Trying a new sport or activity is a great way to meet new people and find something you enjoy. Being active can help to reduce stress, support your mental and physical wellbeing, increase connections with others, boost your confidence and give you a sense of achievement.
If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few tips for choosing an activity:
- Think about what kind of activity you want to do, and what you’re looking to get out of it. If you’re keen to meet new people, think about a group activity such as a walk and talk group, running or jogscotland group or explore a team sport. There are lots of options for all ability levels!
- If you’re just getting started, you could start with something small such as finding a group who walk or jog locally. There are lots of groups out there, including JogScotland or “Girls Who Walk” and you can look for information about what’s happening in your local community, on social media (Facebook can be good for local groups), on your leisure centre, library or supermarket noticeboard or in your local newspaper. If you want to try a team sport but are worried about your fitness, many sports now have a walking equivalent such as walking football and walking netball.
- Have a look at what’s on in your area! Maybe you’ve walked past your local ice rink or swimming pool and wondered what it would be like to get involved or you’ve seen people going into your local community centre with their yoga mats and you like the look of it. Drop into those clubs and ask about the options. Lots of professional sports clubs – like football and rugby clubs – have activities for fans to try too. Many clubs/centres will offer free taster sessions and are actively looking for new members, so why not test a few things out?
- Look out for posters in your local area, keep an eye on local Facebook groups, search Instagram pages, ask friends/colleagues for ideas or check out your local paper. Or if in doubt, search online for what you’re looking for e.g. ‘wild swimming group in Caithness.’
- If you’re at school, you could ask your Active Schools Coordinator or Young Ambassadors about what clubs are available in your area.
- In your local area, you could get in touch with your Community Sport Hub to find out what’s going on locally.
- Join up with a friend, colleague or family member! Maybe they’re already part of a group which you could go along to, or maybe they’re also keen to try something new!
- Have you been inspired by watching the Olympics or Paralympics? If a particular sport has caught your eye, you can find out more from our Sport A-Z.
Before your first session
If you’re going along to a club or group taster session for the first time, you might feel nervous or unsure what to expect. Don’t let that put you off! It might seem intimidating at first, but there are things you can do in advance to help put your mind at ease.
You can check the club or provider’s social media or website to find out more and get a flavour of the activity, and a sense of what to expect. It’s also worth contacting them to let them know you are joining for the first time so that someone is looking out for you, and to ask any questions you might have.
Here are some things to check in advance:
- What to bring and/or wear: Most clubs will be able to lend any equipment you need, however it’s worth checking this and finding out what clothing or footwear is advised.
- Check the forecast: If the session is outdoors then make sure you’ve checked the forecast, it’s often worth bringing a waterproof jacket- just in case!
- Whether you need to book or pay in advance: Many clubs will offer your first session for free, and lots are free entirely, but it’s good to check if you need to book ahead so they know what numbers to expect.
- Directions and what to do on arrival: check if there someone you should look out for or a specific place to meet.
- What facilities are available: before going for the first time, it’s worth checking which facilities are there which you may need, and that any accessibility requirements can be accommodated e.g. check about parking, toilets, changing rooms, lockers and any other facilities.
- If you feel nervous about going along to a session alone, you could consider joining up with a friend or family member so you can go along together.
If you’re experiencing mental health problems, you might still feel unsure about trying something new. It’s OK to start with something small, such as going for a walk or jog near your house. If you feel ready to join a group, you could find your local jogscotland group – each group is led by a trained jog leader, many of whom have completed mental health awareness training through SAMH. If you don't feel ready to join a group, jogscotland also have free programmes which you can follow to get started. Find out more here
If you are struggling with your mental health and need some support, find help here.
