I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I LOVE my team sport – playing it, watching it and talking about it! Being born and raised in Australia, it’s a massive part of our culture (despite the warmer weather we have down here)
As a young kid going to school in Brisbane, I grew up playing football (soccer) with my friends and boy did I work up a sweat in my school uniform every lunch break and while playing for my local football club. As I grew older and started playing with adults, I realised that although my teammates worked equally as hard as me on the pitch, they didn’t seem to sweat as easily or as much as I did. I had already realised by that age that I had some overly active sweat glands. But it also made me realise the extra effort I would need to keep my self hydrated while playing the various sports I played.
These days I still play football, but I also play futsal, basketball, touch rugby, tennis and even mixed netball! There is ALOT of sweat produced during my ordinary week!
If you’re an absolute sports nut like me, here are the top 5 team sports guaranteed to give you a serious workout:
1. Basketball:
- Why the Sweat? Constant running, jumping, and quick changes of direction make basketball a cardiovascular powerhouse. Personally, I suck at shooting and dribbling, so trust me when I say that defense alone will have you sweating. You can definitely see the sweaty sheen on the professional players in the NBA.
- Fun Fact: A study showed that a typical basketball game can burn between 600-900 calories! That’s a serious workout.
- Added bonus: The stop and go nature of the sport helps build endurance and explosive power.
- Professional competitions: NBA
2. Football (Soccer):
- Why the Sweat? Covering vast distances on the field, combined with sprinting, tackling, and kicking, makes soccer a relentless sweat-inducing sport. Not to mention that it is almost always played outdoors when the sun’s heat can definitely lift your body temperature enough. In amateur competitions in Australia, they even have compulsory water breaks during the game just to allow players to hydrate!
- Fun Fact: Professional soccer players (in the English Premier League, La Liga or Serie A etc) can run upwards of 7 miles in a single match. To be honest, I probably run only half of that, but it is definitely still a sweat!
- Added bonus: Football is excellent for leg strength and overall stamina and cardiovascular health.
- Professional competitions: EPL, La Liga, Championship, MLS, Serie A, Ligue 1, Saudi Pro League, A-League
3. Ice Hockey:
- Why the Sweat? Don’t let the ice fool you! The combination of skating, rapid shifts, and physical contact generates intense heat. And have you seen how much gear those professional NHL players wear? I think my sweaty back would be absolutely DRIPPING before I even stepped onto the ice rink!
- Fun Fact: Players often lose several pounds of water weight during a game due to the sheer amount of sweat produced.
- Added bonus: Great for agility, balance, and upper body strength.
- Professional Competitions: NHL
4. Rugby:
- Why the Sweat? Non-stop running, tackling, scrums, and mauls make rugby one of the most physically demanding team sports out there. No way my skinny frame would make it on the rugby pitch, but I LOVE my Rugby League! I’m amazed how these athletes are able to run for 80 minutes getting tackled, and tackling other rather large athletes. Impressive!
- Fun Fact: Rugby league players are known for their incredible endurance and strength, a testament to the sport’s intensity. And my home country – Australia – is the best at it (no bias!)
- Added bonus: Promotes teamwork and mental toughness.
- Professional Competitions: NRL
5. Water Polo:
- Why the Sweat? Treading water, swimming sprints, and wrestling for the ball create a unique and extremely challenging workout.
- Fun Fact: You may think they’re not getting a sweaty workout because they’re under water, but water polo players have some of the highest VO2 max levels of any athletes, indicating exceptional cardiovascular fitness.
- Added bonus: Low impact on joints, while providing a full body workout.
- Professional Competitions: No idea, to be honest. The Olympics?
Get Out There and Sweat!
Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just looking for a fun way to get in shape, these team sports offer a fantastic opportunity to push your limits and enjoy the camaraderie of teamwork. So, grab your gear, find a team, and get ready to sweat!
Otherwise, if you just love watching sport in general, you can have some added admiration of the work rate of the athletes knowing just how much they sweat, let alone work in their sport!
Remember to stay hydrated and listen to your body. Happy sweating, swaters!
