How to find sports courts near you

By aupa · Dortmund, Germany · Updated October 9, 2026 · about 6 min read

5 ways to find a sports court near you

1. Use a sports court finder app

   Apps like aupa show public basketball courts, soccer pitches, skateparks, table tennis tables and calisthenics spots on one map — filterable by sport, with photos, ratings and live check-ins that show whether anyone is playing right now. To be honest: the map grows with its community. In a new city it may still be empty — then you add the first court yourself.

2. Search Google Maps or Apple Maps the smart way

   Don’t search for “sports court” — search for what you want to play: “basketball court”, “streetball”, “soccer field”, “skatepark”, “calisthenics park” or “table tennis”. A trick: in satellite view you can spot basketball courts by their lines and center circle, and pitches by their goals and fences.

3. Check OpenStreetMap

   On openstreetmap.org many pitches are mapped as their own areas, often with the sport. That’s more detailed than many other maps — but it tells you nothing about the court’s condition.

4. Look at your city’s website

   Many cities list public courts, skateparks and fields on their parks & recreation pages or in an open-data portal. You’ll often find opening hours there too — but usually no photos or up-to-date info.

5. Look around and ask people

   Parks, sports grounds and schoolyards are the usual places for public courts. Some schoolyards are open outside school hours — a sign at the gate usually tells you. And whoever already plays on one court almost always knows two others.

Which way works best for what?

Checklist: what makes a good court

• Surface: Asphalt or sport tiles for basketball, artificial turf or grass rather than gravel for soccer.
• Equipment: Hoops with nets and solid backboards, goals with nets, visible lines.
• Lights: Floodlights or street lamps if you want to play after dark.
• Hours: Usually posted on a sign at the entrance. Evenings, Sundays and holidays often come with restrictions.
• Access: Easy to reach by bike or bus — then others drop by more often, too.
• Extras: Shade, benches, drinking water or a restroom nearby make long afternoons easier.

Finding a basketball court: tips

Public basketball courts — often called streetball courts — are usually in parks, at schools or next to other sports facilities. The standard rim height is 3.05 meters (10 feet); some outdoor courts add lower hoops for kids.

• Try the search terms “basketball court”, “streetball” and “outdoor hoops”.
• Filter aupa by basketball and read the ratings on hoops and surface.
• Check the photos: nets, straight backboards and an even surface are good signs.

Finding a pickup soccer field: tips

Small public soccer fields — called “Bolzplatz” in Germany — usually have two goals and grass, artificial turf or gravel. Many have fixed hours, and some are signposted for kids and teens up to a certain age.

• Search for “soccer field”, “football pitch” or “futsal court” plus your neighborhood.
• Look up your city’s parks & recreation listings.
• Read the sign on site: hours and age limits are usually posted there.

Finding people to play with

You’ve found the court — now you need players. On public courts, simply asking is completely normal.

• Just ask: “Can I get in?” or “Do you have room for one more?”
• In pickup basketball, “winner stays on” is common — the next team calls “got next”.
• In aupa you can see via live check-ins who’s at a court right now, and start a game yourself that others join publicly or with a code.

Frequently asked questions