One of 18 clubs that makes up the Manly Waringah Football Association, Mosman Football Club runs…read morefootball programs for children of all ages, all the way through to adult mens and ladies. Just to be clear, in this multi-lingual arena, Football in this context is soccer - the beautiful game, lead participation ball sport in the world, spread through parks and fields from the Carribbean to Colombo. MFC is run by a dedicated team of volunteers. For really keen youngsters it has pathways through to higher levels of football at representative and premier league level via MWFA, but it also caters for the masses, with the suburb a wave of blue through winter, littlies to oldies bedecked in distinctive whale-blue kit, clomping through the shops and streets in muddy boots. No rest in summer either, with an over-subscribed five-a-side competition run two nights a week at Georges Heights. The Club secures coaching for all its teams, whether it be a dedicated parent or an assigned senior player. Scarce field resources are carefully shared - though a battle persists for these - to ensure all teams have the chance to improve their skills and be sure that the Mosman Whale is well represented in finals week at Cromer Park.

According to my mother, beach volleyball is just an excuse for boys to watch girls in bikinis…read morejumping up and down. Now I've watched the games in action at Manly Beach, and the level of fitness and prowess of the girls makes them well worthy of watching ... regardless of the fact that most do look deservedly good in their bikinis. May I say that the men playing also generally look pretty fin, and more to my taste. All that jumping up and down on the sand is certainly good for something. NBVA operates a number of volleyball courts on the beach and they're almost always well used. Social players cant rent the courts or join playing groups, or there are more formal programs including lessons and competitions. During the summer there are teens programs too, and kids have progressed from here to higher levels of competition in the sport around the country. It's all huge fun, quite difficult, but a great way to keep fit in an incredibly beautiful setting, with the perfect excuse to wash off in the sea afterwards. Just don't tell where you find the sand in the shower later on ...

Home of the mighty Wakehurst Tigers, Wakehurst FC (Football Club) is the largest amateur soccer…read moreteam on Sydney's Northern Beaches. The sheer size of the club means more and better resources, plus more opportunity to play at the exact level for you or your child. However, the size of the club doesn't mean an impersonalised experience - as anyone who has interacted with the club would know, its management and board are friendly and accommodating souls. My entire family has, at one stage or another, played football for Wakehurst and proudly worn the orange and black stripes. It's a very family-orinted club, with parents on the sidelines no matter the age that you're watching. It also retains focus on the local area - sponsors are Belrose businesses that enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship with the mighty tigers. The club has all ages - from under fives to AL (Amateur League, meaning over 21) to over 45's. There is an opportunity to play at all levels, from the very good under 21 1's, to the very average. Women's and men's soccer is equally prioritised and given a fair go. Equipment and resources are all good, as are the costs of playing - definitely not prohibitive. Get out there and boot the ball around!

Ooooh, I love this place....it makes me feel like I'm Angelina Jolie on a shooting rampage. This…read morefun space of laser guns and active suits makes team sports an awesome way to sweat and shoot. We went to Laser Squirmish as a group - there were about 15 of us.... Which made the whole experience so much fun. You play two rounds with different rules and its brings out a really interesting aspect of your friends. It's amazing how quickly you can play off one another or bond intensely depending which team you end up on. When you first arrive you're taken to a locker room to gear up. You put on a pretty light suit which has a pad for people to shoot at (back and front) and your gun. The give you instructions and then lead you into the space to play. It's a dark room with fluorescent lights and lots of nooks, crannys ramps and walls to hide from, shoot from and run from. This place is awesome and an excellent place to get intouch with your inner armychick. I loved it!

Always a steady flow of people - nowhere to hide - adrenaline pumping!…read moreCheck the facebook page for EQ and get deals on Skirmish and bowling - Monday nights is 'buy a drink - get a free game!' night. There is also $5 nights, disco nights etc...

Like so many council-run sports facilities these days, this small centre is sadly over-used. It's…read morehome to the North Sydney Bears basketball club, which is a thriving club managing teams from rep to beginner, and offering adult social competitions, rising-star training programs and camps, and leagues for children of all ages. The only problem is that far more people want to play than the four courts can possibly accommodate - which in turn means that the staff, whilst dedicated to encouraging the growth of the sport, often have to knock back players and teams. The centre is also quite old, and again being a council-run facility, provided with limited funds. On several occasions during the two years we've played there, the courts have been closed due to leaks in the roofing and falling light fittings. Fingers crossed, the problems are now being addresses and these infrastructure problems will be solved, but there's not much they can do about the space ...

The A-League (Australia's professional football - soccer if you must - league) is now heading into…read moreit's 7th season. Despite a disappointing finish to last season (they failed to qualify for the playoffs), Sydney FC, with 2 championships, are the most successful team (along with Melbourne Victory) since the inception of the league. This season sees the exciting addition of Brett Emerton, a regular in the English Premier League with Blackburn Rovers, who has decided to move back home to finish his career. Hopefully this will see an improvement in results as well as attendances, which averaged out at little over 7,500 last season (in a stadium that holds over 45,000). As the season takes place over the summer, so as not to clash with the two rugby codes and the Aussie Rules seasons, games take place in the late afternoon/early evening so to avoid the hottest part of the day. The quality can sometimes be found wanting, but it's a young league and shouldn't be compared to the major leagues in Europe. It does offer and evening's worth of entertainment, and with the addition of Emerton and other players with European experience, hopefully it will help build on the quality of the league and keep it moving in the right direction. Date to watch out for (subject to change): March 10, 2012 Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory - Sydney's main rivals usually bring a healthy following, which makes for an electric atmosphere, and with the addition of Harry Kewell, they are expected to entertain this season. If you get to only one game during the season, make sure it's this one.

My first mistake when it came to Paddington Bowling Club was thinking that if I got off the bus on…read moreOxford Street at Taylor Square, it's only a short walk to Paddington. This wasn't a mistake so much as an inability to accurately take in all the information necessary to make a correct decision. Yes, if I get off the bus at Taylor Square it's only a short walk to Paddington, but no, if I get off the bus it's only a short walk to Paddington bowls. An hour and a quarter later, fighting the clock, trying to get the party on time, I arrive at the Bowling green. Which is, so we're all clear, on the other side of Paddington. Despite being so far from the bus I took, the club is in a great location, a large cliff backs onto the bowling green and provides a natural shade during particular times of the day and we're only moments away from the water, which is always a very nice feeling. The food is gourmet and the general atmosphere is one of relaxation and enjoyment, despite the fierce competition taking place. Since bowling has become somewhat fashionable and more and more take up the sport with or without shoes, the drinks have slowly risen to modern day prices. I recall going to places like the Bowling Club as the last bastion of clubs that would serve schooners of ale at genuine 1972 prices. Gone are the days of $2.50 Crownies. There's a pokies room full of repetitive music and problem gamblers, Keno and a TAB, as well as a large club area where I'm sure they have events on from time to time. Out the back there are two large bowling greens and a car park, though the place is easy enough to get to by public transport should you review the available information adequately before leaving the house. (It's only a couple of blocks from Edgecliff Station.)

Americans, this is not regular Bowling Club, this is Australia Barefoot Lawn Bowling Club. What a…read morejoyful afternoon spend here with friends. And the game, it is fun and really tough!!!!! We booked from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday. Bubbles served with excellent finger food and we bowling all afternoon. Seems it is a quite popular spot for bachelor and bachelorette party. The lane next to ours was for the bachlor's and we bachelorette gangs had great time with them exchanging drinks, food and of course our lawn bowling balls. Think about book this place gals for bacheloreete party if your wedding is set here in Sydney. (P.S. We took subway and spend 30 minutes finding this place. Great walk but should take bus or cab next time.)