Sports and recreation: Vancouver club details

Playing team sports in a new city is a fantastic way to find like-minded people, so push yourself to get out and meet new people as much as possible.

● Watch Sport
● Team Sports
● Individual Sports

Vancouver club listings: Watch

Hockey

If you can afford to treat yourself to local culture, check out one of the home games for the Vancouver Canucks, the local hockey team.

‘Scalper’, or ‘tout’ tickets drop to $50-$80 if you wait until the first period is underway (games go on for around two and a half hours).

The hockey season lasts from September to April, with playoffs through May. Click here to find out the schedule.

If you still want to support a Vancouver club, you can go to the junior league and watch the Vancouver Giants play at the Pacific Coliseum. Tickets are cheaper – and the atmosphere is often better than what you’d find at Canucks games.

Soccer (Football)

The Vancouver Whitecaps are known for having “the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver”. They play in the MLS, or Major League Soccer, which is the highest league for the sport in North America.

Home games take place at BC Place. Click here to find out the schedule.

Canadian Football

The BC Lions is the Vancouver club in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The sport is almost identical to American football and played during the summer months. Click here to find out the schedule.

Vancouver club listings for teams

Urban Rec

Urban Rec Leagues are all about being active, being social and having fun. They offer drop in and competitive leagues in sports including beach volleyball, hockey, soccer, basketball and ultimate.

Soccer

Vancouver Greencaps

The Vancouver Greencaps are an amateur soccer team in Vancouver, made up predominantly of English and Irish guys on working holiday visas.

Training is on Thursdays at Point Grey Secondary School Turf in Kerrisdale. If you’re interested in getting involved, contact Andy Buckley at [email protected] or you can visit their website.

Vancouver Metro Soccer League

The VMSL is a series of local leagues with a number of clubs you can join.

Gaelic Games

The Irish Sports and Social Club (ISCC) is experiencing fantastic growth in recent years. Get involved with mens and ladies football teams, a hurling team and also a camogie team. See their website for more info on training and tournaments.

Fraser Valley Gaels is a new GAA club in Vancouver, established in 2015. The club has enjoyed rapid growth culminating in victory in the 2017 North American Intermediate football Championship. They’re always looking for new members for their ladies and mens teams, and there are more details on their website or on Facebook.

Vancouver Éire Óg GAA Club is a mens’ Gaelic football team founded in 2018 in Vancouver, BC. The club was set up with the following goals:

• To increase competitiveness in Vancouver GAA in men’s football and to ensure that there are sufficient teams create a senior championship.
• To compete in the Vancouver senior championship, Western Canadian Championship and other local competitions in Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest.
• To aid new immigrants as much as possible with the possibility of assisting in obtaining work with numerous active members of the club involved in the construction industry. The club is sponsored by Connaught Masonry, who specialize in brick/block and stone work in the lower mainland.
• To organize regular social gatherings and a couple of club events during the year to have a bit of craic. If you are interested in joining or would like more information, please send an email to [email protected] and we will get back to you asap. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/VancouverEireOgGAA/

Rugby

Scribes Rugby Club plays touch rugby every Wednesday evening at 6.30pm at Trout Lake in East Vancouver, and in a competitive league during the spring and winter.

They have a cosmopolitan Vancouver club of Canadians, Irish, English, Kiwis, Aussies, Saffers, Americans and a couple more from around the world. Contact [email protected] for more information or visit their website.

Touch (Tag) Rugby

A bunch of Kiwis, Ozzies, Saffas along with some Canadians get together every Monday and Wednesday at 6pm at Stanley Park — Brockton Oval.

Everybody and all skill levels are welcome. We play International Touch rules and are happy to teach those who are keen to learn.

If Brockton Oval is closed or being used, we will play on the lower fields by the cricket ground. Visit our Facebook Group for more info.

Australian Rules

Looking to play footy with a Vancouver club? You’ve several options!

Vancouver Cougars train on Wednesdays at 6pm, from March or April. Typically some indoor soccer or basketball is used over the winter to keep in touch. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for more information.

A female team, the Vancouver Vixens, was set up in 2016.

The Delta Bayhawks are another Vancouver club looking for players, with the season running from April to September. It is a good mix of fun, fitness and socialising. Games are on Saturday afternoons and trainings are on Thursday nights. You can contact the club through their Facebook page.

Vancouver club listings for individual pursuits

Bike / Rollerblade / Long board or Run around the Sea Wall

For biking around Stanley Park, you can rent from:

• Spokes (Denman – Georgia St)
• Bay Shore Bike & Rollerblade (Denman St)
• Stanley Park Cycle (Denman St)
• English Bay (Davie – Denman St)

Pitch n Putt (Beers allowed!)

• Stanley Park (Downtown)
• Queen Elizabeth (West 33rd- Cambie St)
• Rupert Park (East Side / Rupert – 1st Ave) 

Bike trails

• Go to the North Shore, or Pacific Spirit Park (UBC)

Tennis

• Drop in at Public Tennis Courts

Golf 

• Drop in at Public Golf Courses.

Frisbee Golf and Lawn Bowls

• See details at Queen Elizabeth Park here.

Public Ice Rinks

• Downtown (Robson Square) (winter)
• West End (Barclay – Denman St) (winter/spring)
• Kitsilano (Larch St) (winter/spring)
• Commercial Drive (Britannia Community Centre) (all year)
• Other Public Ice rinks

Indoor Climbing

• Cliff Hanger Climbing (Main St)

Outdoor Climbing

• Stawamus Chief (known locally as ‘The Chief’)

For information on various other sports not listed here, please refer to this full list of publicly run facilities. See here for public beaches.

Where next?

• Read our guide all about Winter Sports in Vancouver.