Sports
Athletics, competition, and the games we play — rules, history, and the science of physical performance.
85 articles — Page 1 of 3
What Is Aikido?
Aikido is a Japanese martial art focused on redirecting an attacker's energy rather than meeting force with force. Learn its history, techniques, and.
What Is American Football?
American football is a team sport in which two teams of 11 players each compete on a 100-yard field.
What Is Angling?
Angling is the sport of catching fish using a hook, line, and rod. Learn about techniques, equipment, types of fishing, and why millions find it irresistible.
What Is Archery?
Archery is the practice of using a bow to propel arrows toward a target.
What Is Athletics?
Athletics is a collection of sporting events including running, jumping, throwing, and walking competitions. It forms the core of the modern Olympic Games.
What Is Backpacking?
Backpacking has two related meanings: wilderness backpacking, where you hike into backcountry areas carrying everything you need to camp overnight.
What Is Basketball?
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players each compete on a rectangular court.
What Is Bird Watching?
Bird watching (birding) is the observation and identification of wild birds in their natural habitat, enjoyed by over 45 million Americans as a hobby.
What Is Camping?
Camping is the recreational practice of staying overnight outdoors, typically in natural settings, using temporary shelter like tents, recreational vehicles.
What Is Canoeing?
Canoeing is the activity of propelling and navigating a canoe — an open, pointed-end boat — using a single-bladed paddle.
What Is Caving?
Caving — also called spelunking or potholing — is the recreational exploration of natural underground cave systems.
What Is Cheerleading?
Cheerleading is a physical activity that combines elements of dance, gymnastics, acrobatic stunts, tumbling, and chanting.
What Is Competitive Eating?
Competitive eating is a sport where contestants race to consume large quantities of food. Learn about its history, top eaters, events, and controversies.
What Is Curling?
Curling is a winter sport where players slide stones across ice toward a target. Learn about rules, strategy, sweeping, and why it's called chess on ice.
What Is Cycling?
Cycling is riding a bicycle for transport, exercise, or sport. Learn about road cycling, mountain biking, racing, health benefits, and getting started.
What Is Diving?
Diving includes scuba, free diving, and competitive platform diving. Learn about techniques, equipment, certification, and why humans love going underwater.
What Is Equestrianism?
Equestrianism covers all equestrian sports and horsemanship. Explore disciplines like dressage, show jumping, eventing, polo, and riding fundamentals.
What Is Falconry?
Falconry is the practice of hunting wild game using trained birds of prey — falcons, hawks, eagles, and sometimes owls.
What Is Fencing?
Fencing is a combat sport in which two opponents attempt to score points by touching each other with a weapon — either a foil, epee, or sabre.
What Is Field Hockey?
Field hockey is a team sport in which two sides of 11 players use curved sticks to maneuver a hard ball across a pitch and into the opposing team's goal.
What Is Figure Skating?
Figure skating combines athletic jumps, spins, and footwork with artistic expression on ice. Learn about its disciplines, scoring, and Olympic history.
What Is Fishing?
Fishing is the activity of catching fish and other aquatic organisms, whether for food, recreation, sport, or commercial sale.
What Is Gliding?
Gliding (also called soaring) is the sport and practice of flying aircraft without engines.
What Is Gymnastics?
Gymnastics combines strength, flexibility, and artistry in events like floor, vault, and bars. Learn about disciplines, scoring, training, and Olympic history.
What Is Handball?
Handball is a fast-paced team sport where players throw a ball into a goal. Learn about rules, positions, Olympic history, and why it's so popular in Europe.
What Is Hockey?
Hockey is a fast-paced team sport played on ice or field where players use sticks to score goals. Learn about rules, positions, equipment, and history.
What Is Horse Racing?
Horse racing is a competitive sport in which horses — typically Thoroughbreds — race against each other on a track.
What Is Ice Climbing?
Ice climbing is the sport of ascending frozen waterfalls, ice-covered rock faces, and glacial ice formations using specialized tools.
What Is Ice Hockey?
Ice hockey is a team sport played on an enclosed ice rink where two teams of six skaters each use sticks to shoot a vulcanized rubber puck into the opposing.
What Is Ice Skating?
Ice skating is moving across ice on metal-bladed boots, using the blade's thin edge to glide with remarkably little friction.