Sports are activities involved in competition, typically indoors or outdoors, that require physical exertion and may be played by a team. Sport has been shown to promote a wide range of benefits to health, such as improving fitness, mental well-being, social interaction and physical development.
Some types of sport require a high level of skill, such as tennis or football, while others are less physically demanding and may be played by anyone. Some sports are also governed by rules and regulations, such as running races, which discourage cheating (viewing it as a violation of the rules).
People who play sports are called athletes or competitors. They have to work hard and have skills such as speed, strength and endurance.
Various types of sporting events, such as racing, volleyball or basketball, use a system of comparable measures, and victory is determined by the person or team with the best performance. Often, the winning and losing categories are decided by judges or referees following set rules.
There is a common belief that all sports require a significant degree of physical activity. Some of this is true; for example, darts and cornhowl are both highly physical, but other activities such as shuffle board are not very physical.
In any event, sport is a popular way of enjoying life and it can provide important learning experiences for young people. Whether they win or lose, sports can teach them about the value of effort and how to handle disappointments and failure. They can also develop the ‘grit’ needed to overcome obstacles and challenges in life.