A World Of Sport

There are 1001 games and pastimes you can enjoy outdoors but there’s one thing you need for all of them - the right equipment.

Not only will having the right gear ensure your safety (in those games that requires it) but it will also enhance your enjoyment of the sport. This is especially true where some sort of physical movement or contact is concerned -and that’s most outdoor sports!

When You’re Starting Out

If you’re just starting out, then many items of clothing will double for several sports until you become proficient enough or involved enough to look at specialised equipment.

Shoes such as trainers, for example, can be used in all kinds of sports. Weatherproof or windproof jackets can also be used in many activities

Specialised Equipment

Some sports, however, do require special equipment. You need a proper protective helmet for cycling and skateboarding - and such is the fashion that you wouldn’t want to use a cycling helmet for skateboarding although technically it would do the job!

And much equipment, of course, is particular to a specific sport such as an archery bow - although you could possibly use it, at a pinch, as a fishing line if you also happened to be hiking, lost and hungry! However, you wouldn’t want to use a modern compound bow which, if you’re new to the sport, look more like hi tech machinery than a bow Robin Hood would have used!

Price vs. Performance

As with all specialised equipment, unless you’re rolling in dollars, you probably don’t want to spend too much until you know if you’re going to stick with the sport. It’s a trade-off between functionality and price.

With most equipment, you’re usually advised to buy the best you can afford and this is sound advice. Cheap equipment may not work as expected, it may break down or wear out, and it may even be a safety risk.

You will need to do some research to see what’s available and what models and manufacturers to look for, and then you can make a decision based on quality and however much you want to spend.

Clubs

If you’re thinking of taking up a new sport, it’s definitely worth seeing if there’s a club in your area. Not only can they help you learn the ropes but they can give you advice on equipment, and many clubs even have spare equipment to lend to newcomers.

Learning in a group environment with help from experienced players is a great way to learn.

The Rules Of The Game

All sports have rules. Some have dozens of pages of rules and the rules of some games change according to circumstances and the demands of the game.

Although you might think you know the rules to, say, golf, football or soccer, you might find a few surprises if you read the rulebook as there are rules, often obscure, to cover virtually all eventualities.

So if you’re going to get involved in a sport, it’s worth while picking up a copy of the rulebook, just so you know what’s allowed and what isn’t. You might even be able to stump a few old hands if they haven’t kept up with the latest changes.