Sports in the field of psychiatric medical treatment were originally aimed at improving symptoms and restoring physical strength. However, the aim has changed to recovery, including promotion of social participation, such as employment and school attendance, and playing of recreational sports by admitted patients has gradually begun to shift to competitive sports organized by communities. Currently, volleyball, futsal, basketball, etc. are played, and in the case of futsal, national and global tournaments are held.
 Recovery requires objective factors, such as symptomatic remission and employment/school attendance, considered by healthcare providers, as well as subjective elements such as personal confidence, and the hope and desire to achieve goals and success; these factors are reported to be interrelated. It is unclear how sports play a role in fulfilling these recovery conditions, but their correlation with improvement of symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, cognitive function, quality of life (QOL)/self-esteem, and self-management ability, prevention of recurrence/relapse, employment, and reduction of stigma is expected. In addition, sports provide a place for those in recovery to gather and interact, which may make it possible for patients to find hope for relationships with companions, family members, and supporters as they aim at recovery.
 The objective of sports as a culture often overlaps with the concept of recovery, and there is great potential for sports in psychiatric medical care. However, the history of such activities is short, and there are many issues such as the necessity of examination of scientific and objective effects, training of medical staff with specialized knowledge, and financial problems.
 <Author's abstract>