Photoplayer Hater

The way I got into acting is not the way a good portion of actors come to it. Many an actor was girly as a child, not very active or social. Theater and drama was their escape, the one place where they felt right. So many of these actors never get the experience of "normal" life that they end up trying to portray and it will hurt them.

There is nothing more obvious than a sedentary-type of actor trying to play sports and they've never done it before. They've never watched sports, never played them, and knows few people who do. This is the type of thing that can help make you a well-rounded actor and can also help general movement in addition to particular moves of any sport.

Skate, Skateboard

Do you move gracefully when on roller skates or a skateboard? Learn how to turn and stop on skates as well as propel yourself forward. On a skateboard you need to figure which way you ride: goofy or regular. Can you ollie a curb or even just pedal without falling over?

Swim, Dive

Are you comfortable in the water? Put aside time for lessons if you don't know how to swim already. Practice diving and master floating. How long can you hold your breath underwater, do you know what a breaststroke is?

Baseball

It's America's past time and it just might make its way into a production you want to be in. Can you throw a baseball like you know what you're doing? You need to learn how to catch the ball without flinching, swing the bat without fear, and sprint like you want to make it to first base.

Basketball

Basketball is like urban America's national past time and you should know how to play. Can you dribble a ball for a length of time, do you know how to shoot a basket? Do you know the general etiquette of guarding other players or will you look like a maniac grabbing for the ball and fouling your way to the bench?

Football

There are many people that get to play this sport so the principles of it are good to know. Also a lot of expressions in American English are based on it so knowing how the game is played bears insights. The actions of football are simple: pass, catch, move, kick. It's the game play that is more detailed. Football is where terms like "touchdown", "Hail Mary", "instant replay", and "off sides" came from.

You never know when you will need these skills. You probably won't be given the kind of notice you'd like to be able to learn a sport in time for an audition. Instead of just doing the things you always do, add something to your skill set that may put you ahead of the pack. Along with the physical movements and jargon it will also give you the opportunity to have something in common with people you otherwise wouldn't have been able to relate to.