City Weekend talks to some of the city's sports fanatics and finds out how you can get in on the action. Get set to head outdoors for a ball of a time.

Shi Yue
Professional Tennis Player, Ba Yi Team

In the last few years, Tennis' popularity in China has grown in leaps and bounds, thanks to more facilities and the inspiration of China's tennis supergirls, Olympic winners Sun Tiantian and Li Ting. Shi Yue is another rising star who is currently preparing for the Asia Games. You can get backhand and volley tips from this power server at the Chaoyang Tennis Club where she teaches. "I started playing because my mother forced me to, but as anyone who has played knows, it's addictive!"

David Stewart
Coach, ClubFootball

The football players Stewart trains with can be rowdy, intense and fiercely competitive. And some of them aren't even old enough to cross the street by themselves! ClubFootball offers a variety of classes for Beijing's youngest players at international school campuses around town, which are open to students and non-students alike. For the older footballers, there's the 5-a-side league, which accepts players all season long. Be prepared to work hard and play hard though! According to Stewart, "It's great fun but we take it pretty seriously!"

Monti VanBrunt
Commissioner, Beijing Softball League

There's still time to swing into action. Players of all ages are encouraged to contact the league to be placed on teams still looking for people to batter up. The league consists of corporate and embassy teams as well as groups of individuals who play at the Cathay View field. "The sport is really social because you're not running all the time. There's a lot of down time to talk," says VanBrunt. Although the commish insists it's friendly, he does get a competitive gleam in his eye when asked about the upcoming intra-city tournament. "Shanghai will eat our dust, er, sandstorms!"

Russell Probert
Chairman, Beijing Golfer's Club

While at times it seems that Beijing is one big sand trap, there are good places to hit the links. Beijing has three signature courses including the Jack Nicklaus Signature and a number of other world class venues. The Beijing Golfer's Club takes members out to the grassy knolls, alternating weekend tournaments between Saturdays and Sundays. With over 100 people showing up for some events, it's as social as it is sporty. "In a lot of golf clubs you see the same old people, but here, you meet new people all the time," says Probert, who attributes the success of the club to the fact that it's not a business but a group of people who love the game.