What are the most commonly played sports in America?

Answer 1

According to the US Census Bureau, among the general population, bowling is the most commonly played sport in America (43 million), followed by billiards (29 million), Basketball (24 million), golf (23 million), and baseball/softball (24 million).

According to the NCAA, for organized College Sports, football is the clear winner, followed by baseball/softball, Track and Field, soccer, basketball, cross-country running, and swimming/diving. Football is also the #1 organized sport in high school, followed by basketball, track & field, baseball/softball, soccer, and cross-country.

Football is even a bigger winner when you consider that it is played almost entirely by male students, whereas the other sports include both male and female athletes. However, tackle football is played almost entirely in schools or professional leagues; like other contact sports, it is not a popular amateur sport among adults.

Answer 2

These are probably the most popular as 1,2,4,8 and 10 are played at college others are sports for adults but you see these sports a lot in America

1st: Football (NFL)

2nd:Baseball (MLB)

3rd:Ice Hockey (NHL)

4th:Basketball (NBA)

5th:Motor Sports

6th:Wrestling (WWE)

7th:Golf (Masters & Other Tournaments In USA)

8th:Soccer (MLS)

9th:Martial Arts

10th:Lacrosse

It depends on how you determine popularity. In terms of actual attendance at events, horse racing leads by a wide margin. Auto racing is second. In terms of number of people participating, golf and basketball most likely head the list. Hockey would not make the top 25. World wide, soccer/football and motor racing lead the the pack. As to WWE, the organization itself denies that it is a sport. Note the E in the name stands for "Entertainment".

As of 2011

1st: Football (NFL)

2nd: Basketball (NBA)

3rd: Baseball (MLB)

4th: Mixed Martial-Arts/Boxing (UFC/Prize Fighter)

5th: Ice-Hockey (NHL)