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Sports

Athletics, competition, and the games we play — rules, history, and the science of physical performance.

85 articles — Page 1 of 3

A man in a white gi is practicing martial arts with another person in the background
Sports 4 min

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.

A football on a grass field
Sports 4 min

What Is American Football?

American football is a team sport in which two teams of 11 players each compete on a 100-yard field.

A man in a green jacket is fishing from a boat on a river, holding a fishing rod and focusing intently on his task
Sports 4 min

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.

A man in a black shirt and khaki pants is aiming a bow and arrow at a target in a grassy field
Sports 4 min

What Is Archery?

Archery is the practice of using a bow to propel arrows toward a target.

A female athlete in a maroon top and black shorts is running on a blue track, with other runners visible in the background
Sports 3 min

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.

Backpacking has two related meanings: wilderness backpacking
Sports 4 min

What Is Backpacking?

Backpacking has two related meanings: wilderness backpacking, where you hike into backcountry areas carrying everything you need to camp overnight.

A basketball on a court
Sports 4 min

What Is Basketball?

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players each compete on a rectangular court.

A person in a gray jacket is taking a photograph of a small bird perched on a branch in a forest setting
Sports 4 min

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.

Two men sitting around a campfire in a forest, cooking food in pots
Sports 3 min

What Is Camping?

Camping is the recreational practice of staying overnight outdoors, typically in natural settings, using temporary shelter like tents, recreational vehicles.

A man paddling a white kayak on a calm lake during sunset
Sports 3 min

What Is Canoeing?

Canoeing is the activity of propelling and navigating a canoe — an open, pointed-end boat — using a single-bladed paddle.

A person in a yellow jacket and backpack exploring a cave with stalactites and stalagmites
Sports 4 min

What Is Caving?

Caving — also called spelunking or potholing — is the recreational exploration of natural underground cave systems.

Cheerleaders performing a stunt
Sports 4 min

What Is Cheerleading?

Cheerleading is a physical activity that combines elements of dance, gymnastics, acrobatic stunts, tumbling, and chanting.

A group of people gathered around a table, preparing and enjoying food together
Sports 4 min

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.

Curling is a winter sport where players slide stones across ice toward a target
Sports 3 min

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.

A cyclist rides along a winding road at sunset, with the sun setting behind the mountains in the distance
Sports 4 min

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.

A man swimming underwater with his arms outstretched
Sports 3 min

What Is Diving?

Diving includes scuba, free diving, and competitive platform diving. Learn about techniques, equipment, certification, and why humans love going underwater.

A woman riding a brown horse in a grassy field
Sports 4 min

What Is Equestrianism?

Equestrianism covers all equestrian sports and horsemanship. Explore disciplines like dressage, show jumping, eventing, polo, and riding fundamentals.

A man with a beard and a glove is holding a falcon in a field
Sports 4 min

What Is Falconry?

Falconry is the practice of hunting wild game using trained birds of prey — falcons, hawks, eagles, and sometimes owls.

Fencing is a combat sport using swords — foil, epee, or sabre
Sports 4 min

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.

Field hockey is a team sport where players use curved sticks to hit a ball into a goal
Sports 4 min

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.

Figure skating combines athletic jumps, spins, and footwork with artistic expression on ice
Sports 4 min

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.

A man fishing on the shore of a lake at sunset
Sports 4 min

What Is Fishing?

Fishing is the activity of catching fish and other aquatic organisms, whether for food, recreation, sport, or commercial sale.

The pilot in the cockpit of the glider, wearing a helmet and looking out the window
Sports 4 min

What Is Gliding?

Gliding (also called soaring) is the sport and practice of flying aircraft without engines.

Gymnastics combines strength, flexibility, and artistry in events like floor, vault, and bars
Sports 4 min

What Is Gymnastics?

Gymnastics combines strength, flexibility, and artistry in events like floor, vault, and bars. Learn about disciplines, scoring, training, and Olympic history.

Handball is a fast-paced team sport where players throw a ball into a goal
Sports 4 min

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.

Hockey is a fast-paced team sport played on ice or field where players use sticks to score goals
Sports 4 min

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.

Horse racing is a competitive sport where thoroughbreds race on tracks for speed
Sports 4 min

What Is Horse Racing?

Horse racing is a competitive sport in which horses — typically Thoroughbreds — race against each other on a track.

A person climbing up an icy, snow-covered cliff face with a backpack
Sports 3 min

What Is Ice Climbing?

Ice climbing is the sport of ascending frozen waterfalls, ice-covered rock faces, and glacial ice formations using specialized tools.

Ice hockey player wearing a helmet and jersey
Sports 4 min

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.

A female ice skater in a blue dress performing a graceful spin on the ice rink
Sports 4 min

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.