How to find a sports team near you

Decide what kind of team you want

Before searching, think about what you actually want. The best team is not necessarily the most competitive one.

If you have not played for several years, joining an elite competitive side can be frustrating. A recreational or intermediate team is often a much better fit and keeps you playing every week.

• A competitive team playing in a structured league
• A recreational team focused on regular games
• A beginner-friendly group
• A youth team or age-group side
• An amateur league with fixed fixtures
• A social team that plays once a week

Search for local sports clubs

The obvious starting point is searching for clubs in your area. Try "[sport] clubs near me", "[sport] teams in [city]", "amateur [sport] [city]" and "[sport] league [city]".

Do not only look for large organisations. Some of the best opportunities are smaller clubs with almost no online presence, which is exactly why they are still short of players.

Look for amateur and recreational leagues

Amateur sport is usually much easier to join than people expect, and many leagues accept players throughout the season rather than only in pre-season.

• Football and five-a-side leagues
• Basketball and volleyball leagues
• Tennis and padel competitions
• Running and cycling clubs
• Swimming clubs and masters squads
• Martial arts, boxing and MMA gyms

Use a sports community instead of searching one club at a time

Rather than emailing clubs one by one, you can connect directly with athletes, coaches and teams who play your sport in your area.

A sports social network is particularly useful when you are new somewhere, because you can meet people and understand the local scene before committing to a membership.

Ask about tryouts before you turn up

Some teams run formal tryouts, others let you attend a training session first. A short message clears this up immediately.

• Are you accepting new players right now?
• Can I attend a training session first?
• Do you have teams at different skill levels?
• What are the membership and match fees?
• What are the training days and times?
• What should I bring to a first session?

Do not ignore smaller teams

A common mistake is focusing only on the biggest clubs. Smaller teams often offer more playing time, more personal coaching attention, easier access and a stronger sense of community.

If your goal is to play regularly, the biggest club in your city is rarely the best choice.

Create an athlete profile so teams can find you too

Searching is only half of it. When your profile is public and complete, clubs short of a player in your position can find you rather than the other way round.

• Sport, position or discipline
• Skill level and years of experience
• Location and how far you can travel
• Age group where relevant
• Availability during the week
• Photos, clips, results and achievements

Step by step

1. 01

   Define the level you want

   Competitive, recreational, beginner or social — be honest about where you are now.

2. 02

   List clubs within travel distance

   Search by sport plus city, and include small clubs with weak websites.

3. 03

   Publish your athlete profile

   Sport, position, level, location and availability, with a photo or clip.

4. 04

   Message five teams, not one

   Ask if they are recruiting and whether you can attend a session.

5. 05

   Attend before committing

   One training session tells you more than any website.

Frequently asked questions

Related pages

• Club hub
• Football hub
• All sports
• Near me
• Coach directory
• Events
• Tournaments
• Sports jobs
• Browse athletes
• Blog

More guides for athletes

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