Trying to Strengthen Your Body? Don't Overlook These Sports ...

By A.J.

With so many popular sports for strengthening your body that you might already be practicing to keep fit – such as swimming or cycling – it can be easy to forget some others that offer equal fun and an amazing whole-body workout as well. It may even surprise you how challenging and fulfilling taking up one of these activities can be. So, here are just 9 of the best sports for strengthening your body that are often overlooked.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Please subscribe for your personalized newsletter:

1

Badminton

Among the many sports for strengthening your body that you can try out, badminton may not be first on your list. Waving around a light racquet to get that little birdie over the net doesn't seem like that much of a workout, does it? Well, you may want to think again. Badminton – when played as it should be played – requires a lot of endurance, balance and agility to keep up and works out your whole body.

2

Cricket

Though you might not believe it at first, cricket requires a lot of power and endurance, first of all, simply because of the length of the game and the heavy protective gear it requires. Also, a lot of running is required, and when playing in overcast or extremely hot weather conditions, you’ll find the game will quickly drain your energy levels.

3

Netball

Netball is very similar to basketball, so your arm and leg muscles will certainly get a work out. Also, being a defender in this sport is especially challenging, since you have to cover a lot of ground, and anything from simple line defense to shadowing and surprise counterattacks require a lot of accuracy, speed and strength.

4

Triathlon

This is probably one of the hardest sports for strengthening your body that you can try. The difficulty in mastering a triathlon is that it’s composed of three very trying sports: swimming, cycling and marathon running – each complete with courses designed to push your body to the limit.

5

Rowing

Rowing is a sport that requires a unique blend of raw strength and refined technique. Rowers need to combine their leg drive with a remarkable level of upper body strength, while pacing each stroke to build up constant speed and avoid fatigue during a race.

Famous Quotes

To give oneself earnestly to the duties due to men, and, while respecting spiritual beings, to keep aloof from them, may be called wisdom.

Confucius
6

Softball

Similar to baseball, softball actually requires a lot more strength, especially when you play as a pitcher. There are even specialized training plans designed solely for softball players to improve their strength using dumbbells, complex hip and arm motions or exercises with gradually increasing weights.

7

Field Hockey

Everyone knows ice hockey is among the best sports for strengthening your body but its close cousin, field hockey, can in many ways be even more effective. Aside from fighting the other team, players also need to fight the strong fatigue that builds up in their legs throughout the tiresome play time.

8

Water Polo

Water polo is a sport that’s quite popular in Europe, but not so much in the US. Nevertheless, you won’t find a lot of better ways to boost your strength than combining the raw power and endurance required for swimming with an actual ball game similar to soccer, but played in a large swimming pool.

9

Lacrosse

Somewhat similar to soccer, yet definitely not that popular, lacrosse is one of the best sports for strengthening the body and boosting your agility, coordination and ability to maintain higher levels of speed. Endurance and stamina are always required to fend off tricky attacks and fight for loose balls on the field.

This was my list of great, but rather overlooked sports you can take up for strengthening your body. Which one would you like to try out? Do you have any other lesser known sports in mind that could require and encourage us to boost our strength, stamina and endurance?

Sources:
topendsports.com
weighttraining.com
teamliquid.net
tt.tennis-warehouse.com
humankinetics.com
bleacherreport.com

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Water polo player since 1998! Lol my shoulders became so massive!! If you look up the sport it is the most physical demanding and aggressive there is!! I am biased but it is tanked number one on most difficult/tough ! Oh and yes we never you ch the bottom of the pool we are stable and look like it but we are egg beatering! Also some of the hottest guys as well get swimmer body with mega trim muscle! Only prob they know they are hot! lol

I play roller derby and it is an excellent way to strengthen all parts of your body. In particular, your legs and booty will look great!

Rowing is an amazing sport! Rowing done properly requires very little upper body strength. It's all in the legs!

Ranked* touch*

Horse riding, especially dressage! Lots of core strength and use of the legs - you're practically in a squat position the entire time, and using your core muscles to balance and stay on.

Related Topics

7 Ways Exercise Can Boost Other Areas of Your Life Too ... Random Thoughts All Runners Have Had at Some Point ... stay flexible 7 Tips to Achieve the Correct Posture to Avoid Back Pain ... 7 Excuses Not to Use to Skip Your Workout ... 7 Exercises to Help You Build up Your Running Distance Increase Speed Fitness ... 7 Holiday Fitness Tips to Say Yes to ... 7 Simple Tweaks for Better Workouts ... 7 Safety Tips for Runners ... 7 Ways to Sneak in Exercise ...

Popular Now