By Christina Laun

Social networking sites aren’t just great places to catch up with old friends from high school or post pictures from your night out last weekend. With their growing popularity, social networking sites are expanding to fit a wide variety of niches. Now sports fans can come together on a wide variety of sites to talk about their favorite teams, sports or even meet up to play pick-up games. Check out these sites to meet up with and chat with your fellow sports followers from all over the globe.

General

These sites serve fans of a wide range of sports.

1. FanNation: Get sports stats and news through this site and its partners Sports Illustrated and CNN. It also has loads of social networking features.
2. SportsMates: Network with sports fans from all over the globe on this site, which offers thousands of forums, blogs, directories and photos of all types of sports.
3. Fanspot: Join fan clubs, blog about your favorite team, check team stats and post photos on this comprehensive sports social networking sites.
4. Tired & Tested: This UK-based sports site allows users to create profiles, join clubs, blog, and more about their favorite players and teams.
5. UltraFan: Here sports fans of all kinds can create a profile and network with friends, blog, participate in forums, and post videos and photos related to sports.
6. e-Fans: Check out this social network for sports fans to get the latest scores and news, buy tickets, create blogs and talk to other fans about everything from soccer to tennis.
7. FreetheFan: Create a profile on this site to chat about sports, share videos and even win prizes that are given away through the site.
8. SportMe: This sports social network is the largest in the UK and provides a place to talk about athletes, teams and clubs.
9. Fan Smack: Users of this site can create a profile and start talking smack about all the teams and players they don’t like.
10. FanZak: This new site provides a place where fans can create a profile, share photos, get the latest sports rumors, and join team-specific groups.
11. FanBoom: With this site, fans can build their own websites, blog about sports, and get the latest news and photos of their favorite teams.
12. MVPSpot: Create a user profile on this site to share your photos, videos and thoughts in online forums.
13. RootZoo: This sports networking site allows users to chat about their favorite teams, create and play in fantasy leagues, share videos, chat and take advantage of a variety of other services.

Leagues

With these sites you’ll find networking for entire leagues and all the teams they represent.

14. My AFL: Fans of the American Football League can get together on this site and share videos, photos and commentary on the latest games and best players. Diehard fans can use this Football Fanatics coupon code to show their true colors.
15. Fan Voice: Chat up other basketball lovers on the NBA’s official community site. Users can share their photos, set up a profile and even play in fantasy leagues.
16. NHL Connect: Recap all the action on the ice through this NHL fan community with forums, videos and photos.

Teams

Support your favorite teams on these great networks, and then show your team spirit with this Fansedge coupon code.

17. I Am a Trail Blazers Fan: This Portland basketball team was the first to launch a team-specific social networking site. Fans can get together to chat about games or participate in the volunteer programs associated with the team.
18. MyColts.net: Fans of the Indianapolis Colts can blog, post videos and photos, and gain social cred as they post.
19. HuskerSpot: Students and other fans of the University of Nebraska’s teams can come together on this site which comes complete with video and photo sharing capabilities as well as forums and blogging capabilities.
20. TechSideline: Those who want to support Virginia Tech’s sports can check out this social networking site. Visitors can get news, participate in forums, read a blog and more.
21. Redskins Connect: Meet up with other fans of the Washington Redskins on this site. You’ll find photos and media, email, chat and much more.
22. Planet Orange: Keep up with the goings on of the Phoenix Suns on this site, which also allows users to create groups, blog and share videos and photos.

High School and College

Fans of non-professional sports can check out these sites for the latest.

23. TAKKLE: High school athletes and their coaches can network on this site and interact with fans through communities, news and photos.
24. Tru Preps: High school athletes can create a profile here which lists their accomplishments, stats, and photos, as well as meet with other athletes.
25. FanU: Share your thoughts on your favorite college teams on this site, dedicated solely to college sports. Users can join groups, share media, blog and more.
26. CollegeFanz: Whether you’re in college or just root for a college team, this site provides a place to find information, talk with other fans and share a variety of media.
27. SportsWar: Here you’ll find information from 29 different collegiate sports social networks so you can get it all in one easy to access place.

Extreme Sports

If you like to live on the edge or just like to watch those who do, check out these sites.

28. Zexsports: Those who are into extreme sports like BMX, white water rafting, rock climbing and kayaking can meet others who share these interests on this networking site.
29. Sk8Site: This skateboarding community provides a place to share videos, pictures and stories and chat with other skaters, professional and amateur.
30. SurfSpot: Surfers can meet and chat with each other on this surf-specific site which offers video and photo posting, event notifications, and even surf TV.
31. Motocross.com: Share your thoughts on the latest in motocross as well as videos and photos on this community site.
32. MayContainNuts: Those crazy about extreme sports can find all the information, videos and forums they’ll need to keep up with the latest in wakeboarding, kite surfing, snowboarding and much more.

Sport Specific

Whether you’re into tennis or soccer you’ll find networks to meet your fan needs here.

33. RodeoUp: The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association has created this site to let fans and participants of rodeo sports meet and network with each other.
34. SkiSpace: Founded by Olympian Bode Miller, this ski site allows users to share their ski photos and videos, create a blog and even make reservations at ski resorts.
35. SkiNet: Here, users can create a profile that will allow them to engage in chats with other members as well as upload their own content and share recommendations.
36. UltimateFrisbee.com: Meet and greet ultimate frisbee enthusiasts on this site, which comes complete with message boards, photo and video posting and more.
37. FootyHeads: Those crazy about the game of rugby can use this site as a place to talk about the sport as well as post pictures and videos.
38. SwimRoom: Get professional advice from Olympic swimmers, blog about swimming, post videos, and create swimming related groups on this site.
39. InFieldParking: Fans of NASCAR will appreciate this site, which provides photos, news and forums on the latest in racing.
40. OleOle: This site is the largest social networking site dedicated solely to soccer. It provides blogging, podcasts, photos, videos, wallpapers and of course forums to talk about the latest in worldwide soccer.
41. Stracka.com: Golfers can get together on this site which provides a variety of blogging, networking and media sharing capabilities.
42. Tennisopolis: Get the latest news in tennis as well as find other players and fans to chat with on this site.

Social Bookmarking

Read all kinds of sports related news, vote and recommend articles on these sites.

43. Ballhype: This site pulls sports related news stories from all over the Web and aggregates them in one easy-to-browse place in a Digg-like format.
44. SportsAg: Visitors to this site can read sports-related posts from blogs all over the net.

For Athletes

Sports networking sites aren’t just for fans, athletes can get in on the fun too with these sites.

45. ILovetoPlay: Individuals and organizations looking to meet with others to play sports, talk, find training partners and organize events.
46. isporty: This site aims to bring people together through sports, both through those that play them and those who enjoy watching them. Find information and chat with others on over 360 sports.
47. ComenPlay: This site aims to bring together athletes from a wide range of sports. Forums and other features make it easy to work together to improve fitness and sports skills and to meet up to play games.
48. iStadia: Professionals in sports and fitness can use this site as a place to meet with others to work out, play sports, and get advice.
49. AccessAthletes: Athletes in all sports and all levels can use this site as a place to network through messages, blogs and more.
50. StickyChicken: StickyChicken is dedicated to helping athletes in numerous sports find and meet with others who are interested in playing.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 29th, 2008 at 9:32 am and is filed under Entertainment, Other Services. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.