The Growing Trend of Sports in Education
Sports are usually governed either by a team of professionals, or a governing board, which ensure fair play and give consistent adjudication of the result. In regular competitive sport, reports of results are often made, and these can be widely publicised or reported in sports media. In non-sports competition, the same information can only be made available with the permission of the participant. There is also a certain amount of leeway for interpretation of results; for example, in tennis there is no clear cut rule about whether a serve hits the net or not. However, there are some other sports where rules are clearly defined in order to avoid any undue interference with the game.
Modern sportsmanship has become a big international sport since the Second World War, when sportsmen showed a commitment to the sporting community as a way of showing sportsmanship, a sense of fair play, as well as a commitment to maintaining a good standard of physical skill. Today there are a large range of sports that use a blend of a sporting spirit and physical skill. These sports include motor sports, racing, sailing, hockey, golf, softball, surfing, snooker, tennis and a wide range of others.
Most sports competitions occur in a controlled environment, with the usual equipment and rules observed. However, in some sports there is considerable scope for doing things in an unusual way, using whatever methods and techniques that are deemed to be necessary to win, or to challenge the existing rules. Examples include running in place on one’s own, swimming against others, throwing the ball over the wall, playing a defensive ball game without any forward momentum, or playing a contact sport where the player uses the head, hands, elbows or feet. Excessive and extreme exertion of physical strength is a key feature of many extreme sports. Many dangerous sports are characterized by high levels of exertion, including dangerous sports such as weightlifting.
One of the most popular sports is basketball. The majority of American children and teenagers spend at least one hour of leisure time on a regular basis playing basketball. Since basketball is predominantly a contact sport, players need to be in good physical condition to be successful. In fact, the style of basketball, with its emphasis on quick, powerful moves, lends itself particularly well to the development of a fast, athletic body. As is the case with baseball, basketball plays a great role in the social and economic development of urban youth. Participating in various sports gives children the chance to develop their individual self-esteem and teaches them sportsmanship, although participation in competitive sports does not necessarily equate to success.
Football, unlike basketball, is not primarily a contact sport and so players do not need to be in good physical condition. As is the case with baseball, soccer and other contact sports, football also teaches young people the art of teamwork and the importance of fair play. It is estimated that approximately one in five children in the United Kingdom begin playing football at a young age, with female participation rates slightly higher than male rates. Many parents are unsure as to whether sports should be encouraged in their homes or if they should wait until a child is older. Studies have shown, however, that the earlier children begin playing sports the more likely they will be to remain interested and participate in them throughout their academic years.
A sport is essentially a contest between opposing teams in which the outcome is dependent upon the physical skill of the participants. This physical skill, combined with strategy, mental ability and endurance, determines who wins the game. Mental and physical skill, when used together, provide the edge that a team needs to succeed in its sport. Today, sports professionals recognize the importance of sportsmanship and the development of sportspeople, both in and out of the field. With many athletes are choosing to focus their efforts on developing their mind sports skills rather than their body, the future of the sport is looking bright for the future.