Dodgeball
As popularised by the 2004 Ben Stiller film, this game has many variants, but classic dodgeball very simply involves hitting people with a large ball while avoiding being hit yourself. Enderby Dodgeball Club in Leicester trains every Tuesday and Thursday. The club's age range is 15 to 40+. All sessions are suitable for beginners, and the first session is free. enderbydodgeball.co.uk

Muggle quidditch
JK Rowling's invented game of quaffles and snitches is a huge hit with students, with more than 30 university teams competing in the Highlander Cup last year. Oxford University quidditch club runs tournaments in the university park that are open to everyone – and there's a Valentine's Day match coming up on 22 February. oxfordquidditch.com

Tough Mudder
You will need camaraderie with fellow participants to get through "the toughest event on the planet", a 12-mile obstacle course designed by the special forces. There are eight events across the UK and Ireland this year. toughmudder.co.uk

Ultimate
This relatively new sport, formerly known as ultimate frisbee, combines elements of netball and American football. Communication is vital, with each team attempting to catch the disc in their opponent's endzone. It's self-refereed and cheap – all you need is a disc and a place to play. You can also play indoors with a local team. The friendly Leicester Ultimate Frisbee Club welcomes new members regardless of experience or ability. leicesterultimatefrisbee.co.uk

American football
This is one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK. Forget 20-stone juggernauts bludgeoning each other senseless, it's actually an intelligent game of tactics and teamwork that has a contactless '"flag football" version too. Clubs such as the Burnley Tornados (tornadosafc.com) are always looking to recruit, and hold frequent trial days and practice sessions. To find your nearest club, use the club finder at britishamericanfootball.org