Question

Do

Do is used for a recreational activity or a non-team sport that does not use a ball:

• All classes do gymnastics at school.
• Sophie does yoga with a group of friends.

 

Play

Play is used with ball sports or competitive games where we play against another person:

• Two people can play a game of tennis.
• You need a team to play football.

 

Go

Go is used with activities that end -ing. We go somewhere to do something:

• To camp  →  go camping
  We often go camping in the summer.
• To swim  →  go swimming
  Many children like to go swimming.

 

 

In British English, you can "do sport". In American English you can "play sports".

A typical mistake Spanish speakers make is using the verb practise for sports:

 

I love practising sport. This should be: I love sport.

I usually practise sport every evening. This should be: I usually do sport every evening.

 

However, in American English you can use the verb practise or practice (as it is spelt there) to mean "to train": The team is practicing for tomorrow's competition.