If you’ve ever wanted to enjoy more thrilling kinds of competition, or if you’ve ever been interested in expanding your horizons, you might have considered getting into a new sport. The problem is, it’s hard to immerse yourself in a new sport. You may not be familiar with the rules, the rivalries and traditions may mean little to you, and you may not have a social circle who also appreciates the game.
So how are you supposed to get involved in a new sport?
Why Get Into a New Sport?
Let’s start by reviewing some of the reasons why someone would want to build interest in a new sport in the first place:
- Filling the off-season. Most sports have a specific season during which they’re active. If you’re a football fan, you’ll get to enjoy football from around August until February. But March through July is downright painful. Getting involved in a new sport can help you fill the gap; NASCAR, for example, complements football season almost perfectly.
- Meeting new people. Learning how to enjoy a new sport is also a great way to meet new people. You can bond over the game, play the game with a team, and build an entire community.
- Improving your appreciation. Getting involved in a sport can help you learn to appreciate other sports more. You’ll get a keener sense of competition and a deeper appreciation for core human athletics.
- New ways of participation. You may also be able to get involved in new ways. For example, you may learn to play the sport and participate in an amateur league.
Free Up Some Time
One of the first things you’ll need to do is free up some time. Unless you already have an overabundance of free time (and who does, really?), you’ll need to carve out a few hours a week to watch games and learn new things.
The easiest way to do this is to delegate some of your responsibilities. You can hire a property management company to take care of any rental properties you have. You can hire employees or freelancers to help you in your career. And you can call upon a partner or family member to help you with household duties. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to cut out a fun activity or reduce the time you spend on a particular hobby.
Review the Candidates
When you’re ready to start learning, review the candidates available to you. You might lean toward a sport you’ve watched in the past, or one that complements the season schedule of your favorite sport. You might even prefer something that’s totally different than what you’re used to. Don’t be afraid to commit; you can always switch to a different sport in the future.
Learn the Basics
Before getting involved, spend some time learning the basics. Get familiar with the fundamental rules and try to figure out why there’s such a following for this particular sport. Watch a few games on TV however you can and see what it’s like. You may not love the first few games you try, but that’s okay; it may grow on you as you learn more.
Find a Friend
Next, find a friend who can teach you more about this sport. Ask them what they love about the sport and see if they’re willing to educate you on the fundamentals. You may have a friend in your social circles who already loves this sport. If not, branch out and head to a bar where fans of this sport tend to gather; chances are, someone will be thrilled to welcome you into the community.
Absorb Information Passively
Spend some time absorbing information passively. Watch a few games. Listen to podcasts about the game. Watch videos of commentators and fans talking about the game. Read some books about the history of the sport. In time, your familiarity will grow.
Get Involved
Finally, spend time getting more actively involved.
- Play the sport. If you can, play the sport. Even if you’re not very good or familiar with the rules, getting your body in motion can help you find a deeper appreciation for the sport.
- Go to a live game. Going to a live game of anything can be thrilling. You’ll be surrounded by hundreds, or even thousands of cheering fans, which can fill you with a kind of contagious energy.
- Join parties or bars. You can also feed off the energy of a crowd by going to parties for this sport, or visiting bars where fans congregate.
Over time, you’ll get to know this sport much better, and you’ll have a new passion through which you can thrive. Remain patient and keep learning if you want to find even more benefits.
