Top 10 Most Common Sports Kids Play Growing Up

Playing sports is an important part of childhood. It's how scraped knees, grass stains, and muddy cleats turn into stories kids tell for years. Joining a team or just tossing a ball around the yard isn't only about burning off energy. It gives kids the chance to build habits that last way beyond their school years. Think exercise, structure, learning to lose without throwing a tantrum, and understanding what it means to show up for others. Sports have this sneaky way of teaching life lessons without ever cracking open a textbook.

Which sports do you remember being everywhere when you or your friends were growing up? Which ones filled the weekends and the summer camps? Scroll through the list and vote for the ones you think every kid has played or at least attempted with chaotic enthusiasm.
The Top Ten
Soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players each. It is played with a spherical ball. The objective is to score goals by getting the ball into the opposing team's net. Soccer is the most popular sport globally, governed by FIFA,... read more

Soccer is the most popular sport worldwide. It's one of the more affordable sports to pick up and play, since all you need is a ball and a net. It's easily accessible for all ages, making it a popular sport for kids. There is a good reason why youth soccer leagues and clubs are quite abundant in America today.

Baseball

Baseball is the sport I grew up playing and watching the most. I fell in love with the Chicago Cubs from a young age, and they have been my team ever since. Baseball has one of the deepest roots of any sport in America. The tradition and history behind it make it all the more interesting.

From Tee Ball to Little League and beyond, there is something for everyone. This also includes softball as well, which is pretty much the female version. Nothing beats playing baseball in the summertime.

Basketball Basketball is a sport played by two teams of five players on a rectangular court. The objective is to shoot a ball through a hoop 18 inches in diameter and 10 feet high mounted to a backboard at each end. It is one of the most popular sports worldwide, especially in the United States, where the NBA... read more

Basketball is a beloved American sport. It's very fast paced and very intense.

Basketball as a whole has always been a popular game, especially thanks to NBA legends such as the GOAT Michael Jordan, who inspired kids of all ages who were lucky enough to watch him play. I can only imagine what it must have felt like seeing it live.

Football American football is a sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The game involves advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone to score points. It is most popular in the United States, with the NFL being the top professional league.

Football may be the most popular sport in America as a whole. It's a little lower on the list because it has a high injury risk, especially concussions.

Football is very popular. From flag football to tackle football, there are plenty of opportunities. Football is a classic sport. If you don't believe me, look at a high school football game on a Friday night. Chances are high it's packed.

Swimming Swimming is an individual or team sport and activity. Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic sports, with events in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly... read more

Swimming is a fun childhood activity and an important life skill everyone should know. It's a great way to stay active and build endurance as kids learn different types of swim strokes, such as butterfly and freestyle.

Gymnastics Gymnastics is a sport involving the performance of exercises requiring strength, flexibility, balance, and control.

It includes various disciplines such as artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, and acrobatics. Gymnastics is a core sport in the Summer Olympic Games and is governed... read more

While mostly a female-dominated sport, gymnastics provides a way to practice strength, flexibility, balance, and precision. There are plenty of local youth programs available, making it one of the easier sports to get involved in.

Track and Field

Track and field offers a wide range of athletic opportunities, including sprints, long-distance running, long jump, high jump, and shot put. It allows kids the ability to find something that plays to their strengths.

Tennis Tennis is a racket sport that can be played individually against a single opponent or between two teams of two players each.

Matches are played on various surfaces such as grass, clay, or hard court, each affecting gameplay differently. It is a globally popular sport with major tournaments including... read more

Tennis is a good sport to play because it's both individual and team-based, and it is physically demanding. This game requires you to be on your feet and able to move quickly. It also helps improve hand-eye coordination.

Lacrosse Lacrosse is a contact team sport played between two teams using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick.

The objective is to score by shooting the ball into the opponent's goal. Lacrosse has several variations, including field lacrosse, box lacrosse, and... read more

I have never been much of a lacrosse fan myself, but it is growing quickly and combines elements of basketball, soccer, and hockey. This makes it one of the more unique sports, with leagues prevalent in many areas.

Ice Hockey

This is probably more common in Canada and northern areas where the weather gets cold. It is likely not as big in the South, such as Florida and Texas.

Hockey is similar to football in that it's a very physical game. However, it also requires players to be skilled at skating, which some people admittedly are not.