Inspired by Wimbledon and the World Cup? Here's how to play sport for free

As fans queue up at Wimbledon in the hope of securing a ticket to watch some of the biggest names in sport, many tennis lovers face another challenge.

Trying to book a court to play at this time of year can be as hard as returning a professonal tennis player's serve.

And families trying to be healthy, active and entertained by any sports often face another hurdle - money.

Yet, there are a host of opportunities to try out sport for free.

"Record numbers of adults and children are active, and cost should never be a barrier," says Simon Hayes, chief executive of Sport England, which is responsible for growing participation in grassroots sport.

"But the reality is that for many people and families, amid rising bills, it's increasingly a concern - particularly in the communities which face the greatest challenges.

"We're focused on supporting the people and places that need the most help."

Football - with the men's World Cup currently giving it unrivalled prominence - is often held up as a mass participation sport because it is so cheap to play.

However, the well-versed ball and jumpers for goalposts claims may ignore the cost to families of kit, club fees and transport to matches.

Tennis has faced a more complex reputation, with some considering it to have been an elitist sport.

But anyone wanting to try tennis, without the costs of hiring a court or any of the equipment, can attend free sessions - often on Saturday mornings - as part of a Lawn Tennis Association scheme.

Anyone can search for a park near you running the sessions, external, although not every area of the UK is covered.

Beyond tennis, there are a host of leisure centres which offer free fitness class taster sessions, external.

Cricket is another high-profile summer sport. The Chance to Shine charity runs hundreds of free street cricket sessions, external around the country throughout the year - often within walking distance of children living in poorer areas.

British Blind Sport runs Have a Go days, external for people with sight loss to try out sports ranging from rugby to rowing for free.

Parkrun has become a hugely popular free running and walking, external activity across the UK.

There is no centralised database for free sports activities, but lots of campaigns are designed to get people moving to help their physical and mental health.

They include Every Body Moves, external for people with disabilities, regional schemes such as London Sport Get Active, external, and the This Girl Can, external campaign.

Sport England also invests in the Active Partnerships network, external, which boosts free sporting and exercise activities in different areas.

On a local level, charity-run possibilities range from free table tennis sessions in Brighton, external to street dance in Blackpool, external.

Read the full story at BBC ↗

As major sporting events like Wimbledon and the World Cup capture public attention, accessing sports facilities and participation can be expensive for many families. Cost remains a significant barrier, especially in communities facing greater economic hardship. However, numerous free or low-cost opportunities exist across the UK. Sport England supports grassroots participation through various schemes. Tennis is available through Lawn Tennis Association free Saturday morning sessions in some areas. Cricket has free street sessions run by Chance to Shine. Parkrun offers free running and walking activities. Leisure centres provide free fitness taster classes. Specialized programmes exist for people with disabilities and sight loss. Local charities run activities ranging from table tennis to street dance. While no centralised directory exists for all free sports, campaigns like Active Partnerships, Every Body Moves, and This Girl Can connect people to opportunities in their regions.

Read the full story at BBC ↗

As fans queue up at Wimbledon in the hope of securing a ticket to watch some of the biggest names in sport, many tennis lovers face another challenge.

Trying to book a court to play at this time of year can be as hard as returning a professonal tennis player's serve.

And families trying to be healthy, active and entertained by any sports often face another hurdle - money.

Yet, there are a host of opportunities to try out sport for free.

"Record numbers of adults and children are active, and cost should never be a barrier," says Simon Hayes, chief executive of Sport England, which is responsible for growing participation in grassroots sport.

"But the reality is that for many people and families, amid rising bills, it's increasingly a concern - particularly in the communities which face the greatest challenges.

"We're focused on supporting the people and places that need the most help."

Football - with the men's World Cup currently giving it unrivalled prominence - is often held up as a mass participation sport because it is so cheap to play.

However, the well-versed ball and jumpers for goalposts claims may ignore the cost to families of kit, club fees and transport to matches.

Tennis has faced a more complex reputation, with some considering it to have been an elitist sport.

But anyone wanting to try tennis, without the costs of hiring a court or any of the equipment, can attend free sessions - often on Saturday mornings - as part of a Lawn Tennis Association scheme.

Anyone can search for a park near you running the sessions, external, although not every area of the UK is covered.

Beyond tennis, there are a host of leisure centres which offer free fitness class taster sessions, external.

Cricket is another high-profile summer sport. The Chance to Shine charity runs hundreds of free street cricket sessions, external around the country throughout the year - often within walking distance of children living in poorer areas.

British Blind Sport runs Have a Go days, external for people with sight loss to try out sports ranging from rugby to rowing for free.

Parkrun has become a hugely popular free running and walking, external activity across the UK.

There is no centralised database for free sports activities, but lots of campaigns are designed to get people moving to help their physical and mental health.

They include Every Body Moves, external for people with disabilities, regional schemes such as London Sport Get Active, external, and the This Girl Can, external campaign.

Sport England also invests in the Active Partnerships network, external, which boosts free sporting and exercise activities in different areas.

On a local level, charity-run possibilities range from free table tennis sessions in Brighton, external to street dance in Blackpool, external.

Read the full story at BBC ↗

Cost is a barrier to sports participation for many families, particularly amid rising bills in disadvantaged communities Sport England is responsible for growing participation in grassroots sport The men's World Cup is currently giving football unrivalled prominence Football is often claimed to be cheap to play, but families face costs for kit, club fees, and transport Tennis has been considered by some to have an elitist reputation Free tennis sessions run by the Lawn Tennis Association occur often on Saturday mornings, though not every UK area is covered Chance to Shine runs hundreds of free street cricket sessions around the country British Blind Sport runs free Have a Go days for people with sight loss Parkrun is hugely popular for free running and walking in the UK No centralised database exists for free sports activities Active Partnerships, Every Body Moves, and This Girl Can are campaigns designed to increase sports participation

Read the full story at BBC ↗

• Cost is a barrier to sports participation for many UK families, particularly in disadvantaged communities
• Free sports opportunities exist across the country, including tennis sessions, parkrun, street cricket, and leisure centre classes
• Sport England and various charities run schemes to increase grassroots participation regardless of ability or income
• No centralised database exists for free activities, but campaigns like Active Partnerships and This Girl Can help promote them