What is a Sport?

Over the past few months as a substitute teacher in middle and high schools there seems to be one argument among the students that seems to rear its head at least one a week if not more. The argument is normally one that brings loud voices and large opinions, yet there is never a winner.  There is one thing that is almost a guarantee about this argument; it is normally boys versus girls. This argument has one underlying question, what is a sport?

A sport is defined “as an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or teams compete against another or others for entertainment.” This definition is entirely too broad for me.  Let’s be honest, by that standing competitive pole dancing would be considered a sport and that’s just not something that I would like to admit.  Weight lifting would also be considered a sport and being an ex-football player and spending a decent amount of time in the weight room I would not consider that a sport either. 

In order to explain my definition of a sport, I must first explain my definition of athletics and work from there.  Athletics defined by a dictionary is “physical sports and games of any kind.” I, for the most part, agree with that simple definition.  I think including competition and activities would be far too; therefore, making my definition of Athletics as physical sports, games, competitions and activities of any kind. Key word there being physical. I would make several classifications under that definition of athletics the first would be Athletic Sports.

Athletic Sports are the games we normally think of when we hear the term sport, such as football, baseball, hockey, soccer, etc. The definition I would give Athletic Sports is an event in which an individuals or teams use inanimate object to score on one other competitor or team and is an event where a third party does not directly decide the outcome.  I know someone out there is currently thinking, “Well football, baseball, and all those others sports you mentioned have third parties that directly decided the outcome.” Let me tell you, you’re wrong.  In those sports I mentioned they have referees and umpires.  Those gentleman and women do not directly decide on who will win. Those individuals might be able to directly impact the outcome of an event, but they do not directly decide it. A referee in football does not see a quarterback throw a beautiful ball and award him points for it, like judges do for gymnastics.  This leads me to my next classification under Athletics.

The second classification I would make is Athletic Events. Athletic Events for the most part would include race car driving, swimming, track and field, golf and events along those lines. I would define Athletic Events as an event where individuals or teams compete at large against each other in a physical event where a third party does not directly impact the outcome of the event.  Race car driving would fall here for instance because Racecar drivers compete against many other people (at large) where the race officials do not say who will win. Yes, race car driving would be classified here because driving a car going 180 miles an hour on sloped turns and through traffic can be extremely tiresome on the body. This means that it meets the “physical” part of the definition.  The main difference between an Athletic Event and an Athletic Sport is the number of competitors competing. In my understand, to be Athletic Sport the teams or individuals must be going head to head against each other.  However, in an Athletic Event the individuals or teams compete against a group or can compete against a group at once, thus making it an Athletic Event not an Athletic sport. 

The third classification I would make under Athletics is Athletic Competitions.  Boxing, Mix Martial Arts (MMA), Competitive Cheerleading, Competitive Dance, and Gymnastics would some of the few I would include in this classification. I would define Athletic Competitions as an event where individuals or teams go either head to head or at large against each other where the possibly lies that a third party can or does directly decide the outcome of the event.  I understand that in some cases MMA fighters and boxers can win the fight by knockout and eliminate a third party deciding the event, however, because there is the possibility of the fight being decided by a third party it makes it an Athletic Competition. I would consider the other three events I mentioned, Competitive Dance, Competitive Cheerleading and Gymnastics in this solely because the outcomes are decided on by a third party.  NO, just cheerleading and NO, just dance would not fall into this classification. This leads me to my last classification. 

The fourth and final classification I would make under Athletics would be Athletic Activities. Athletic Activities would be an activity that could be used to compete in any of the other classifications, however, for its purpose is only being used to entertain more than compete. I would list things such as a Homerun Derby, Slam Dunk contest, regular dance and regular cheerleading under this classification. I understand Homerun derby’s and Slam dunk contest are competitions but they are just one skill needed to compete in a sport and are solely being used to entertain the public. Dance and Cheerleading are the same. They are similar skills that are needed to compete in dance and cheerleading, however, for its sole purpose are being used to entertain. 

Throughout my time discussing this topic with middle schoolers and high schoolers I’ve come to notice one large thing, mainly in the girls who cheer and dance, and that is they want to say they play a sport.  They want to say they play a sport not so say they can say they play a sport, but because in their mind the only way to be an Athlete is by playing a sport. Playing a sport is not the only way an individual can be classified as being an athlete. You can be considered an Athlete for participating in any of the four Athletic classifications that I’ve listed. Each Athletic Sport, Competition, Event, and Activity requires a certain amount of Athleticism and for that reason you can be proud to say you’re an Athlete. 

So, to wrap it up, you may not play what I consider a sport but damn sure know, I think you’re an Athlete!!!!!

-JM