There are three verbs that collocate with sports and other free time activities: go, do and play, but they are not interchangeable.
Ex 1 Ex 2
Play
Play is used with sports that have teams, rules, and competitions:
Badminton, baseball, football, golf, rugby, and tennis are some examples.
I have been playing tennis for over ten years.
When I was young we played football just outside our house in the street.
Badminton, baseball, football, golf, rugby, and tennis are some examples.
I have been playing tennis for over ten years.
When I was young we played football just outside our house in the street.
Go
Go is used with activities where the activity is in the -ing form.
To camp – go camping
We went camping by the lake last summer.
Other activities that take 'go' are dancing, jogging, running, hiking, riding, swimming, cycling, climbing, etc.
To camp – go camping
We went camping by the lake last summer.
Other activities that take 'go' are dancing, jogging, running, hiking, riding, swimming, cycling, climbing, etc.
Do
For all other recreational activities, we use do. Aerobics, athletics, gymnastics, judo, karate, and yoga are some examples.
All young children should be encouraged to do gymnastics.
Sarah does yoga with some of her friends
All young children should be encouraged to do gymnastics.
Sarah does yoga with some of her friends
