying some competition (and maybe some beers).
#3 - Rock Climbing
Perhaps not a sport many people would think of, but the workout you receive from rock climbing, mixed with the competitiveness of reaching the peak, makes rock climbing just as much a sport as any other recreational activity.
Climbing rocks is as ancient as people themselves. However, we doubt that many early humans were doing it for the fun of it. Instead, it's a sport that has grown tremendously over the last century. In 2016, the International Olympic Committee recognized rock climbing as a new Olympic sport, and it made its debut this past Olympic games in Tokyo.
Where is it Most Popular?
The top five places for the sport of rock climbing include the US, Greece, Chile, Spain, and Thailand.
The Basic Rules
Depending on whether you participate in rock climbing competitively or just for fun, the rules can vary.
For the Olympic sport of Lead Climbing, the rules are:
A unique route is set on a 15m wall.
Each climber gets one attempt to ascend as high as they can in six minutes.
The climber that reaches the highest (or gets to the highest the fastest) is awarded the top rank.
To simply enjoy rock climbing, you'll need safety equipment, a large rock formation or manufactured wall, and someone to spot you. Remember, always be safe! There are training facilities around the world you can join to learn how to rock climb properly and safely.
#4 - Roller Derby
Roller derby is a contact sport played on roller skates. Each match is played by two teams, each consisting of 15 members. It was first played in 1935, in Chicago Illinois. There are an estimated 1,250 amateur roller derby leagues worldwide, mostly in the US.
Where is it Most Popular?
Roller derby is most popular in the US and its most participating states include Wyoming, followed by Alaska, North Dakota, and Vermont.
The Basic Rules
Like most sports, there are a basic set of rules but lots of intricacies and amendments to them.
The basic rules of roller derby include:
There are two periods of 30 minutes.
Each team fields up to 15 players, including five members designated for "jams."
Each jam lasts two minutes unless called off prematurely.
Each team designates a scoring player called the "jammer."
The other four members are "blockers."
During each jam, players skate counterclockwise on a circuit track.
There are several ways to score points, but all are done by the jammer.
At the end of time, the team with the most points wins.
If you're interested in discovering a roller derby team near you, be sure and do a Google search. You're bound to find one near you! Roller derby is an aggressive sport that requires a high level of fitness, and recovery after participating in it.
#5 - Martial Arts
Perhaps the oldest sport in the world, martial arts was used in human warfare and there are even cave paintings from eastern Spain dated between 10,000 and 6,000 BCE that show it in action.
Today, martial arts are used for teaching discipline and self-defense and tournament fighting.
Where is it Most Popular?
The top five countries for martial arts are also some of the oldest countries known to man. They include China, Japan, Korea, Brazil, and Israel.
The Basic Rules
While some will argue that "All is fair in love and war," there are certainly rules for modern-day martial arts. Mostly, the "rules" though are a set of standards or practices among the different types of martial arts. It also depends on what you are using them for. To simply get a great workout or stay active, you'll do well to follow the rules of your dojo and focus on getting the most you can out of whichever endeavor you attempt.
#6 - Dancing
Another "sport" you can do solo, with a partner, for fun, or competitively is dancing! With dance studios across the globe, you're sure to find one near you that can teach you to tango or work on your hip-hop cardio.
Of course, if you do want to make moving your body to a beat a sport officially, you should check out World Dance Sport. According to their site, "DanceSport is the activity that combines sport and dance, and that allows the participants to improve physical fitness and mental well-being, form social relationships, and obtain results in competition at all levels.
Where is it Most Popular?
Dancing is most popular everywhere and is as old as humankind itself. Perhaps martial arts isn't the oldest sport on our list!
The Basic Rules
For competitive dance, we're sure there are many. For recreation, the only rule is to have fun–and maybe don't step on other people's toes!
#7 - Kickball
If even the words kick and ball bring you back to your elementary schoolyard days, then you are not alone. For many, especially in the US, kickball is one of the earliest sports we play.
Fun fact, kickball was originally called "kicking baseball" and was invented around 1910 by Dr. Emmett Dunn Angell. Around the 1920s, it was used in P.E. classes in public schools to teach the basics of baseball and actually played on a baseball field.
Since then, the honus on learning baseball has been dropped, but the enjoyment it brings to the masses is still burning bright.
Where is it Most Popular?
In the early 2000s, adult kickball leagues began taking over public parks everywhere. Now, it's very easy to find a league near you or even start your own.
The Basic Rules
Playing kickball is similar to playing baseball. At least the jargon and rules work similarly.
The basic rules of kickball include:
There are ten fielders (in baseball, there are nine, but in softball, there are also ten).
Each game is seven innings long (or within a certain time limit, typically 60 minutes).
There is a strike zone based on where home plate is–the strike zone is one foot on all sides where the ball must cross.
After kicking the ball, the player must run the bases.
If the fielding team hits them with the ball (no headshots!), while the player is not safely making contact with a base, they are out.
Three outs end the half-inning, and the teams switch offense to defense.
The team with the most runs scored (players who successfully cross home plate after touching first, second, and third base first) wins.
Conclusion
Playing sports as an adult is not impossible. Depending on your fitness level and how much time and effort you want to put into recreational or competitive play, there is something out there for everyone at every age!
