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Defining "Sport"


paynomind

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OK, after sticking my head into the Cheerleading thread, I got thinking again about this thread, and came up with another direction in looking at what is and isn't a 'Sport"

First, a dictionary definition of Sport

Sport: (from Dictionary.com)

i- Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.

ii- A particular form of this activity.

iii- An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.

iv- An active pastime; recreation.

ok, That encompasses alot of territory. Some of those definitions even contradit the other, so we have to break things down to a maore specific level, just like classify biological organisms.

We have different types of sports: direct competition, indirect competition, hobby-ist, and subjective.

Direct Competition: one or more individuals competeing against each other on the same field of play at the same time, with the outcome determined by accumulated points or measured results

ie- Basketball, Ice Hockey, Relay racing

Indirect Competition: two or more individuals competing against each other in alternating turns, with the outcome determined by accumlated points or measured results

ie- Long Jumping, Golf, Bowling, Javelin, Hammer toss, Baseball?

Hobby-ist:-/u] requiring only one competitor, but may be participated in by more, in alternating turns.

ie- Darts, Golf, Snooker

Subjective: Competitors, in teams or individually, perform set routines that are judged and given a score by a selected group of unbiased individuals.

ie- High Diving, Figure Skating, Competitive Cheerleading

for the sake of things, we should also define an Athelete

Athelete(again, from dictionary.com)-

A person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, agility, and endurance, that are necessary for physical exercise or sports, especially those performed in competitive contexts.

So, I've broken down 'Sport' into a more specific set of definitions. You can do that in many different ways using many different criteria. However, one constsant is that any individual that is involved in a 'Sport' is an "Athlete'. So in defining wether or not an activity is a sport, one must determine wether or not the individual participating is an athlete or not.

Getting back to NASCAR, You could say that NASCAR drivers are athletes, but what they do does not fit the definition of other sports. It is not the driver's stamina, or any other physical ability that determines the speed of the car, unlike foot racing, or cycling. However, they must be fit, and train for what they do, and that fits with most 'Sport' definitions.

I think you need to consider NASCAR, as well as all Vehiclular Races to be a totally unique activity.

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Getting back to NASCAR, You could say that NASCAR drivers are athletes, but what they do does not fit the definition of other sports. It is not the driver's stamina, or any other physical ability that determines the speed of the car, unlike foot racing, or cycling. However, they must be fit, and train for what they do, and that fits with most 'Sport' definitions.

I think you need to consider NASCAR, as well as all Vehiclular Races to be a totally unique activity.

While the driver's stamina doesnt determine the top speed or current speed of the car, it does in fact determine the position of finish, and thereby the relative success.

The idea of breaking up sport into direct and indirect competition is interesting. Though, I'm not sure it is appealing.

I saw someone else with a definition that excluded anything you cant score *during* the event. I dont thinkt hats true, or else track wouldn't be a sport, and I dont think thats true. I think any GAME you score points, but sport doesnt have to be a game, it can be a race or a competition.

I guess maybe sport is a personal definition. Like pornography, "I know it when i see it."

Auto Racing - yes.

Cheerleading - no.

Track and Field - yes.

Monster Trucks - no.

Golf - yes.

Bowling - no.

NCFA Sunset Beach Tech - Octopi

 

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I guess maybe sport is a personal definition. Like pornography, "I know it when i see it."

Auto Racing - yes.

Cheerleading - no.

Track and Field - yes.

Monster Trucks - no.

Golf - yes.

Bowling - no.

I think you're right payno, it's going to be one of those instances where you could put forth the perfect arguement for your point of view, and there will be some people who just don't see things in an other way than the way they do.

I don't mean to say that to slander anyone, but it is true, there are people that have their pointof view and won't see things another way, even if just to be right in their own minds. Maybe we shouldn't worry about what others think of as sports, and go out and enjoy what we do.

Hell, you could avoid the whole sport debate if you classified everything as 'competition' as opposed to 'sport'

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