Which sport would you like to take part in?
An NHS Choices online tool, designed to reveal an individual’s most compatible Olympic sport, has revealed aesthetic sports, such as gymnastics and figure skating, rank highest among Britons.
The tool, named ‘what’s your sport,’ comprises of an online aptitude and psychological test. It determines which sports best suit your lifestyle and characteristics, sorting you into one of 11 different sport categories.
Almost one in five Brits fall into the aesthetic sports category with attributes including good concentration, excellent memory and a penchant for routine.
Since March 2012, more than 8000 people completed the online test to uncover a sports category they are best suited to.
The UK’s population were also found to be cut out for lifestyle sports, such as cycling and walking and invasion sports, such as football and basketball. Board sports, such as surfing and skateboarding and winter sports such as skiing ranked lowest of the sports categories.
The test was created by NHS Choices and a team of sports psychologists at Loughborough University.
Dr David Fletcher, lecturer in sport and performance psychology at Loughborough University, who led and managed the development of the test, said: “This tool helps people find sports they are most inclined to enjoy and be good at, so giving many the impetus to get started in finding an activity that they can really embrace and form a part of their lifestyle.”
Dr. Knut Schroeder GP commented: “Regular exercise is vital to a healthy lifestyle. In my experience, the best way for people to stay motivated is if they can find an exercise activity they enjoy. In this sense, this tool is great, as it helps people find sports they are best suited to, so hopefully they’ll be more likely to take it up and keep active regularly. ”
The tool helps people to get started and try out the sports they’re best suited to. It does this by inviting them to give their postcode which in turn directs them to places in their local area where they can try a sport that falls into their sports category.
Find your sport and take the test at www.nhs.uk/olympicssport.
Femalefirst Taryn Davies
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