What verbs should we use when talking about sports? play, go, or do

1. Use play for team sports or sports played with a ball:

    football, basketball, tennis

2. Use go for sports that end in gerund (-ing):

    swimming, climbing, running

    Be careful: Don't use to between go and the activity.

                    You do not go to swimming, you just go swimming.

 These sports can also be used in their verb form:

    I learned how to swim when I was 9.

    He skates  twice a week.

    Exception: Be careful not to use go with these sports:

                    boxing, fencing, weight training

    These sports are not used with any of these verbs. You can say I like to box, he likes watching fencing at the Olympics.

    Sometimes we do these sports with do some.

    He went to the gym to do some boxing.

3. Use do for sports that you do not need any equipment to do:

    karate (martial arts), gymnastics, yoga