68% often or sometimes lack a sports buddy
In November 2025, 68 people in and around Groningen filled in our survey. 46 of them (68%) often or sometimes have nobody to play sport with, and 58 (85%) would use an app like TeamUpNL.
Published on 19 October 2026. Survey carried out from 4 to 13 November 2025.
- 68%often or sometimes have nobody to play sport with
- 85%would use an app like TeamUpNL
- 96%of those who often have nobody would use the app
How often do people have nobody to play sport with?
More than a third often have nobody to play sport with. Add those for whom it happens sometimes and it's two thirds.
| Answer | Number | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Often | 25 | 37% |
| Sometimes | 21 | 31% |
| Rarely | 7 | 10% |
| Never | 15 | 22% |
Source: TeamUpNL survey, November 2025, 68 participants in and around Groningen.
What stops people from playing sport?
The largest group names having nobody to play with as the main barrier. Many answers about motivation are really about being alone too, such as "Motivation, a buddy helps with that!". We grouped the open answers by hand.
| Main barrier | Number | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Nobody to play with, not wanting to go alone | 21 | 31% |
| Motivation, energy, not feeling like it | 18 | 26% |
| Nothing | 7 | 10% |
| The weather, the cold | 7 | 10% |
| Time, work | 6 | 9% |
| Injury or illness | 3 | 4% |
| Travel, access | 3 | 4% |
| Other | 3 | 4% |
Source: TeamUpNL survey, November 2025, 68 participants in and around Groningen.
Who would use the app?
The more often someone has nobody to play with, the more often the answer is yes: 24 of the 25 people who often have nobody would use the app. The ten who said no mostly play a lot already and rarely lack a buddy, or prefer to play alone.
| Group | Would use the app | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Often nobody to play with | 24/25 | 96% |
| Sometimes nobody | 18/21 | 86% |
| Rarely nobody | 6/7 | 86% |
| Never without a buddy | 10/15 | 67% |
| Play football | 23/25 | 92% |
| Aged 24 or younger | 44/49 | 90% |
| Aged 25 or older | 14/19 | 74% |
| Women | 15/17 | 88% |
| Men | 42/50 | 84% |
Source: TeamUpNL survey, November 2025, 68 participants in and around Groningen.
Who took part?
Mostly young people in the city of Groningen: the median age is 20 and 72% are 24 or younger. 38 of the 68 (56%) live in the municipality of Groningen.
| Age | Number | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 16 or 17 | 15 | 22% |
| 18 to 20 | 20 | 29% |
| 21 to 24 | 14 | 21% |
| 25 to 29 | 8 | 12% |
| 30 or older | 11 | 16% |
Source: TeamUpNL survey, November 2025, 68 participants in and around Groningen.
Men 50, women 17, prefer not to say 1. School: Noorderpoort 22, Alfa-college 6, University of Groningen 5, Hanze University of Applied Sciences 3, other schools 10, not given 22. Sport: 23 four times a week or more, 20 two or three times, 12 once, 13 never.
Which sports do they play?
Football is mentioned most often, by 25 of the 68. Then fitness (11), basketball (6) and running (5). Of the 25 football players, 23 would use the app.
What did the participants ask for?
Wishes came up in the open questions. This is what's in the app now (October 2026):
- Notifications, but not too many
- Built: notifications for pitches and players you follow, choosing which notifications you get, limits per player and pitch, and times when you can't play.
- Seeing who brings a ball, and times
- Built: "I'm bringing a ball" and planning TeamUps ahead.
- Different levels
- Built: beginner, average and keen, on your profile and per TeamUp.
- Safety, reporting
- Built: anonymous reporting and blocking, TeamUps for women only or men only, and after a game only positive honours for teammates ("Played well", "Great teammate").
- Groups, age filters, other sports
- Not yet. Following players comes closest to groups.
- Sharing your location
- As a choice: with TeamUps nearby you hear when a TeamUp starts within 2 km. If you don't turn it on, your location stays on your phone.
How was the research done?
Taher Jerjissi, the maker of TeamUpNL, ran the survey from 4 to 13 November 2025, mostly at schools in and around Groningen. 47 people filled it in through a QR code (69%), 21 in a conversation with an interviewer (31%). 43 answers came in on the first day.
The survey asked about age, place of residence, school, how often and at what level someone plays sport, the main barrier (open question), how often someone has nobody to play with and whether they would use the app.
The group is not representative of the Netherlands: mostly young, 74% men and many students in vocational education. The figures show what this group thinks, not what everyone thinks. We don't share the raw answers, because they contain age, place of residence and school per person.
Can I use these figures?
Yes, under CC BY 4.0: use them freely, with a credit. For example:
TeamUpNL, survey "Nobody to play sport with", November 2025 (68 participants, Groningen, the Netherlands). https://teamupnl.nl/en/research/
Questions about the research? Email info@teamupnl.nl.