The Definition Of Sports
Sports is one of the oldest hobbies in human civilization. Sports can be competitive or non-competitive. The object of sports is to entertain, exercise, or otherwise have fun. Sport is most commonly defined by a level of physical activity, including baseball or soccer. Many other forms of competitive athletics and some games designed for entertainment are also classed as sports.
An athlete in a sports activity is known as a sportsperson. Most people play sports for recreational purposes. However, there are some sports which are intended to be undertaken for the purpose of contest and others, which are intended for purely athletic reasons. A competitor in a game of basketball exerts maximal effort to win the game and it would be impossible for someone playing a game of volleyball to exert maximal effort to win that game. While the skills required to play sports may be similar for all sportspeople, the reason for participating in the sport differs.
Many sports have evolved over the years to be more technical and exact than the games which began as physical contact activities. In sports which require extreme skill, equipment, and physical exertion, scoring is important. Points are awarded when a player converts a given percentage of total points into a winning goal. This is why sports which involve passing and shooting are popular sports; unlike, say, rugby which does not score much unless a team scores with a kick or conversion kick.
In most cases, point scoring is governed by a set of rules; for example, in hockey, when a team scores three goals, a player is given a penalty. Another way in which point scoring is governed is by the clock. Time controls the outcome of most sports tournaments. The International Olympic Committee, which organizes most of the sports events, imposes a set of rules which all teams must follow.
The above discussion suggests that sports competitions are organized by governing bodies within the sport itself. Within the field of professional athletics, there are numerous governing associations which supervise various aspects of the sport and determine qualification standards for athletes. A number of these associations also define the rules which athletes must follow to participate in the sport competition.
The very definition of the word “sport” indicates that it is a competitive activity requiring skill, agility, and physical prowess. To engage in such an activity entails mental acuity and physical prowess in addition to skill. The athletes who excel in such activities are often the ones who excel both in talent and in competition.