Top 10 Most Popular Global Sports

Which sport is the best fit for you?

I know not everyone likes sports, but there's no doubt that they have excellent health benefits and many of them are really fun!

Below are some of the sports I've included and I'll give you a couple positives about each of them.

• Football
• Basketball
• Baseball
• Hockey
• Volleyball
• Tennis
• Walking/Jogging/Running
• Weight Training
• Soccer
• Golf

There are a few sports that I didn't include mostly because their popularity is too limited or because it doesn't reach beyond a couple markets.

It's the most popular sport in the United States and people consider the Super Bowl to be a national holiday. There's no other televised event more popular than the Super Bowl, but this isn't about the games on TV.

We're talking about the sport in general and here's why you might want to try it out.

• Get out your aggression

Football is perfect for that slightly angry individual who needs to release all that aggression. Instead of beating up on an innocent bystander and risking jail time, why not tackle someone in a safer (sorta) and healthier way.

• Team first

Football is a great team sport and it's a nice way to build up some comradery with your team mates. The social aspects are a lot of fun as long as nobody takes things too seriously.

Basketball is a lot more popular than you would think. It's ranked above football in terms of international popularity, and there's a reason why people love to play it. It's easy to play and doesn't require a lot of money.

All you really need is a ball and a court, which can be easily found in a park or recreation center.

What other reasons would you choose this sport?

• The fun of shooting

It's fun trying to shoot a ball through a hoop and even more fun when it goes in. You don't have to be involved in a game to enjoy this sport. If all you really like doing is shooting then it's a lot of fun practicing either the foul shot or the far away trick shot.

• Anyone can play it

This goes along with the inexpensive factor of the sport. There are numerous locations that have a court available to play. If you are able to, then you could buy your own ball and hoop and practice outside the home.

It's a great sport to get the whole family involved and you'll all be getting healthier.

This is America's past time sport, and it's still a common staple in most schools as well as its counterpart version softball.

The only difficult part about baseball is that it's very team oriented, so you'll need several people to play a full game. However, if you only want to practice your swinging then that's okay too.

• Easy to understand

It's not the most complicated sport in the world, which is great if you hate having to follow a ton of rules. The concept is simple enough and it's great for all ages. I said the concept was easy but not necessary the talent.

• Focus on skill

Baseball isn't the most cardiovascular sport to play, but it is one of the more skillful. In particular, things like hand-eye coordination, ability to catch, throw, and hit the ball are all essential. There's a lot of skills to learn but it'll feel like an accomplishment.

I used to love playing hockey because you get to smack a puck with a giant stick and what's more fun than that. If you like hockey because of the fights, then you're clearly missing the point of this sport.

• Skate on ice

If you loving skating and being on the ice, then ice hockey is the perfect sport for you. You'll learn the skills of hockey, balance, and experience the joys of skating all at once.

• Fast paced

Hockey is extremely fast paced without much letup in the action. If you love to keep moving and playing, then hockey is a great sport to choose. You'll also gain agility and balance that'll benefit you in other sports and physical activities.

People seem to love this sport because of two things: location and being able to spike the ball. There are plenty of other reasons to enjoy this team oriented sport with an emphasis on being able to hold your own weight.

• Location, location, location

Volleyball is the ultimate summer sport because it's literally often played on a beach with people in their bathing suits. You'll feel the breeze, the warm sun, and you'll hear the sounds of the ocean as you play.

• Spike the ball

I enjoy playing volleyball because I'm able to spike the ball over the net and shatter the confidence of my opponent. Volleyball is also a team sport, but it's one where you have to pay attention and do your part otherwise it's game over.

Despite being an activity that every one of us does everyday, it is also considered to be a sport.

Track and field is a highly competitive Olympic sport and we have a multitude of running events throughout the year intended for testing skill, health, and for charity. The marathon is the greatest culmination of walking/jogging or running.

• A great way to get and stay healthy

Anyone who wants to lose weight needs to either walk, jog, or run. It's almost a must in the weight loss handbook, but there's more to it. The overall health benefits of this activity is fantastic and it's free to do.

• A social event

We could walk with a friend, a spouse, and our kids almost anywhere. Walking shares that commonality among us all and it's usually coupled with a scenic location. This is why hiking and jogging is popular in parks, by the beach, and other nature locales.

It's the most popular sport in the world, but it's not too popular in the United States. However, it's very common in grade school because it's a great team sport that combines skill and endurance with athleticism.

• Combines teamwork with individual skill

Soccer is all about communicating with your team. There's no way you'll win a soccer game trying to attack by yourself.

You'll learn a lot about yourself and be able to connect with others. You'll also learn a lot of great skills and tricks with the ball that you can use for other sports.

• One of the best aerobic sports

I know running is probably the best aerobic activity but this combines running, skill, and communication. It's also probably a bit more fun than running the track and the benefits are huge.

This is one of the most difficult and calorie burning sports there is. It's also a sport that looks easy to play when you watch it, but it's far from easy when you have to play it. It combines agility, skill, endurance, and hand-eye coordination.

• Fat burner

I said this sport burns a lot of calories and there's no doubt that it does. It's a great activity because you're getting a great workout while enjoying yourself. It's particularly excellent for those struggling to lose weight but don't want to walk/run to do it.

• Direct competition

Tennis is a game where it's usually between you and one other person, so it's an extremely competitive sport. It'll give you a challenge and you'll easily be able to see your improvement as you keep playing.

There's the option of doubles where you and a partner play against two others, which expands slightly beyond the isolation game.

This is another activity that's normally not considered to be a sport even though it is. With an emphasis on resistance and strength, it's a must for anyone who wants to become and stay healthy because the benefits are outstanding.

Weight training coupled with cardiovascular activity is the ultimate combination to either lose weight or stay healthy.

• Muscle growth and maintenance

The best part about weight training is that it doesn't require a lot of weekly training time to begin either muscle growth or maintenance. Building strong muscles is very important the older we get, and there's no need to be fearful of strength training.

• Metabolic boost

The more muscle a person has, the more calories they burn at rest. It's no secret that lean muscle is far more adequate than body fat. Lean muscle not only looks better physically but it keeps you healthy and boosts your metabolic rate.

It's one of the more expensive sports you can choose, but it's one that anyone is capable of doing even if they struggle to walk or run. This game is far more challenging than it looks but it's really great to try out.

• Relaxation

Older people enjoy playing golf because they can get some exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and relax. It can be a good social activity that keeps your mental state healthy by relieving your high stress level.

• Individual game

Sometimes it could be difficult to get a bunch of people together to play baseball or soccer but golf is another story. It's an individual sport, so all you need is a putter and a golf course.

If you can't go to a golf course then you can always purchase at home equipment to practice your putting skills. As long as you can afford the equipment, then you can play this game.