Everyone can find a sport they enjoy. There are team sports, like football, rowing, and rugby, or individual sports like swimming, martial arts or running. There are also keep-fit activities, like weights, circuit training or water aerobics. Any sort of exercise is good for you:
- Improves fitness, weight and health
- Releases ‘feel-good’ chemicals (endorphins) in your brain
- Gives you energy and helps you sleep
Because lots of sport happens in clubs and centres, it can also help you get out, meet people and improve your social life.
Try your local Young People's Centre
Oxfordshire's Young People's Centres have sports equipment and facilities for popular sports like football, ping-pong, pool and basketball. They may also have other sessions, like martial arts, skating, canoeing and keep fit, or arrange trips to centres which do offer these sports. Ask the youth worker.
Find your local Sports and Leisure Centres
Your local council organises sports centres, parks, projects and other leisure facilities. Many of these offer activities which are cheap or free for younger people. You can find information on your local sports centres, swimming pools, and other leisure facilities on their websites:
- Cherwell (Banbury, Bicester, Hook Norton, Kidlington, Upper Heyford)
- West Oxfordshire (Burford, Chipping Norton, Witney, Woodstock)
- Oxford (Oxford City, Cowley, Botley, Wolvercote, Headington)
- Vale of the White Horse (Abingdon, Faringdon, Kennington, Wantage)
- South Oxfordshire (Didcot, Henley, Thame, Wheatley)
There are also other local centres, projects and websites which can help you get into sport.
OXSRAD - The Integrated Sports Centre
Integrated sports and leisure centre with a Youth Club. Lots of sporting and other activities, accessible to all.
Oxfordshire Sports Partnership
Search for activities and clubs near you, get the latest news, read about events and find job and volunteering opportunities
Activities Oxfordshire
The Positive Activities website includes sports and leisure activities
Oxfordshire Football Association
Find clubs near you, read news, find out about current campaigns
Oxfordshire Athletics Association
Find clubs near you, find out about about events and coaching
Oxfordshire Hockey
Clubs, events, training, coaching and hockey camps for young people
Oxford Youth Sailing
Want to get into sailing? This site will help you find out how.
Oxford Wheels Project
Home is where the ramp is. Skating in Oxford and beyond.
Experience: Making it happen - Bretch Hill Youth
Bretch Hill United Football Team was formed in 2004,and has been funded by the Youth Offending Service through the Positive Activities for Young People 16 plus Scheme. Due to the popularity of the club numerous young people have accessed the team and the response has been overwhelming, identifying that a reserve team was required. The First Team have been very successful finishing 3rd in the Sunday Morning Banbury & District League, Division 1, also reaching the Final of the Norbar Cup against AC Hardwick. In the 2008 season the First Team, Bretch Hill United, will become independent and the reserve team will be renamed Bretch Hill Youth. Unfortunately the funding is no longer available through YOS but multi-agency working with Oxfordshire Youth Support Services in Banbury has enabled Bretch Hill Youth to engage in a “Grass Roots” weekend in Birmingham and be supported as a voluntary organisation with a football manager. Youth Support Services is also assisting with applying for ongoing funding. - Hayley Watson
