The Sunshine State has always been a hotbed of sporting activity. While Americans everywhere love their sport, the Florida climate makes it an ideal place for participation, not just watching your favorite pro team on TV. That means there’s a far wider range of sports that are popular here than just the usual football, baseball, basketball, and so on. Here, we take a look at the fastest growing sports in Florida. How many have you tried – and how many had you never even heard of?

Fastest Growing Sports

Lacrosse

Some of the sports we will mention are 21st-century innovations. But lacrosse is the oldest sport in North America and was first played way back in the 1600s. It’s one of those sports that most of us remember playing at school, but in recent years, pro lacrosse leagues and even international tournaments have grown in popularity. Increased media coverage and even Unibet betting opportunities mean a higher profile, which, in turn, has led to a 10 percent increase in grassroots participation. Florida is right at the center of the action.

Pickleball 

Here’s a spot that definitely wasn’t being played by indigenous Americans in the 17th century. Pickleball was invented in the 1960s and is like a cross between badminton, tennis, and table tennis. The sport suddenly started trending about three years ago, and since then, participation has gone through the roof, growing at a rate of almost 20 percent year on year. It’s a fun sport for all ages, and Floridians have more opportunities than ever to play, with eight new pickleball courts opened earlier this year in Boca Raton.

Padel

Another racket sport that was first dreamt up in the swinging sixties, padel suddenly surged in popularity during the 2020 lockdown. Miami resident Paolo Liuzzo told CBS local news he started playing at the height of the pandemic to keep himself both fit and occupied. The fact that it is like squash but played outside makes it an ideal activity for the circumstances. Now people have got into it, they just can’t get enough of the game.

Bowling 

From kids on their first dates to real-world Homer Simpsons out with the boys, bowling has always been popular as a social activity. But in recent years, it has started to be taken seriously and at the school level, it’s among Florida’s fastest growing sports. It’s a fun sport to play, but there are also serious opportunities. College bowling is growing just as fast and there are scholarships to be had for the most talented high school bowlers, especially in the girls’ game.

MMA

Combat sports can be controversial for obvious reasons. But fighting is one of the core instincts hard-wired into our DNA, so there’s plenty to be said for providing an outlet for it in a contained and safe environment as possible. The UFC has captured the imagination of today’s youngsters, and MMA has a greater emphasis on flexibility and agility than activities like boxing or wrestling. It’s becoming more popular at the grassroots level with every passing year.