Sports are competitive physical activities that are often governed by rules. They are designed to help individuals develop their physical and mental skills, and they provide enjoyment and entertainment for the spectators.
Sport teaches the importance of planning and goal-setting, and it helps players to develop a positive attitude toward life. It also teaches them to handle situations with sincerity and fair play.
A sport is usually governed by a set of rules, and a judge or coach may score a variety of objective measures and subjective measures. In many sports, a team or a pair of contestants is required to achieve a specific goal.
In some sports, like boxing or basketball, the winner is decided by judges. Other sports, such as volleyball, soccer, or tennis, have teams that compete against each other.
Some people use the term “sportsmanship” to indicate an aspiration to enjoy the activity for its own sake. Others, including Pierre de Coubertin, argue that sport is not a contest, but rather a way to improve one’s physical ability.
During the European conquest, sports and other forms of physical contests were introduced to Western civilization. This led to the marginalization of native customs.
The term “sports” can refer to hundreds of different types of activities. Many are not physically demanding, such as billiards, singing competitions, and dancing. However, some, such as ice events, are quite physically demanding.
Sports also teach participants how to deal with a variety of emotions and feelings. Learning to handle these emotions fosters good mental health.