Introduction to Sports

Introduction to Sports

Sports are played between competing teams of a similar caliber, that is, if they’re part of a league or international sports organization. Most sports competitions are governed by some kind of governing body, or by a set of unwritten rules or traditions, that ensure fair play and prevent cheating. Examples of such organized sports include American football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, Australian soccer, tennis, golf, rugby and softball. Some sports are played purely for fun, like bingo, and others are competitive events. Examples of competitive sports include horse racing, snooker, curling, paintball, golf, motor racing, tennis, surfing, motorboat racing, snowboarding, sailing and motorcycling. Most sports are played between players on an even playing field, with rules in place to ensure equal opportunity for players.

Modern sports, like American football and baseball, evolved from earlier games played by men in the standing sporting fields of the early 20th century. Ancient sports involved bare hands, simple weapons and little or no physical contact, as most ancient civilisations did not have the benefit of state-regulated sports facilities or professional athletes. Modern sports have undergone many changes over the years. As most sports involve a physical contact element, equipment and training equipment has improved significantly in both quality and quantity, making the sport much more competitive and demanding than the Ancient sports.

The standard physical exertion required to play any sport is physical strength, stamina, endurance, flexibility, balance, endurance and speed. These skills are generally measured by a score card, which tallies each athlete’s performance in relation to these criteria. The modern sport environment has had enormous changes since the beginnings of the modern game. The pace of play, intensity of competition and the types of competition available have changed tremendously since the start of the 20th century. Modern sportspersons are not only athletes but are now also highly trained, structured, skilled and motivated team members who take part in a highly competitive environment in which the outcome of each game is dependent on the collective effort and commitment of every member of the team.