Learning a new sport means years of expensive private coaching, right? Not so fast—you may be surprised to learn that you can learn a sport on a budget, thanks to video.

When it comes to learning a new skill or sport, it takes time. Experts estimate that it takes 20 hours to become competent at a new skill, so if you’re willing to give the time, you can take up tennis, soccer, golf, or any other sport.

By watching sports and coaching videos, it’s easier than ever to learn a new sport, and you don’t need to pay for pricey lessons. If you’re interested to find out how you can learn a sport by watching videos, keep reading to find out.

Where Can You Find Educational Sports Videos?

If you’re ready to learn a new sport by watching videos, the good news is that you can find them just about anywhere!

Many professional sports are covered by the evening news, which means news sites, either local or national, are good places to look first. Most will have a sports section, where they’ll post videos or highlights of recent games or matches.

Another top option is YouTube. This video-sharing site is huge, with millions of videos. Simply search for your sport in the search bar and you’ll find instructional videos, top tips, videos of professionals, and even funny bloopers.

YouTube also offers different channels, so you may find a helpful channel that’s specific to your sport.

You can also search online for your sport, which may bring up websites for coaches or professional bodies that govern the sport. They are sure to have videos as well, which you can watch to help learn more about playing sports that interest you.

Benefits of Watching Videos to Learn a Sport

There are plenty of benefits to learning a sport via videos. It’s easy to do and can be done from the comfort of your own home, but here are a few more reasons to try it out.

Here are some of the best. 

You Can Learn from the Pros

One of the best reasons to watch videos is that you can learn from professionals. Professional athletes are some of the best in the world when it comes to their sport, so it makes sense that they can help you learn.

Say you’re interested in golf, for example. Watching videos of superstars like Greg Norman or Tiger Woods can help you see exactly how they swing, putt, and handle challenging courses, providing valuable insight into how golf can be played well.

Many sports, like golf, can be tricky to learn, so invest some of your time in watching the pros to learn more about how they play so well.

It’s Inspirational

Another top reason to watch sports videos is that they can be inspirational. Whether you’re watching a video of a pro or a coach, seeing someone excel at their sport can provide motivation and encouragement—if they can do it, so can you!

Learning a new sport or skill takes time and can be frustrating, as you may feel like you’re just not making any progress. But videos are sure to help you find the encouragement you need to grab your tennis racket and head out for some practice, even if you know it’ll be tough.

You Can Pause and Watch Again

One of the great advantages of sports videos is the pause button. When watching a video, you can pause and rewind to watch parts of the video over and over again.

Repetition is one of the best ways to learn something new. If you’re watching tennis videos and want to learn how to improve your serve, try watching a video of a serve several times.

You can even watch it in slow motion, which will let you see exactly how the athlete is doing it. This helps you learn as you can recreate the motions yourself.

Practice at Home

Depending on the sport, you may be able to practice along at home while you’re watching the video. With the tennis example above, you can bring out your racket and practice your serve (without a ball), mimicking the movements you see on the screen.

Then, you’ll feel more confident when you head out on the court.

It’s Free

When you consider coaching fees and lessons, learning a new sport can be very expensive. One big advantage of watching sports videos is that they’re free.

If you have an internet connection, you can find plenty of free videos online that help you learn a new sport without breaking the bank.

If you’re on a tight budget, you can also save money by purchasing sporting equipment secondhand or borrowing from a friend. Sports don’t need to cost a fortune, especially with the help of free online videos.

Learn a New Sport Today

Ready to learn a sport? If so, what are you waiting for? Now that you know so many great reasons to learn sports by watching videos, get started today by searching for videos that are of interest.

Then, try to devote at least an hour or two per week to watching videos and practicing your new sport. It takes time to master a sport, but the more time you put into it, the more you’ll progress.

Sports are fun, but they also keep us active and healthy, so they are one of the best ways to look after our overall health. So, hit play and get learning!

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