The Blog

The next BIG things in sport

The inclusion of five new sports for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles – T20 cricket, flag football, squash, lacrosse and baseball/softball – got me thinking, what are the big growth sports locally and nationally?

Girls and women’s football is hitting new heights thanks in large part to the success of the Lionesses, and we are fortunate to have a dedicated club here in the shape of Asfordby Amateurs. 

In rugby, the new women’s WXV competition is raising the profile of the game ahead of an expanded 16-team Rugby World Cup in 2025 which will be held in England. Locally, Melton and Oakham rugby clubs have joined forces to grow the game as Melkham Girls Rugby.

The big growth in cricket, triggered by The Hundred, is also the girls and women’s game and there’s a burgeoning women’s softball / cricket scene here with Market Overton and Belvoir cricket clubs in the vanguard.

Discgolf and footgolf (Asfordby Acres) and walking football (Melton Sports Village) are also on the rise, along with men’s netball (Melton Marvels).

Open water swimming (Swim Six Hills and Race Hub at Frisby Lakes) and triathlon (Belvoir Tri Club and 4Life Tri Club) are also increasingly popular.

New racquet sports padel (huge in Spain and Italy) and pickleball (big in America) may be the next to breakthrough as they are easy games to pick up and play and very social.

Padel is dubbed by many as the ‘fastest growing sport in the world’ with high profile fans such as Jurgen Klopp and investors including David Beckham and Andy Murray.

The sport, which draws on elements of tennis, squash and handball, is played on a court with 3m glass walls. It’s scored like tennis but played with a stringless racquet. The ball is easier to return so rallies are longer and the game fast paced and fun.

Pickleball, meanwhile, is a gentle cross between ping-pong and tennis played on a small indoor or outdoor court with a low net.

You play with a paddle, like an oversized table tennis bat, and a wiffle ball, a light plastic one with holes. Serving is underarm and the ball has to bounce first making it accessible to all ages and abilities.

So watch this space and let’s see if my predictions for 2024 are borne out!