Sports (or sporting activities) is any forms of generally competitive physical activity that, through organised or casual involvement, attempt to employ, enhance or improve a specific physical skill and ability while also providing entertainment for participants, and occasionally, spectators. The word’sport’ is derived from the Greek term’sport, meaning a contest, and today’s modern usage typically refers to any athletic activity that attracts widespread media attention. As such, there are an estimated 800 recognised sports, with many more recognized communities and governing bodies forming around specific sports.
Perhaps the most popular of modern sports is basketball, with several different types of competition existing throughout the world. National and international championships are regularly held, often requiring hundreds of thousands of spectators, and frequently involving teams from around the world. Major sports leagues are also involved in various levels of play, from youth level leagues to the NBA’s Eastern Conference. Major League Baseball is the only North American sports league to have adopted a qualification system for players who want to join the team. Competitions, including the Olympics, are also widespread in other sports, with golf and rugby playing prominent roles in English and international competitions.
Rugby has enjoyed considerable growth over the past few decades, with a number of countries including England, New Zealand, Australia and Canada featuring professional rugby teams. As well as high-level professional matches, rugby also features domestic competitions between club teams. A variety of different variations of the game exist, with many related to physical contests between two teams or more. For example, a tackle is the common term used to describe a point of contact where the ball is exchanged via the bodies’ surfaces. Other popular variations include scrumminess, which refers to scrumming, or the physical and mental challenges associated with the sport, such as being the first point of contact in the scrum, or tangle or hook.
Another aspect of physical education in sports that has developed over the past few decades is a focus on sport as a learning experience. This means that it is no longer sufficient for children to simply enjoy a particular sport. They need to be taught the basic principles and skills, such as how to skateboard, ride a bike, throw a ball or basketball, or participate in motor-bicycle racing. These lessons can then be transferred into the various sporting disciplines, from horse-riding and track-fencing to ice-skating and swimming.
Sport in modern times has become more than just a pastime. It has become a major part of social occasions, often organised by schools, communities and municipalities. This is known as bce, meaning Britain and Ireland. Competitions often incorporate both competitive and non-competing teams, depending upon the sport in question.
Sports, especially basketball, are an integral part of the American dream, with countless youths dreaming of becoming professional athletes. Even some of the country’s top college teams, such as Kentucky University’s team, are regarded as role models. Many youngsters aspire to follow their heroes’ footsteps and play sports professionally. Others still choose to become teachers, coaches or volunteers. Whatever their choice, the fact remains that sports allow countless people to make lifelong friends, get exercise and develop skills that will lead them down a different path in life.