Sport is a word that encompasses a lot of different activities. What typically (and unfortunately) are considered games by the common man, are activities that have been scrutinized and critiqued for decades. In some cases, the games being criticized are ones that are commonly accepted as “sport,” including basketball, football, baseball, soccer, tennis, track, gymnastics, swimming, etc. However, the fact is that there is so much more to sport than just these well-known games. What perceive as “sport” in one case may not be at all in another; sport is always changing and taking on many different forms, depending on cultural norms, trends, and other considerations.
To understand the sport, it is first necessary to understand the nature of sport itself. Sport is usually governed by rules that are designed to ensure fair competition, generally by using athleticism as the central organizing principle. While skill is important in any sport, when it comes to competitive sports, the skill component is usually governed by governing bodies who are accountable for ensuring fair competition through a system of consistent adjudication and penalties.
There are several different types of sport, the most prominent being professional sports. Professional sports refer to those which are professionally organized and governed. The most popular and widely watched professional sports across the globe are soccer, baseball, hockey, basketball, and the Olympics. The Olympic Games, which is hosted regularly, serves as a platform for athletes from all over the world to display their talents and compete for gold, with each competition determined by its respective disciplines.
Non-professional sports refer to those which are organized and governed by non-profit organizations or community groups. Common examples of such organizations include organized streetball and fall, skateboarding, softball, and lacrosse. Some of these games are quite competitive and even invitation-only, while others, such as lacrosse and basketball, have become popular enough that there are now national level teams. There are also varying degrees of severity of punishments, ranging from fines and suspensions to disqualifications and criminal charges.
One of the most popular sports across the world is football. Although the game of football may be played in many different countries, it is the American version that has gained the most popularity, especially following the popularization of the NFL. America is a very big country and even after a Super Bowl event, people travel from far away places just to see their favorite team in action. So the NFL, more so than other sports, has the potential to attract huge amounts of viewers, both domestic and internationally. A good example of a non-conformist sport in America is football, which is both interesting and fun to watch.
Another example of a popular sport in America is Association football. It is considered to be a team sport in America because of the physical fitness element that is present in the game. There are two distinct types of Association football; one is organized around a physical fitness aspect and the other is not, which is more suited to the mental and social aspects of the game. It is widely accepted in America that professional sport is a contact sport that can lead to serious injury if not properly supervised. As such, many clubs have strict rules regarding the physical fitness aspect of the sport.