Dream Teams: Best interactive sports

When it comes to exercise I am by no means a team player. Like most people I know, I go to the gym alone and avoid eye contact with anyone familiar, to sidestep sweaty, awkward kisses. I'm a keen runner and listen to my iPod on the treadmill with the Sunday supplements covering up the time panel. But spring calls for new challenges and a break from the dull monotony of the gym — and just moving the runs outside to the park (still a world removed from any interaction with the living unless you accidentally hit another jogger or a swan while lost in a reverie) won't do.

Recent research shows that only 21 per cent of Londoners undertake the Government-recommended level of sport (three 30-minute sessions) each week. This makes London one of the least active regions in the UK, proving that everyone is just sitting in coffee shops drinking flat whites. The idea for Come Play Sport is to keep things light and social while also providing a good workout without the fear for the participants of not being good enough to get picked for a team. There is no ear-curling rugby and no tedious tests of teamwork and endurance.

The last time I played in a sports team was for a charity rounders match about five years ago and my lack of contact with the ball still resonates in my nightmares so it was with trepidation that I agreed to try out three of Come Play's five sports. City of London Girls' School at Moorgate has a sports hall that made me nostalgic for my own school days with the squeak of rubber soles on the gym floor, the echoing yells of names and instructions, the whistles, the flushed faces and, at times, the panic.

Uni-Hoc
The rules: Uni-hoc is played indoors with plastic sticks, a holey plastic ball and six players on each side. You hit the ball towards the opposition goal, trying to pass and be passed to. Intercept your opponents' passes and tackle them if you dare.
What was it like? Quite intense. The cracking of plastic sticks, flurries of tackling, people yelling (at me?). Fast and furious, though there was little passing as everyone just went for glory whacks at the goal.
How I fared: I hit the ball a few times with various parts of my stick and made a sweep or two.
Fun factor: 6 — "uni" or not, hockey for me will always be a bit frustrating and stressful.
Workout factor: 7 — my blood and heart rate were definitely up, though perhaps more from following the ball up and down the court than from any real participation.

Dodgeball
The rules: Race your opponent to one of the balls lined down the middle of the room, then throw it at them to take them out. If a ball is thrown at you, try to catch it, or dodge it.
What was it like? Pretty amusing, as recollections of Ben Stiller in the
film Dodgeball kept springing to mind. Fairly chaotic, as balls of various strengths pinged around.
How I fared: I was good at running for the balls, snaffling them and dodging them, while squeaking a bit. But my throw wasn't powerful enough to take someone out, generally just arcing in a pathetic lob to be caught.
Fun factor: 7 — even despite being pelted by rowdy boys' balls.
Workout factor: 5 — lots of adrenaline but less movement as you are confined to half the court in this game. Good for the shoulder if you are any good at throwing.

Inner tube water polo
The rules: While sitting in a rubber ring, paddle about towards your goal, passing the ball as you go
and upturning opponents on the way.
What was it like? Very splashy with lots of whistles, shrieks and the sweet, familiar smell of corrosive chlorine. Lots of fun and the least competitive of the games.
How I fared: I found it hard to steer my inflatable ship and slipped down the middle on occasion before the whistle-blower, Rufus, blew it up more for me. But I did get involved in a few passes through mascara tears.
Fun factor: 8 — water plus floating equipment cannot fail to delight.
Workout factor: 7 — all the flailing about while being sandwiched into a ring must be good for the abs.
More info: www.comeplay.co.uk.
£75 for an individual or £800 for teams for a 14-week season. Next leagues begin by April.