Sport

What Is Sport?

Olympic Rings

Sport is an overarching term for a whole manner of activities that usually contain some level of physical exercise. They are played to keep fit and also socialise with other people. Due to the exercise component, endorphins, as well as dopamine and serotonin, are released while playing. This boosts the individual's mood, leading to improved mental health. Different sports are played all over the world, some dating back millennia.

Different Categories of Sports:

Most sports can be split into two main categories:

1) Team Sports:

- In these sports, players are split into teams and have to work together to achieve some form of goal (e.g. scoring a goal in football). The following are all examples of team sports

Photo From Football Match (Algeria vs Armenia)

• Football
• Rugby
• Baseball
• Hockey

2) Individual Sports:

- Although these sports may have a team behind the athlete - such as coaches and physiotherapists - the actual activity is performed solo. The following are examples of individual sports:

Swimming Race Final

• Swimming
• Weightlifting
• Figure Skating
• Athletics (In certain situations)

Benefits To Sport

Through regular exercise, micro-tears are formed in the active muscle groups. When given time to recover, new muscle is built. This is beneficial not only in sport but in other aspects of life, such as opening a jar of pickles. The brain also releases an array of chemicals during exercise - such as dopamine. These chemicals help you perform better in the sport, but more importantly, lifts the individuals mood. This all keeps both your physical and mental health in good form, which is key to longer life expectancy and quality of life.

Team Talk

For team sports, there is another benefit that cannot be over looked, socialisation. Humans are social creatures and participating in team sports provides an excellent opportunity to improve the critical aspect of life. It also teaches values - such as teamwork, leadership, and Communication.

Low Cost: High Reward

Playing a sport doesn't require massive financial input. For example, Football was originally played with an inflated animal bladder, as it was cheap and regularly available. We have evolved a lot since then, but you can still buy a ball for under $10 and have a good time with friends. Or there are even free alternatives, such as simply running around your local area. As previously mentioned, there is a ton of benefits to playing a sport and with a low bar to entry, there is no reason not to play one.