What Sports Do Teenagers Choose—and Why

Research shows that teenagers often begin to lose interest in sports between the ages of 13 and 15. However, their interest in certain favorite types of activity often remains.

Why do teenagers choose some sports and give up others? What should parents know to support their child?

What Sports Are Popular Among Teenagers

According to studies, teenagers most often choose:

• Team sports: basketball, soccer, volleyball. The team atmosphere is important — the feeling of having your teammates nearby with shared goals.
• Individual sports: running, swimming, martial arts. These are chosen by those who want to focus on themselves — their own goals, pace, and boundaries.
• Alternative sports: skateboarding, BMX, parkour, dance. Here, sport becomes a form of self-expression and a chance to go beyond the ordinary.

For teens, sports are not just a way to stay in shape, but a chance to be with friends, relieve stress, and build self-confidence.

Why Teenagers Choose (or Don’t Choose) Sports

For a teenager to want to play sports, several factors—both external and internal—need to align. Their combination creates motivation:

Expectations and pressure

When sport is seen as an obligation—focused on results, evaluations, and success—interest can quickly fade. Pressure from parents or coaches and the fear of not living up to expectations prevent teens from enjoying the process.

Environment

Support from friends and parents, relationships with the coach, and acceptance in the group all influence the desire to stay in the activity. But if a teen isn’t accepted, faces mockery, or feels like an outsider, they may completely lose interest.

Practical factors

Accessibility of sports clubs, the cost of participation, travel time, and what needs to be carried around—these are all important, sometimes decisive factors. For example, hockey requires full gear and a heavy bag, which may become a barrier for the family or the teen.

Personal reasons

Teens may choose to play a sport out of a desire to feel their body, stay in shape, cope with stress, or simply enjoy movement. But some teens may have the opposite experience. They may have feelings of insecurity, dissatisfaction with their appearance, or bad memories of past activities. All of this can push them away from sports.

Why Teenagers Quit Sports

Even if a teen once enjoyed sports, there may come a time when they want to quit. Research shows this can happen due to:

• Excessive competition, burnout, fear of not meeting expectations
• Pressure from adults who project their own ambitions onto the child
• Shifting priorities: school, gadgets, relationships, exploring other interests

Sometimes, a teen isn’t leaving sports altogether—they’re leaving an environment where they no longer feel comfortable.

How to Help a Teen Choose and Stick with a Sport

Many parents want their child to play sports regularly and with joy. But the teen years are a time of change, and it’s important to remain flexible and understanding.

Here’s what can help a teenager find the right sport, and keep enjoying it:

• Let them try different things. Teens change, and so do their interests. Give them space to explore.
• Don’t compare. Focus not on achievements, but on effort and enjoyment.
• Help find the right club. The closest one isn’t always the best. It’s important that the coach is not only professional but also respectful and attentive to the teen. The coach needs to respect their boundaries and offer support. This kind of approach builds motivation and trust.
• Be active together. Bike rides, hikes, dancing at home—these count too.
• Respect their feelings. If your child says they’re tired or don’t want to go—listen. Sometimes, a break is more important than persistence.

For teenagers, sport isn’t about discipline and willpower. It’s about the freedom to be themselves and try different things. When it becomes part of life by the teen’s own choice, it can provide stability, confidence, and true enjoyment.

References:

• Psychosocial Determinants of Sports Participation Among Adolescents, Preventive Medicine Reports, 2024
• What Types of Sports Are Popular Among Teenagers Today?, Teenage Spirit, 2023
• Factors Related to Adolescents’ Participation in Organized Sports, International Journal of Educational Methodology, 2022
• State of Play 2020: Trends and Developments in Youth Sports, Aspen Institute, 2020