Sports are an essential part of contemporary culture in the United States of America, particularly among the youth of the nation. Indoor baseball, basketball, softball, field hockey, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, softball, tennis, golf, motor racing, ice hockey, water polo, and Australian rugby, amongst many others, are also popular past-time sports being played in this country. Professional sports leagues have become very important to the well-being of the United States economy, which is why the National Football League has been playing a crucial role in maintaining the level of physical fitness of its players and the popularity of the sport itself. Despite this, football is not the only sport that makes use of the athletic talents of its athletes, as many other popular sports do. However, for the sake of discussion, only professional sports are discussed here.
Association football is the most popular kind of professional sports in the United States and around the world. This kind of sport is governed by a governing body made up of ten or more members, including representatives from the various groups involved in the sport: clubs, coaches, trainers, spectators, governing bodies and other organizers. The governing body for this sport is generally a non-profit organization, although there are some professional associations whose fees are charged. Generally, there is an appeal process for players, coaches and other organizers of this kind of sports events, though, and it is up to the appeals panel to rule whether a player, coach, or organizer is guilty of misconduct, cheating or other such charges.
Soccer is one of the most popular games among Americans of all ages, and is a form of association football. The term “soccer” is often used as a generic term for all forms of sports that are played by humans on a court with a goal. Generally speaking, the sport involves kicking a ball using feet or using a ball similar in shape or size to a soccer ball; or using a ball provided by an official, who is a part of the sport’s organizing body. The object of the game is simple: the objective is to score more points (“goal”) than the other team. Unlike other sports that involve continuous contact with another human being, or even animals, association football does not require contact.
Rugby is another very popular sports among the United States and around the world. The game involves two teams each composed of eleven players, with each team given a scrum (or ten minutes of play). Although rugby can be considered a pure sports competition, much of its popularity is due to its use by the sport’s governing bodies. As mentioned before, the referee’s role is very important when playing this kind of sport. Many people call rugby the “contact sport,” and most schools offer it as a class in high school.
Gymnastics, is an all-around, non-physical fitness program for children. Like swimming, gymnastics requires that the participants use their upper and lower bodies in various positions. It can be classified as a “team” sport, but because gymnastics is mainly for kids, it has evolved into a recreational activity for adults and continues to be a popular extracurricular activity for students. It is played in a gymnasium and can be achieved by both young and old people, though it is especially popular among students who are interested in sports and have the potential to develop athletic prowess. A great many gymnasts are known to engage in professional sports as well.
Although there are many different kinds of organized sports, they all share a common goal: physical fitness and improving a person’s skills through trial and error. Many professionals refer to these sports as “contact sports.” These professional sports, such as ice hockey and football, were born out of the need for physical fitness. They require a lot of practice to master and perfect but help people become better and stronger athletes and also make them better (and healthier) persons overall.
