Sports anime is probably one of my favorite genres out there. There's something so relaxing and inspirational about watching them.

1. Haikyuu!!

Genre: sports, school, volleyball, shounen
Series length: 3 seasons

Synopsis: Shouyou Hinata began playing volleyball after seeing the "little giant" who played the sport when he was in elementary school. He suffers a crushing defeat in his first and last tournament in middle school at the hands of his rival Tobio Kageyama. So, Hinata joins Karasuno High School's volleyball team, vowing revenge against Kageyama. However, Kageyama is also on Karasuno's team. The former rivals form a legendary combo with Hinata's mobility and Kageyama's precision ball-handling. Together, they take on the local tournaments and vow to meet Karasuno's fated rival school in the nationals.
Authors note: just love it so much. The characters are amazing 💖🙏🏻

2. Free! Iwatobi swim club

Series length: 3 seasons and like 1 movies
Synopsis: When Haruka, Makoto, Nagisa and Rin were in elementary school, they swam together in a relay race and won the match. As Rin was on his way to Australia to train to become an Olympic champion, the gang decided to bury their trophy in a time capsule and retrieve it when they all had grown up. Now, Haruka, Makoto and Nagisa have reunited in high school and decide to dig up the prize. But on the way there, they run into none other than Rin, and he's determined to show Haru who's the best! As a result of this fateful meeting, the three friends decide to start a swim club, along with fellow classmate Rei, and their rival's little sister Gou as the team manager. Can the gang hold their own against Rin and prove their skills at the Prefectural Tournament?
Authors note: much fan service, much wow.
3. Yuri!!! on Ice

Genre: sports, drama, ice skating
Series length: 1 season (-^-)
Ongoing
Synopsis: Yuuri Katsuki carried the hope of all Japan on his shoulders in the Figure Skating Grand Prix, but suffered a crushing defeat in the finals. He returned to his hometown in Kyushu and hid away in his family's home, half wanting to continue skating and half wanting to retire. That was when the five-time consecutive world champion, Viktor Nikiforov, suddenly showed up with his teammate, Yuuri Plisetsky, a young skater starting to surpass his seniors. And so the two Yuuris and the Russian champion Viktor set out to compete in a Grand Prix like none the world has ever seen!
Authors note: fabulous
4. Kuroko no basket

Series length: 75 episodes (+ some extra stuff)
Synopsis: They were known as the 'Generation of Miracles' – five basketball prodigies who helped lead Teiko Middle School's basketball team to glory, defeating anyone who got in their way. But a mysterious rumor tells of a sixth, a phantom player who the five prodigies respected greatly. That boy is Tetsuya Kuroko, a freshman at Seirin High and the newest member of the basketball club. Alongside strong teammates such as Taiga Kagami, Kuroko will use his unique skills on the court to help the team defeat old rivals and make their way to the championships.
5. Yowamushi no pedal

Series length: 5 seasons and like 6 movies ( I'm not to sure, I think the movies are just catch ups but there's a lot)
Synopsis: Sakamichi is a die-hard otaku; he loves anime and manga, and rides his clunky bicycle over 90 kilometers to Akihabara each week for the latest toys and games. Upon entering high school, Sakamichi is thrilled to meet others that share his passion, but soon discovers that the anime club is defunct and in need of members. Meanwhile, a skilled cyclist and fellow classmate Shunsuke has his eye on the boy, having seen his incredible speed, even while riding such a heavy "mom cycle." Now, Sakamichi must decide if he wants to stick with his would-be anime club, or join Shunsuke and other new friends for the ride of his life in the Competitive Cycling Club, where fierce races and other adventures await them!
6. Overdrive

Series length: 26 episodes
Synopsis: Mikoto Shinozaki is a normal high student with unfortunate normal problems: he's terrible at sports, has no special talents and is bullied by everyone at his school. That is, until one day Yuki, his beautiful, long-time crush, asks the boy if he'll join her brother's cycling team. Desperate to gain her affection, Mikoto tries his best to learn how to ride a bike to not look foolish in the process, soon discovering that he actually enjoys the sport! Now, Mikoto will try his hardest to become the best cyclist in the world, encountering hardships, trials and successes along the way.
7. Major

Series length: 154 episodes ( 6 seasons), a film and there's major 2nd which is ongoing
Synopsis: Goro Honda is a little boy who is obsessed with baseball. As a child, he watches his father, a professional baseball player, be removed from the Blue Oceans' main team due to a shoulder injury that left him unable to pitch again. However, since his son looks up to him more than anyone else in the world of baseball, Goro's father decides that he can't quit just yet (as pitching is not the only way to be able to play baseball!). With his father's shining example, Goro decides to never give up as well, working his way into the Japanese Little League as a force to be reckoned with!

Authors note: I love this series because you get to see Goro grow up and get better at baseball. it's just soooo good.
8. Slam dunk

Series length: 101 episodes
Synopsis: Sakuragi has hit an all-time low. During his last year of junior high school, fifty different girls rejected him, the last one choosing a basketball player instead. Thus it's no surprise that in high school, Sakuragi beats up anyone who dares utter the name of the sport. However, it's not long until he meets Haruko, a beautiful basketball enthusiast, and is determined to make her fall in love with him – even signing up for the school team to accomplish his goal. However, winning Haruko's heart won't be easy, as her brother is the strict and protective captain of the basketball team and Haruko's eyes are focused on Sakuragi's rival, the talented Rukawa. Can Sakuragi give up his delinquent ways to help get the team to Nationals, or will his temper get him kicked out before he can learn to dribble the ball?
9. Days TV

Series length: 2 seasons
Synopsis: With no skills or outstanding features, one boy hides a passionate heart, Tsukushi Tsukamoto. The other is a lonely soccer genius, Jin Kazama. The winds of change begin to blow in the world of high school soccer as these two boys with nothing in common come together. The curtain on this hot-blooded, touching story is rising...

10.Battery

Series length: 11 episodes
Synopsis: Takumi Harada moves to a mountain town in Okayama prefecture during the spring break before he enters middle school due to his father's job transfer. Takumi is a pitcher, and after the move he loses faith in his own talent, when suddenly his classmate Kou Nagakura appears in front of him. Kou has a strong desire to form a "battery" (a combination of a pitcher and catcher) with Takumi.
11. All out

Series length: 25 episodes
Synopsis: The day of the entrance ceremony at Kanagawa Highschool... The story starts when the timid but unyielding Gion joins the rugby team. His classmate, Iwashimizu, who can't get into rugby because of something happening in the past, the vice-captain, Hachioji, who looks out for all of the members, and their captain, Sekizan, who is more passionate and intense than anyone... All of the members are completely different, but they all keep growing on this battlefield known as youth. Once they give it their all, the ultimate stage awaits them!
12. One outs

Series length: 25 episodes
Synopsis: Kojima is a baseball legend. As the superstar cleanup hitter for the Lycaons, he won himself many awards including rookie of the year seven times; but there's one title he never acquired: champion. In an attempt to find that special something Kojima feels he's missing inside, he opens a training camp in Okinawa. There, through a series of events, Kojima is introduced to a high stakes game dominated by the talented Toua Tokuchi, and subsequently loses a fortune. However, Kojima finally defeats Toua and due to their agreement, he enlists him to join the now poorly-ranked Lycaons - but Toua demands a high price: instead of a salary, he will receive five million yen for each out, and lose fifty million yen for each point lost. With a bad attitude and prodigal skills, Toua will help transform the Lycaons into winners once more.

13. Cross game

Series length: 50 episodes
Synopsis: When Koh was eleven years old, he lived a quiet and peaceful life, delivering sporting goods for his family's store and batting frequently at the Tsukishima Batting Center. Though Koh had no interest in baseball, he started the play the sport anyways after a series of events, much to the delight of his best friend, the beautiful Wakaba Tsukishima. However, soon life dealt Koh a tragic turn, changing him forever. Now, years later, Koh attends Seishuu Academy and is soon pulled back into the world of baseball. Alongside Wakaba's talented sister, Aoba; old friend and fighter Nakanishi; and plenty of new teammates and companions, Koh will once more pick up the pitcher's mitt and see if he has what it takes to be a champion.
14. Megalo box

Series length: 13 episodes
Synopsis: A desolate land stretches out from the city of poverty. A motorcycle speeds recklessly, blowing clouds of sand and dust. The rider is the protagonist of this story – he has neither a name nor a past. All he has is his ring name, "Junk Dog" and a technique for rigging MEGALOBOX matches with his pal Gansaku Nanbu, which they use to support their hand-to-mouth lives. JD is bored, resigned, and unfulfilled. Yuri has been the reigning champion of MEGALOBOX for the past few years. He has the skills and presence of a true champion. This is a story of JD and his rival, Yuri.
Authors note: just so cool. The art is so edgy and unique.
15. Hajime no Ippo

Series length: 3 seasons and movie
Synopsis: Ippo Makunouchi is a loser. He has no friends, he spends his free time helping his mom with work, and he's constantly being beaten up by bullies. But that all changes when one day he's saved from another beating by Takamura, an up-and-coming boxer. Soon, Ippo turns his life around with a passion for the newly discovered sport, but his new lifestyle is far from easy! Before he can even dream of becoming champion, he'll have to overcome a slew of fierce rivals and learn what 'dedication' really means.
16. Ookiku Furikabutte (Big windup!)

Series length: 2 seasons
Synopsis:
Ren Mihashi is a timid pitcher with problems; he has no self esteem or confidence, due to the relentless bullying of his once teammates, and is reluctant to play baseball again. However, at Ren's new school, Nishiura Prefectural High, he finds himself picking up the mitt once more. Along with the help of alumni-turned-coach Maria Momoe, tough but supportive Takaya Abe, and the rest of his teammates, Ren will regain his confidence and show the game of baseball who's the boss yet again!
17. diamond no ace

Series length: 126 episodes and 5 ova
Synopsis: I want to pitch to that mitt again... A meeting with catcher Kazuya Miyuki changed the 15-year-old Eijun Sawamura's life. He said goodbye to all his friends and knocked upon the door of Seidou, a prestigious baseball school, intent on testing his own strength. There, he met many proud baseball players who were betting everything on the sport! A classic tale, yet new and fresh.
18. Area no kishi

Series length: 37 episodes
Synopsis: Believing himself to be useless at soccer, Kakeru Aizawa instead becomes the manager of his school's soccer team, while his brother Suguru is its ace, and is even good enough to represent Japan in the championships. However, Kakeru may have a yet unknown strong talent within himself that only his brother Suguru can see, and they often get into arguments over Kakeru's denial of his skills. Things are made more complicated with the return of Nana, an old friend of theirs that Kakeru has a crush on.
19. ballroom e youkoso

Series length: 24 episodes
Synopsis: Feckless high school student Tatara Fujita wants to be good at something - anything. Unfortunately, he's about as average as a slouchy teen can be. The local bullies know this, and make it a habit to hit him up for cash, but all that changes when the debonair Kaname Sengoku sends them packing. Sengoku's not the neighborhood watch, though. He's a professional ballroom dancer. And once Tatara Fujita gets pulled into the world of the ballroom, his life will never be the same.

Authors note: really like this series and them long necks thou. 😂😂
20. Prince of stride

Series length: 12 episodes
Synopsis: Nana and her classmate, Takeru, are desperate to resurrect their school's Stride Club—but will they be able to get the prickly Riku, who insists he hates Stride, to join the team?

And if you have any other recommendations feel free to leave a comment. 😂😂