The Top 10 Sports Increasing in Popularity in 2023: From Ultimate Frisbee to Pickleball

Are you ready to kick off 2023 with some exciting new sports? We certainly are! As sports enthusiasts and retailer of sports trophies, we've been keeping a close eye on the latest trends, and we're excited to share with you the 10 sports that are increasing in popularity and have reached new audiences over the last few years.  You can probably guess some that will be on the list, but others even surprised us.  Here they are:

Esports

First up - Esports.  Not really a sport as such, but it has become so popular that we can’t ignore it.  Competitive video gaming has been on the rise for years, and it's showing no signs of slowing down, with prize money for the most illustrious esports competitions growing exponentially.  Visibility has never been higher for this ‘sport’.   If you're a fan of online gaming or looking to get into it, make sure to grab one of our engraved trophies to celebrate your victories.

Skateboarding

With skateboarding making its Olympic debut in 2021 at the Tokyo Summer Olympic games (originally scheduled for 2020 but postponed due to covid-19) and having been provisionally approved for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, we're sure to see more and more people hitting the skateparks this year.  Don't forget to grab one of our trophy cups to reward your skills and dedication to the sport.

Climbing

Another sport that made its Olympic debut in 2021 was climbing. With competitions in lead, speed, and bouldering, climbing is attracting more and more enthusiasts.  This extreme sport comes in many forms, requires high levels of stamina, strength, agility and mental control.  We can’t help but be impressed when watching this sport.  We currently don’t have any climbing medals or trophies as this is such a new sport and is just starting to become mainstream.  But don’t worry, it won’t take us long to remedy this.

Ultimate Frisbee

Looking for a fun team sport?  Ultimate Frisbee is easy to learn, accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels, and has a strong emphasis on sportsmanship and fair play.  It is not surprising that Ultimate Frisbee is one of the fastest growing sports in the world today, when considering how fun it is and how easy it is to start playing.

For anybody who has never heard of Ultimate Frisbee, Ultimate Frisbee is a non contact team sport that is played with a flying disc, commonly known as a Frisbee.  It combines elements of soccer, basketball, and American football, and is played with two teams of seven players on a rectangular field.

The objective of the game is to score points by catching the Frisbee in the opposing team's end zone.  Players can move the Frisbee by passing it to their teammates, but they cannot run with the disc. Once a player catches the Frisbee, they must stop running and establish a pivot foot, and then they have ten seconds to throw the disc to another player. If the Frisbee is dropped, intercepted, or goes out of bounds, possession of the disc changes hands.

Ultimate Frisbee is a self-refereed sport, meaning that players are responsible for making their own calls and resolving disputes on the field. It is known for its emphasis on sportsmanship, fair play, and respect for opponents.

 

Image Credit: Lee Brimelow, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Most people will have heard of MMA, there are many popular MMA stars on social media promoting MMA and its benefits.  (Some of these stars have a cult following)  Most people will not have considered it as a sport they would be willing to try, but MMA has been gaining popularity for years, and it shows no signs of slowing down.  With more and more people taking up the sport, it's a great way to get in shape and learn self-defense.

OvertAnalyzer, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Pickleball

I would be willing to bet that almost nobody in the UK has heard of pickleball.  I certainly hadn’t.  However Pickleball has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years, particularly in North America.  How Popular is Pickleball?  It is estimated that over 3 million people in the United States play pickleball, and the sport is also gaining traction in Canada and other countries around the world.

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It is played on a court that is similar in size to a doubles badminton court, with a net that is slightly shorter than a tennis net.  Pickleball is a popular sport among older adults because it is less physically demanding than other racket sports, but it is also enjoyed by players of all ages and skill levels.

If you're a fan of this paddle sport, make sure to grab one of our cheap pickleball trophy cups personalised, to show off your skills.

Image Credit: Brocken Inaglory, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Surfing

Surfing has always been a popular sport in coastal areas, but it's now attracting more and more enthusiasts worldwide.  One of the biggest reasons for its increase in popularity is the International Olympic Committee including it in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. This has given surfing greater exposure and so has become more accepted as a mainstream sport, inspiring more people to try the sport for themselves.

In addition, surfing is seen as an environmentally-friendly sport that allows participants to connect with nature and the ocean. Many surfers are passionate about ocean conservation and sustainability, and the sport's popularity has helped to raise awareness about issues such as plastic pollution and climate change.

Women's Football

It comes as no surprise that Women's Football is growing in popularity.  With the success of the England Women's team in the Euro 22 finals, we're seeing more and more people taking an interest in women's football.  Let's face it, we all want to see great football and England winning on an international level, and the Lionesses continue to excel on the world stage.  If you're a fan, make sure to grab one of our engraved football trophies to show your support for this exciting and growing sport.

The growth of social media and online streaming has also played a role in the popularity of women's football (along with raising the profiles of other fantastic sports) Fans can now easily follow their favorite teams and players, and can watch games and highlights from around the world in real-time. This has helped to create a global community of fans and has made the sport more accessible and engaging.

Image Credit: Lukas Raich, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Formula 1

Although Formula one is inaccesible as a mainstream sport, its popularity as a spectator sport has exploded in recent years.  The recent takeover by American Media company Liberty Media has propelled the sport to new heights, given it a much needed boost to help bring it into the modern world, and pushed relentlessly to expand into new countries.  Recent additions to the track calendar in exciting places like Azerbaijan , Saudi Arabia, Las Vegas, Miami, and Qatar have created new buzz in these countries and forced people to take notice. 

For those of us who have been fans of F1 for a long time, these additions have refreshed F1, given it a new face and allowed it to grow its fanbase exponentially. 

In addition, by embracing new interactive technologies and social media, we are now closer than ever to the action and the drivers.  It looks set to continue its growth for years to come.

Image Credit: Government of Odisha, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Table Tennis

Finally, we have table tennis. This fast-paced sport is gaining popularity thanks to the rise of ping pong bars and clubs around the world. If you're a fan, make sure to pick up one of our table tennis trophies to celebrate your victories.

So there you have it, the 10 sports that will continue to grow in popularity in 2023 and beyond. Whether you're a pro or a beginner, make sure to celebrate your achievements with one of our trophy cups or football trophies. With engraved trophies that are tailored to your specific sport, you'll be able to show off your skills and dedication for years to come.