Draft:Original research/Sports

Sports are activities involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

Generally, all sports may be played by men, women, and children.

Definition any "activity that uses physical [exertion or] skills^[1] competitively under a set of rules that is not based on aesthetics"^[2] is called a sport.

Def. a "sport in which two opposing teams of five players strive to put a ball through a hoop"^[3] is called basketball.

On the right is an image of a basketball player (Michael Jordan) going for a slam dunk.

On the left is a typical, eight-panel, rubber-coated basketball.

Competitors wear gloves, but head protection was used in men's competition until March 2016, before it was removed by the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (AIBA) due to a higher concussion rate with Head Protection; however, women's boxing will continue with Head Protection, after the AIBA announced that they did not have enough data to decide if there was higher risk of concussion in women.^[4]

"At the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, the "Ancient Rome" concession on The Pike featured a hippodrome with races between twelve chariots pulled by forty-eight horses, an arena with broadsword combat between gladiators, and boxing contests between men whose fists were bound with the cestus, the Roman boxing glove."^[5]

"One of the more problematic sport spectacles in American history took place at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, which included the third modern Olympic Games."^[5]

"In addition to the official events (running, jumping, weightlifting, steeplechase, pole vaults, wrestling, swimming, shot put, hurdles, gymnastics, and the marathon race) there were myriad demonstrations (boxing, dumbbells, and basketball)."^[5]

The boxing competitions were held on Wednesday, September 21, 1904 and on Thursday, September 22, 1904."^[6]

"Oliver Kirk is the only boxer to win two gold medals in separate weight classes at the same Olympics, a feat he accomplished at the 1904 St. Louis Olympics and that will surely never again be equaled. Kirk first won the bantamweight division, knocking out [George Finnegan], the only other competitor. He was not entered in the featherweight class, but after only two boxers entered, the crowd wanted to see Kirk fight the winner, [Frank Haller]. Kirk, from the Business Men's Gym in St. Louis, did so and won by decision, and was awarded the gold medal."^[7]

Def. "a game in which two teams attempt to get an ovoid ball to the end of each other's territory"^[8] is called football, or American football.

In American football, as shown in the image on the right, a player may often carry the ovoid ball such as the one shown on the left into the end, or end zone, of the other team's territory.

Def. "a game in which two teams each contend to get a round ball into the other team's goal primarily by kicking the ball"^[8] is called football, futbol, or association football.

In the image Conny Pohlers (in red at the far left just entering the frame) follows-up on a pass before members of the opposing team (in white) may intercept.

On the left is an example of a futbol.

Def. a "sport played by two players (or four in doubles), who alternately strike the ball over a net using racquets"^[9] is called tennis.

Shahar Peer (bottom) rallies with Anna Chakvetadze during the 2007 US Open, in the image on the right.

On the left is a tennis ball used at the 2011 Japan Open.

Def. a "game played on a rectangular court between two teams of two to six players which involves striking a ball back and forth over a net"^[10] is called volleyball.

On the right, members of U.S. Armed Forces Women's Volleyball team block an Italian player from scoring during the 3rd Military World Games held in Catania, Sicily.

On the left is an example of a volleyball used in playing beach volleyball.

1. Many long-time sports have become dominated in some instances by taller and taller players at the expense of shorter but equally skilled players. Accordingly, modifications to these sports may create entertaining and engaging sports that are less height restrictive.

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