Whether it’s for fitness or just for fun in the outdoor sun, millions of Americans are spending their free time engaged in some type of sport, fitness activity, or athletic/recreational endeavor. According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), bowling is the number one sports activity in the U.S. — though four out of the top ten activities are fitness pursuits and another four are directly related to the ‘Great Outdoors.’

The ‘big picture’ details on sports participation patterns in the United States can be found in SGMA’s Sports Participation Topline Report (2006 edition). This report contains participation data for more than 100 sports which are divided into one of 13 different categories-equipment exercise; fishing; fitness activities; indoor sports; outdoor activities; personal contact sports; racquet sports; shooting sports; team sports; water sports; wheel sports; winter sports; and other sports/activities.

In this study, there are annual participation figures for 1987 (benchmark year); 1990; 1993; 1998; 2000; 2004; and 2005. It also lists percentage changes for 2004 vs. 2005; 1998 vs. 2005; and 1987 vs. 2005.

From a growth perspective, the ten activities with the most statistically-significant percentage increases in participation from 2004 to 2005 were lacrosse (+77.5%), fly fishing (+41.6%), surfing (+37.3%), ice hockey (+29.4%), mountain biking (+21.2%), yoga/tai chi (+18.1%), artificial wall climbing (+15.8%), indoor soccer (+15.5%), jet skiing (+14.5%), and kayaking (+13.3%).

TOP 25 MOST POPULAR SPORTS/RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE U.S.
(For calendar year 2005; 6 years of age or older; participated at least once per year)

Sport/Activity

    Participants

  • 1. Bowling 53.5 million
  • 2. Treadmill Exercise 48.0 million
  • 3. Stretching 42.3 million
  • 4. Freshwater Fishing 42.1 million
  • 5. Tent Camping 38.6 million
  • 6. Horseback Riding 38.0 million
  • 7. Running/Jogging 37.8 million
  • 8. Overnight Hiking 36.6 million
  • 9. Fitness Walking 36.3 million
  • 10. Billiards/Pool 35.2 million
  • 11. Basketball 32.0 million
  • 12. Hand Weights 31.4 million
  • 13. Weight/Resistance Machines 29.0 million
  • 14. Dumbells 28.4 million
  • 15. Golf 25.7 million
  • 16. Calisthenics 24.9 million
  • 17. Barbells 23.0 million
  • 18. Darts 18.8 million
  • 19. Tennis 18.3 million
  • 20. RV Camping 18.2 million
  • 21. Hunting (Shotgun/Rifle) 18.0 million
  • 22. Elliptical Motion Trainer 16.7 million
  • 23. Abdominal Machine/ Exercise 16.5 million
  • 23. Inline Skating 16.5 million
  • 25. Outdoor Soccer 15.8 million

Other prominent sports located outside the top 25 sports/activities are: fitness swimming (14.6 million), ice skating (14.6 million), touch football (14.1 million), table tennis (14.1 million), slow-pitch softball (12.9 million), skateboarding (11.4 million), paintball (10.4 million), Pilates Training (10.4 million), baseball (10.3 million), water skiing (7.3 million), tackle football (5.8 million), racquetball (4.9 million), fast-pitch softball (3.5 million), and surfing (2.7 million).