INTRODUCTION TO SPORTS

Sport (or sports) is all forms of usually competitive physical activity which, through casual or
organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical ability and skills while
providing entertainment to participants, and in some cases, spectators.[2] Hundreds of sports exist,
from those requiring only two participants, through to those with hundreds of simultaneous
participants, either in teams or competing as individuals.
Sport is generally recognised as activities which are based in physicalathleticism or
physical dexterity, with the largest major competitions such as the Olympic Games admitting
only sports meeting this definition, and other organisations such as the Council of Europeusing
definitions precluding activities without a physical element from classification as
sports. However, a number of competitive, but non-physical, activities claim recognition as mind
sports.

The

International

Olympic

Committee

(through ARISF)

recognises

both chess and bridge as bona fide sports, andSportAccord, the international sports federation
association, recognises five non-physical sports, although limits the amount of mind games
which can be admitted as sports.
Sports are usually governed by a set of rules or customs, which serve to ensure fair competition,
and allow consistent adjudication of the winner. Winning can be determined by physical events
such as scoring goals or crossing a line first, or by the determination of judges who are scoring
elements of the sporting performance, including objective or subjective measures such as
technical performance or artistic impression.
In organised sport, records of performance are often kept, and for popular sports, this information
may be widely announced or reported in sport news. In addition, sport is a major source of
entertainment for non-participants, with spectator sport drawing large crowds to venues, and
reaching wider audiences through broadcasting.

HISTORY

There are artifacts and structures that suggest that the Chinese engaged in sporting activities as
early as 2000 BC. Gymnastics appears to have been a popular sport in China's ancient past.
Monuments to the Pharaohs indicate that a number of sports, including swimming and fishing,
were well-developed and regulated several thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt. Other
Egyptian sports included javelin throwing, high jump, and wrestling. Ancient Persian sports such
as the traditionalIranian martial art of Zourkhaneh had a close connection to the warfare
skills. Among other sports that originate in ancient Persia are polo and jousting.
Motorized sports have appeared since the advent of the modern age
A wide range of sports were already established by the time of Ancient Greece and the military
culture and the development of sports in Greece influenced one another considerably. Sports
became such a prominent part of their culture that the Greeks created the Olympic Games, which
in

ancient

times

were

held

every

four

years

in

small

village

in

the Peloponnesus called Olympia.[15]

Sports have been increasingly organised and regulated from the time of the ancient Olympics up
to the present century. Industrialisation has brought increased leisure time to the citizens of
developed and developing countries, leading to more time for citizens to attend and follow
spectator sports, greater participation in athletic activities, and increased accessibility. These
trends continued with the advent of mass media and global communication. Professionalism
became prevalent, further adding to the increase in sport's popularity, as sports fans began
following the exploits of professional athletes through radio, television, and the internet all
while enjoying the exercise and competition associated with amateur participation in sports.
VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS
The great virtue of sports teaches everybody to acquire the will to win. If anyone knows how to
acquire any will, he will succeed in every aspect of life. Life is full of struggle that has been
started since the creation of the world. However, a constant and prominent fight must help the
fighter to overcome every difficulty against any obstacle. The willing power of a sportsman must
be increased by winning of game. Comparatively, a week willed man resigns himself after one
defeat. A week willed man in considered as member of cowards. But, a true sports man is

considered as a member of cowards. But, a true sports man who is defeated must strengthen his
nerve. He always remembers that failure is the pillar of success. So, great efforts with strong
determination help him to win any game. The true sportsman is conscious about his team spirit
that strengthens the willing power of team. Unity in action and genuine effort offer them victory.
Moreover, unity in action inspires unity of purpose. The fabric of understanding amongst them
fellows proceed to them in goal that very great lesson has been learnt from sports.
Game of life which everybody is playing from dawn to dusk with sporting spirit is strengthening
harmony of society. Without sports a good society can never be constructed by its members.
Spirit of endurance and fellowship, willingness to scarify these various qualities which are of
great value only can help us to rebuild an ideal society. Society as a whole depends on benefit of
its members, who maintain the law and order of the same society. But sometimes anti-social
elements hamper the normal life. If sports are penetrated into the deep-root of society then
people will build their characters on that qualitative basis, not doing any shameful act. Antisocial culture will be stopped because there shall be no time for practice of it. However to build
up a strong-sound and enthusiastic country sport is too essential to implement in every level of
our society. Educationists may criticize about such implementation because such implementation
may hamper the educational environment of country. But it is seen that more developed country
environment of country. But it is seen that more developed country has its status in its sports,
field, international level competition always signifies the theme.
Participation in sports ensures not only good health but also fresh mind, freeness, freedom. A
lazy book worms cannot succeed in life; of course he can succeed in educational field. Regular
participation in sports provides energies. Now it is the matter of observance that free hand
exercise and Yoga have taken place into the daily life of human. Physical fitness no doubt is
important to every person whether he is a student or worker or intellectual.
It is to be pointed out that in India the wave of sports has strengthened the young mentality.
However, sociologists concede the importance of sports which may be gained in many ways, but
everybody has to take part. Play ground can strong the plinth of society. International friendshiptie will surely be tight by the promotion of sports, as the mandate of various international

competitions always utter. The very structure of society shall be strong. Pernicious and harmful
works cannot be able to take suitable place to occur any baleful work.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF SPORTS AND GAMES

(i) To develop the organic systems of the body

It is recognized that our feelings, emotions, thoughts and achievements are influenced to a
considerable extent by the physiological process of the body. The development of the organic
vigor is dependent on a wide selection of activities and so conducted that the normal functions of
the body are developed and improved.

(ii) To develop euro-muscular co-ordination or skill

A good deal of physical activities helps the individuals and groups to develop certain skill, which
gives satisfaction and happiness in a variety of ways during leisure times. Being physically
illiterate many people do not know how to enjoy their leisure and become unhappy and
maladjusted. Individual and group play activities enable people to give wholesome expression to
their innate desires and interests,

(iii) To develop right attitude towards and physical activities in general

Programme of physical education is based on sound psychological principles. It develops
amongst the individuals wholesome attitudes towards play and physical activities and cultivates
recreational and hobbies.

(iv) To develop a desirable social attitudes and conduct

By giving emphasis on ethical values inherent in Playing games with and against others the
desirable social attitudes and conduct can be developed through a programme of well organized

physical activities. It gives opportunity for social contact, group living, and self adjustment with
the group.

(v) Development of psychomotor skills

(vi) Development of understanding and appreciation of the techniques and strategies of sports

(vii) Preparation for leisure time

(viii) Elimination of worries and anxieties through developing appropriate interests and habits of
engaging in exercise and sports

(iv) Attainment of knowledge of proper health procedure as related to physical exercise.

(x) To develop correct health habits

A rational programme of physical activities can stimulate the participant to develop favorable
attitudes and habits in physical, mental, moral, social and emotional health.

(xi) To serve as an out let for surplus energy, which if pent up, make the child tens, nervous and
irritable.

(xii) To meet the challenge of growing indiscipline among the student community by instilling in
the younger generation a sense of patriotism, self-reliance and discipline.

(xiii) To give adequate scope for bringing out the aptitudes and talents of the child.

(xiv) To promote the spirit of certain qualities like sports-man ship, team spirit, leadership,
patience, self-restrain co-operation, sociability and those other qualities of character and
citizenship.

DIFFERENT KINDS TO GAMES

Following are the few most commonly known games. The brief explanation of each game with
photos are on the coming pages. These are the few common games.
1. Cricket
2. Football
3. Hockey
4. Basketball
5. Lawn Tennis
6. Badminton
7. Boxing
1. CRICKET

Cricket is defined as "a bat and ball, team

game

played during the summer in the British

Isles and in several countries influenced by
the British, such as Australia, New Zealand,

India,

Pakistan, South Africa, and West Indian nations".

Cricket is played between two teams of 11
players on a grassy field, in the center of which are two wickets - the equivalent of baseball's
'bases'. When a team is 'in', the other team attempts to get each of them 'out'. Then the team that

was 'in' is 'all out', and takes its place in the 'out field'. The team that was in the out field in turn
goes 'in' until they too are 'all out'. This process (an innings) may be repeated once more (a
match can last one day or take as many as five).
The team with the highest number of 'runs' (points scored primarily by running between wickets
after hitting the ball) wins the match, after which the players and spectators recover from the
confusion over a beer in the pavilion, crickets equivalent of golf's nineteenth hole.
Cricket afficionados will tell you that one subtle difference between their sport and baseball is
that the ball can bounce before the batsman hits it. This bouncing is called a 'pitch', but the
player bouncing it is not called a 'pitcher' like his baseball equivalent. He is the 'bowler', and
must keep his arm straight when releasing the ball, which he aims at the batsman's wicket (or
base). The wicket consists of three upright wooden sticks so placed that that the ball cannot pass
between them. Wooden 'bails' lie in grooves on top of them. When hit by the ball the whole
arrangement collapses, indicating the batsman is 'out'. At this point the next team member comes
in to bat.
The act of bouncing the ball on its way to the batsman allows the bowler to impart 'movement'
to the ball, with the intention of catching the batsman unaware. This movement, or spin, may
cause the batsman to missjudge the flight of the ball, resulting him to mis-hit into the waiting
hands of a player from the opposite team, or even to miss it all together. A collection of six balls
('deliveries') is called an over; one delivery in an over can be aimed at the batsman's head. This
may cause the watching public to mutter 'that's just not cricket'. Which, of course, it is.
According to the speed ('pace') and movement of a ball, the batsman has various options. He
may drive it along the ground, lift it into air, or flick it to the side or behind himself.
Alternatively, he may use the safety pads on his legs (or arms) to stop or deflect the ball. This is
risky because it will invariably prompt the bowler and his team to shout 'Howwizzzahhtt!'. This
means something like 'How does that look to you Umpire - is he out?' and is usually ignored by
the umpire(referee) unless he judges that the ball would have continued on to hit the wicket.
Then the batsman is given 'out' and the bowler's teammates smugly feel that their banshee scream

was justified. If the batsman is out without having scored a run, this is a 'duck' and his
embarrassment is compounded.
On the edge of the field is the boundary. If a batsman hits the ball to this boundary he is
awarded four runs. If it does not bounce before doing so it is sixruns (and stands a good chance
of hitting a spectator).
The field itself is divided into two halves, the on side and the off side. 'On' is synonymous with
'Leg', and represents the side of the field to the left of the batsman as he faces the bowler or
opposite wicket. Presuming of course he is righthanded; if not, everything I've just said is
reversed.
Fielders are placed at strategic positions (in order to both stop runs and to catch a batsman out if
possible) and these positions have distinct names. For example, the long off position is near the
boundary, far away from the batsman to his front and right, while silly mid-on represents a
position of extreme danger, as the name might suggest, being as it is immediately to a batsman's
left. A square leg says more about where one umpire stands rather than how he is standing,
while backward point or deep fine leg says nothing about any mental or physical ability at all.
Indeed. It has been said that the amount you know about cricket is inversely proportional to a
greater understanding of how to play. Worry not about the rules, teams or results but instead treat
the whole experience as a strange and fascinating ceremonial ritual.

2. FOOTBALL
Football, any of a number of games in which
two opposing teams attempt to score points
by moving an inflated oval or round ball past a
goal line or into a goal. Differing greatly in
their

rules,

these

include soccer (association

football) and rugby, in addition to the games covered

in this article: American football, Canadian
football, Gaelic football, and Australian
football. In the United States, the word football generally refers only to the American game; in
other parts of the world it usually means soccer. Football, amateur and professional, is perhaps
the most popular spectator sport in the United States, attracting a total attendance of over 40
million and watched by many more millions on television each year.
Most

of

the

modern

forms

of

football

are

derived

from

ancient

games,

especially harpaston and harpastrum, played in Greece and Rome. These survive today in
Tuscany and Florence under the name calcio. Meanwhile a rugged, undisciplined type of football
took root in the Middle Ages in England, where despite royal edicts banning the game from time
to time, football remained popular until the early 19th cent. Different forms of the game soon
developed at the various English public schools, including Rugby, Eton, and Harrow. Eventually,
two main games emerged. One was primarily a kicking game, which later became association
football, or soccer; the other (dating from 1823) was football as played at Rugby, in which
carrying the ball and tackling were permitted.

3. HOCKEY
Hockey is a very popular, fun, fast and skilful team game. It is a

stick and ball

game with origins dating back thousands of years. It was

traditionally played on grass, but is now increasingly
played on synthetic surfaces.
In a game of hockey, two teams of players compete against
each other. There are up to 16 players in a team but only 11 (8 in junior
hockey inc goalie) can be on the pitch at the same time. The remaining 5 players are the
substitutes and they can be used throughout the game.
The players use their hockey sticks to play the ball. They can hit the ball, push it, flick it, drag it,
pass it and dribble it. This means moving it while keeping it in very close contact with their
stick.
The ball is quite small (about the same as a cricket ball) and it is usually white.
The aim of the game is to score more goals than your opponents and to do that you have to get
the ball past the other team's goalkeeper, who protects the goal, and logically, tries to keep the
ball out!
Player Positions
Every team must have at least one goalkeeper (some teams have a substitute goalkeeper too). All
of the other players are referred to as 'field players', and are dispersed over the field of play. The
field players can be put into three general categories - attackers, defenders and midfielders.
While no player (other than the goalkeeper) has an exclusively defined role, the attackers are
generally on attack, the defenders are generally on defence, and the midfielders do a bit of both!
Stick Handling
An essential skill necessary for playing hockey is the ability to control, pass, push, stop and
shoot the ball with your hockey stick. This is known as stick work, or stick handling. It is both

beautiful and impressive to watch a player with good stick handling skills control the ball while
sprinting the length of the pitch, or weave through the sticks and legs of defenders to create an
open shot.
It is important to know that the head of a hockey stick has a rounded side (the right side) and a
flat side (the left side). It is only with the flat, left hand side of the stick that you are permitted to
play the ball.
Scoring
Scoring a goal in hockey is very interesting. There are 3 types of goal. They are known as a field
goal, a penalty corner, and a penalty stroke.
Field Goals
A field goal is a goal scored from open, continuous play. Field goals may only be taken from the
shooting circle, a roughly semi-circular area in front of the opponents' goal. If a ball is hit from
outside the 'shooting circle' and goes into the goal, it does not count as a score.
Penalty Corners
If a defending team breaks certain Rules, the other team may be awarded a penalty corner. Often
(but not always) penalty corners are awarded because a team breaks a Rule while defending in
their shooting circle.
To take a penalty corner, play is stopped to allow the teams to take their positions in attack and
defence. One attacker stands with the ball on a designated spot on the back-line. (It's the line that
marks the shorter boundary of the field of play and on which the goal is placed.) This player will
play (hit, push or drag) the ball to other attackers, waiting to take a shot at goal. The other
attackers usually wait at the top of the shooting circle to receive the ball. But in any case, all
attackers have to be outside the shooting circle until the penalty corner begins.
Duration of a Match

A regulation length hockey match lasts 70 minutes (40 mins for junior hockey)- which is broken
into two halves of 35 minutes each ( 20 mins for junior hockey ). The team with the most goals at
the end of the 70 minutes is the winner. It is also possible for a match to end in a draw (or a tie).
But in some matches - like in a tournament such as the World Cup or Olympics, or in a
championship game - you must have a winner. In those cases, a match which is tied at the end of
regulation time, then goes into extra time (the first team to score in extra time wins), and if
necessary, to a penalty stroke competition.

4. BASKETBALL
Basketball, game played generally indoors

by

two opposing teams of five players each.

Basketball was conceived in 1891 by Dr.
James Naismith, a physical education
instructor at the YMCA college in
Springfield, Mass., as a way to condition
outdoor athletes during the winter months. His original list of 13 rules has undergone a century
of revision, leading to faster pacing and greater athleticism. Today basketball is one of the most
popular American sports and one the rest of the world has adopted.
At each end of the courtusually about 92 ft (28 m) long and 50 ft (15 m) wideis a bottomless
basket made of white cord net and suspended from a metal ring, 18 in. (46 cm) in diameter,
which is attached 10 ft (3.05 m) above the floor (usually hardwood) to a backboard made of
fiberglass, wood, or other material. Players may throw, dribble (bounce), or shoot the basketball
(an inflated ball usually made of leather or rubber) but may not run with it or kick it.
Teams try to advance the ball and shoot it through one basket (the ball must enter from above)
and to keep the opposition from scoring through the other. Each field goal, or basket, scores two
points, or three points if shot from beyond a specified distance (21 ft/6 m in U.S. colleges,
slightly longer in international and professional play). Teams must shoot the ball within a

prescribed time limit (24 sec in professional and international games; 30 sec in women's
collegiate play; 35 sec in men's collegiate play).
Any player making illegal body contact with an opposing player is assessed a foul; the opposing
team may be given possession of the ball, or an opposing player awarded free throws at the
basket from the foul line. Each made foul shot is worth one point. Players who exceed the foul
limit (usually five, but six in professional and international play) are disqualified from the game.
International and collegiate basketball games have two 20-min halves, professionals play four
12-min quarters, and high schoolers play four 8-min quarters.

5. LAWN TENNIS
In the last several years tennis has been growing,
as both a participant and a spectator sport. Tennis
has gained immense popularity as a participant
sport because people have discovered that it not
only is fun to play, but also provides good exercised
in a short period of time. Today it is easier to have
a rewarding career in tennis both as a player and as a teacher. More and

more

youngsters are choosing tennis over baseball, football, and other sports, a situation which means
that there will be more and better players turning professional in the future. The sport of tennis
has finally lost its "country club" image and is being enjoyed by an ever-increasing number of
avid fans from all walks of life.
There are four main types of surfaces which tennis is played today;

rubber-based asphalt.

cement

synthetic clay products

grass courts

The most popular surface is rubber-based asphalt, commonly called by its trade name, such as
Laykold. It is a medium fast surface; gives good, even bounce; and, because it requires very little
maintenance, is favorite of city recreational facilities, schools and colleges. Some courts,
primarily in California, are built from cement. These are very fast and tend to promote the serve
and volley game rather than the ground stroking game. Asphalt and cement courts are often
referred to as "hard" courts.
"Soft" courts are made either from synthetic clay products or from red clay. In the United States,
the most common "soft" court is made from the synthetic clay and it generally found at country
clubs and tennis clubs. These courts are fast-drying and require specialized maintenance,
including frequent wetting with a sprinkler system.
There are still some grass courts left in the United States, but they are becoming more and more
rare, because maintenance is very difficult as much depends on the weather and the soil in which
the grass is planted. Grass tennis courts are similar to a golf green

6. BADMINTON
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two
opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs
(doubles), who take positions on opposite halves of a
rectangular court divided by a net. Players score
points by striking ashuttle cock with their racquet so
that it passes over the net and lands in their
opponents' half of the court. Each side may only
strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. A rally ends once the shuttlecock has
struck the floor, or if a fault has been called by either the umpire or service judge or, in their
absence, the offending player, at any time during the rally.
The shuttlecock is a feathered or (mainly in noncompetitive matches) plastic projectile whose
unique aerodynamic properties cause it to fly differently from the balls used in most racquet
sports; in particular, the feathers create much higher drag, causing the shuttlecock to decelerate
more rapidly than a ball. Shuttlecocks have a much higher top speed, when compared to other
racquet sports. Because shuttlecock flight is affected by wind, competitive badminton is played
indoors. Badminton is also played outdoors as a casual recreational activity, often as a garden or
beach game.
Since 1992, badminton has been an Olympic sport with five events: men's and women's singles,
men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles, in which each pair consists of a man and a
woman. At high levels of play, especially in singles, the sport demands excellent fitness: players
require aerobic stamina, agility, explosive strength, speed and precision. It is also a technical
sport, requiring good motor coordination and the development of sophisticated racquet
movements.

7. BOXING
Boxing is a combat game played throughout the world. The history of the combat sports game
seems to be more interesting and the participation of people

get

increased day by day. It is a pre-historic game

which

founds its origin in ancient Greek period. Generally,

boxing is played by two numbers of players where
people fight, knocks each other on proper techniques.
The origin of boxing game was found to be in
the ancient Greek period and then later by
ancient Romans. It was found that during that period they had sports called pugilism which is
also referred as boxing. This type of sports event was said to be more popular and most of the
people shows their interest in developing the skill and knowledge in the field. Energetic,
professional trainers were exercised to provide training and due to the interest of people, it was
widely spread throughout the world. People who engaged in the sports play through by fighting
each other with their fists and hands. Adequate training is required to the participants to play the
successfully

and

technically.

To play the event, the boxer requires boxing equipments to protect him against damages and
injuries. Different sorts of combat equipments are available and the customer should have to
make use of it as per his requirement. Some of the equipments the players popularly used are
gloves, headgear, shoes, punching bags, rings, mouthpiece, handwraps and even more. These
gears will be highly helpful to the players because these instruments will protect them against
damages at the time of fighting against one another. Large numbers of players shows their
interest and learns the programs enthusiastically.
The participants are required to follow the instruction offered to the customers. The intro of
boxing towards environment fetches more reputation and it is listed to be one of best Olympic
game. More and more people are joining towards different sorts of mixed martial arts activities.
Some of the mixed martial arts are judo, sanshou, Muay Thai and under this boxing is also said
to be one of the popularly played game. Most of the people join, because it is said to be best self

defense and also self disciple which is required for every players. The boxers are required to
follow the instruction properly.