Joining a sports team is a big part of high school, and as an exchange student it is your chance to practice your favorite sport or just try something new, no matter what level you are on or what your interests are you can be sure that you will find something for you!
To give you some examples of different sports you can play, here is a list of a few of the most popular sports in the USA.
Basketball
Some of the most famous athletes in America all got their start in high school, Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant to name a few. Joining a high school basketball team is a great way to be part of a group, practice teamwork, improve work ethic and discipline. And with women’s basketball on the rise it is definitely one of the most popular sports among high schools in the USA.
American football
Do you have a dream of one day playing in the Superbowl? American football has long been a symbol as the ultimate American sport, it is played at almost every school in every state and many players go on to play at a college level after they graduate and might even join the NFL later on.
Cheerleading
High school cheerleading could be described as a combination between dance and gymnastics, it requires strength and flexibility and not to be afraid of falling down. Depending on the team it could be good to know that they often travel to different states for competitions, so make sure that you are able to leave for short periods of time a few times a month during competition season.
Volleyball
The perfect summer sport! Volleyball comes in many different variations, you can play it inside or at the beach on a sunny day! High school volleyball is more common in the warmer states as many prefer to play outside, but it’s starting to become more popular in the rest of the country as well.
Hockey
Hockey is a fast-paced and exciting sport offered in two main forms: ice hockey and field hockey. Ice hockey is played on ice with skates and a puck, while field hockey is played on turf with a ball. Both versions bring energy, teamwork, and plenty of action to the game – no matter which one your high school offers.
Gymnastics
Do you want to be the next Simone Biles? Do you have coordination, strength and balance? Then maybe gymnastics is for you. Just like any other sport there are several different variations, most high schools offer both rhythmic (performance, dance and flow) and artistic gymnastics (technicality and balance) so that you can specialize in the one that you like the best!
Track & Field
If you have good stamina and like running or jumping in fast paced competitions, then consider joining your high school track & field team! Track & Field consists of 7 different athletic contests: 100 metres hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200 metres, long jump, javelin throw and 800 metres.
Swimming
Swimming is a perfect sport if you want a full body workout. Many high schools in the USA have their own swimming pool at school grounds, so there is no need to leave school to go to practice. If you like watersports but not competitive swimming, you could always see if your school has a diving team instead!
Baseball
With almost 14,988 high school baseball teams all across the states, it is one of the more popular sports in the USA. Baseball and softball are very similar with only a few minor differences that separate them, the majority of schools in the USA offer at least one of them.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse might not be as popular outside of the USA, but if you haven’t heard about Lacrosse earlier, it’s almost like a mix between hockey and handball where you catch the ball with a net. The sport used to be more common in just New York but has recently gained more popularity across the states in the recent years especially among women where participation in the sport has increased by 43% the last 5 years.
Soccer
Soccer might be the biggest sport in the world but in the US it is just now starting to get popular, especially with the 2026 FIFA world cup being held in the US, the interest is growing.
Soccer is a sport that you can play anywhere in any weather, so if your school doesn’t have a team, you can always gather your friends, find a soccer ball and create your own!
🏀 Study in the USA – pick your high school sport
Curious about studying at an U.S. high school and playing sports at the same time? Educatius has an extensive partnership with schools across the USA, and many of them offer a variety of sports for you as an exchange student. With our school matcher, you can easily search by state and see which sports are available!
