Definition of Sports – A Simple Guide
Sports are widely defined as an organized level of physical activity, including basketball or netball. Most sports are played between individuals, with the goal being personal achievement through successful completion of the game. Almost all sports can be competitive, and a few involve participation of teams.
Some sports are considered professional sports and require tremendous physical dexterity, athletic ability, and training. Professional sports players are known as athletes. Many individuals play sports for the purpose of gaining physical freedom. For instance, a professional baseball player competes not only to succeed in the game, but because he or she must be fit and have great endurance to play the position.
Many sports are generally recognised as a contact sport. Body contacts, or hits, are common in most contact sports. In addition, there are contact sports that involve the use of hands, such as boxing and mixed martial arts. Most sports are open to individuals of all ages, from small children to adults. Sports are popular with males and females of all ages and races.
The term ‘sport’ is broadly defined to describe any kind of physical activity designed for the exercise of the human body. Generally, the activity must be conducted for competitive advantage and may involve contact with other human beings. There are different types of sports, depending on the kind of physical activity and the objectives of the event. The Olympic Games includes numerous sports, each with its own characteristics and goals. Generally, the Olympic Games category includes: swimming, diving, synchronized swimming/diving, basketball, tennis, fencing, gymnastics, rowing, track and field, wrestling, hockey and field events.
The definition of ‘sport’ can be subjective, depending on the particular context in which it is applied. Generally, the meaning of the term is self-explanatory when used in a given situation. The Olympic Games definition makes it clear that the games themselves are competitive sports, while the object of the competition is generally to compete. This is different from the definition of ‘sports’ used by the NCAA, which refers generally to any physical activity performed by athletes in a competitive environment, including athletics, but not necessarily associated with any particular sport.
The Olympic Games and the qualifying process used to qualify athletes for the Olympic Games determine the level of physical activity each athlete may be engaged in. This level of activity is often referred to as competition level. Many sports refer to this definition of the word sport, including competitive golf, bowling, baseball, softball, track and field, swimming and tennis. The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) defines a competitive situation as any physical activity, as characterized by the application of physical skills at reasonable risk to the participant and typically involving physical contact. Other international organizations use similar definitions for the purpose of qualifying athletic events.