Sports is widely defined as a contact sport that involves some level of physical activity, like basketball or netball. Many forms of competitive athletics and some outdoor games are also classed as sports. In the US, professional athletes are generally known as athletes, while others perform as support staff or stand-ins for a team. Some individuals play sports simply for fun.
Many of the games played in international sports competitions are based around a particular sport and there are strict regulations to ensure fair competition. For example, the game of rugby is governed by the International rugby board, which is led by a committee made up of senior members from each country participating in the tournament. All teams are required to adhere to the rules of the game, including the wearing of appropriate uniforms and equipment. A coach may be appointed to manage the overall strategy of a team, particularly if they are based in another country.
One type of physical activity that can be considered to be both a sport and a form of recreation is fencing. It can be both a competitive and a friendly sport, but it requires a lot of physical dexterity and agility. There are several different levels of fencers, all of which require them to wear a protective gear and learn various disciplines related to the sport.
A more leisurely recreation associated with sports is motor racing. There are many different types of motor racing, and they all fall under one of three main umbrella categories: endurance sports, sprinting sports and open-wheel car racing. Endurance sports include Formula one, Rallycross, endurance racing and the likes. They are all competitive, but each differs in how much physical activity they involve. Most motor sports require an incredible amount of physical dexterity and speed.
Spectator sports refer to events that are held for fun but do not involve competition. They include bingo, fishing, golf, tennis, rugby, boxing and billiards. Each of these is popular with people from all ages, but none are particularly physically demanding or at the same level as physical competitions. While spectator sports can often be ignored by those not involved in the sport itself, they are an excellent form of entertainment. When watching a live game, viewers can become involved quite quickly. Almost every game you watch on television is either being broadcast live or being promoted live.
Finally, one other kind of recreational activity that is commonly confused with being a sport or recreation is gymnastics. Though it has gained a reputation as being a niche sport, there are a number of benefits to gymnastics that should not be overlooked. Gymnastics involves physical strength, a large majority of which is muscular. As a result, gymnasts generally have excellent muscle tone, and excellent bone density. It also helps develop motor skills and manual dexterity, though not in the same ways that some other sports help develop these skills.