Sports (or sportsmanship) is any form of generally competitive physical activity that, through organised or casual participation, aims to employ, foster or improve physical aptitude and/or skills while additionally providing enjoyment to participants, and sometimes, spectators. There are various types of sports, such as ice hockey, American football, softball, Australian rugby, tennis, basketball, swimming, golf and sailing to name a few. With respect to its various types and kinds, each has its own advantages and disadvantages, as well as rewards and punishments for the participants. Sports may be organized or unorganized; however, in any case, they are played between people and are usually sustained through sweat, exertion and sometimes, injuries.
One of the most popular sports in the United States is American football. This sport involves two teams, both of which wear distinctive colored jerseys, which signify their position on the field of play. The color of the jersey does not tell the players’ position in the team, but rather it is worn for the purpose of identification. As a result, some of the more popular American football teams include the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers among many others. Professional football in the United States is generally governed by a National Football League or its equivalent, the NFL.
Rugby is another popular sports in the United States. Rugby is an old well-known game, which is played between teams of fifteen including both forwards and backs. The object of the game is for the team to take the ball through the goalposts at the other end of the pitch using a certain number of rugby tackles or scrums before the other team scores from any of their kicks or passes. Rugby can be played either physically or electronically, with the electronic variant being played in stadiums with a capacity of over 70 fans. Although it has lost much of its popularity since the start of the twentieth century, the sport is now enjoying a resurgence of interest amongst American sports fans. The game involves rugby style tackling, skill and physical dexterity as well as stamina, endurance and mental alertness.
Cricket is another popular sport in the United States. Cricket is played between teams of bowlers who use a wicket or bat to hit the ball back and forth between the wickets or pitches on the cricket field. Cricket matches are played no fewer than three times within a 12-hour tournament; however, not all matches throughout a season are played over three days. One of the most prestigious baseball and American football professional teams, the Dallas Cowboys, play regular season games against the New York Giants in the nation’s capital. In the last twenty years, the NFL has formed the Professional Football League or NFL. The NFL was the first professional American sports league to be established in the mid nineteen-hundreds, with the objective of creating a professional football league that would supersede the United States Army All-American Football Association, or the Army and Navy All-Americans Football Association, or the NAFSA.
International soccer, tennis and American football are currently playing major roles in the growth of American professional sport. The NCAA, or National Collegiate Athletic Association, is a division of the United States Department of Education that sets standards for athletic programs in colleges and universities. The NCAA is a non-profit organization that produces and sanctions competitive athletic events, providing a forum for student-athletes to increase sports knowledge and enhance their skills both on and off the field. The NCAA is governed by a board of eight men and one women, whose members are voted in based on their expertise in sports management, public relations, education, communications, marketing, multimedia and sports business.
Another significant and widely recognized sports organization in the United States is the National Football League, or the NFL. Currently, the NFL plays regular season games throughout the United States, as well as in several international venues. The NFL has developed and implemented a competitive Playing Rules and Regulations Program that serve as the basis for all league activities, including sports medicine, team management, coaching and officiating. The NFL has also developed several video games, television shows, equipment and marketing schemes that further enhance the sport’s global appeal. The NFL has also formed a global stadium management and ownership company, which will oversee the construction and operation of NFL stadiums around the world.