Summer 2021 = Summer of Sport! Is it time for you to get involved?
Who can forget those heartstopping moments as England made their way into the Euro 2020 final and very nearly won. The talented team managed to unite the nation, and no doubt inspired many young people watching with a burning desire to become just like them.
But it’s not just football that will grace our screens this summer. Summer 2021 really is a Summer of Sport!
As well as the Euros, we have already seen the Wimbledon tennis championship, with several new faces including promising UK teenage newcomer Emma Raducanu.
Now it is almost time for the Tokyo Olympics, followed by the Paralympics. Meanwhile, rugby fans can enjoy the Lions tour of South Africa this month, with the Rugby World Cup starting in New Zealand in September.
These are just a few of the sporting events on offer this summer. Even if you haven’t been particularly interested in sport up till this point, it feels like a breath of fresh air after all the restrictions of the pandemic. And now that those restrictions are being lifted, perhaps it’s time to make a fresh start and consider getting involved in sport yourself?
But how can you do that? What is the best way to get involved in a sport if you want to do so?
There are three main steps you need to take:
Research your sport
Think about your main motivation for taking up a sport. Is it mainly to get fitter and healthier, or do you also want the opportunity to meet new people?
Also consider what kind of sports are likely to suit you best. For example, are you good at running and other strenuous activities or would you prefer something slower paced? Do you prefer exercising alone, or with one partner, or as part of a team? And how much time will you be able to dedicate to your chosen sport each week?
Getting all these criteria clear in your mind can help you to find a sport that you really enjoy and that works for you. This is important because there is more likelihood that you will stick to it than if you try to do something that is more difficult to dovetail with the rest of your life.
Learn some basic skills
Before you throw yourself completely into your chosen sport, it is a good idea to learn some basic skills. For example if you want to play tennis, there is no point paying money to hire a court and arrange to play someone if you don’t even know the basic rules or how to hold a racquet properly.
So the next step is to learn the basics of your chosen sport. You need to equip yourself with a solid foundation of skills and knowledge on which you can then start to build.
Some of the ways you can do this are:
- Watch Youtube videos on different aspects of your sport.
- Take lessons or classes at a local sports club or fitness centre.
- Ask someone you know who is good at the sport to help you get started.
However you do it, there is a lot of truth in the old saying “don’t try to run before you can walk”. If you get the basics right, this will be of enormous help later on.
Join a class, club or team
We have already mentioned lessons or classes, and this is an excellent way to begin to develop your skills. You will also meet other like-minded individuals who may become not only fellow players but friends.
So take a look at local fitness clubs and sports centres to find what kinds of opportunities are available. Just a few that you may find in a typical repertoire are:
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The above list is by no means exhaustive but gives an idea of the kinds of sporting opportunities that are all around us.
If you do want to take up a sport, there is no time like the present. For starters, as we saw earlier, there is a lot of inspiration around, with all the summer sporting events happening. There are also the light summer evenings to make the most of, which help us to enjoy getting out and about.
So if you are thinking of taking up a sport, now is the best time to do it!
If you need any additional funds to sort out club membership or equipment, remember that Simple Fast Loans offer online loans that may be able to help.
Enjoy your new sport, and remember to check back here soon for more lifestyle and financial tips from Simple Fast Loans.
