We all know that there are hundreds of different kinds of games, some played professionally, and many played in amateur competitions. But what distinguishes them from one another? In order to answer that question, it is important to highlight the differences between sports and other similar activities. Unlike other games, there is generally no international governing body to police the competitions, but instead, each country has its own association that organises sporting events. This separation of the world into sports categories is perhaps the biggest reason why sports competition is so fascinating to people around the world.
Sports are generally governed by some kind of traditions or rules; which ensure fair play, and ensure consistent adjudication of the winning player. In professional sport, results of the competition are often televised, and in less competitive sports, such as motor racing, this information can be freely reported or announced by the racetrack. As far as the physical aspect goes, both playing sports and watching sports tend to involve quite a lot of running, jumping, throwing, kicking, wrestling and grappling. Physical dexterity is required, and it is not uncommon to see the athletes doing aerobics on top of their exercise regimen! That’s not all; even watching a movie or television show can involve a lot of physical activity, such as reading, drinking, eating, pushing oneself against a wall, or simply sitting quietly without moving.
Now, consider a sport like the NASCAR racing championship; That’s a NASCAR race car game! It involves a lot of physical strength and dexterity, just as any other competitive sport would. The difference lies in the fact that the athletes are able to enjoy the occasion – the competition – while still maintaining a safe distance from their rivals. For instance, in the race, when an athlete hits a competitor, it doesn’t really matter how much damage is done, because the racer is still within the rules to continue racing.
This leads to another important distinction between sports and non-sport; Non-sport is typically sedentary, where the athletes do not put in any amount of physical exertion. Whereas, sports are competitive activities where the participants put in a great deal of effort, overcoming challenges, overcoming obstacles, overcoming pain and danger. And so, the athletes who are champions in non-sport are considered to be more fit and healthy than those who are not champions in the same activity. This applies to athletes at all levels, from high school athletes to Olympic rowers, even professional sportsmen and women, who put in considerably more physical exertion than the rest of us.
- There is also a growing field of research into the impact of sports psychology on athletic performance. Sports psychology is a subset of Sport Psychology, which is an area of psychology interested in understanding the psychological factors that lead to successful performance in sporting events.
- In recent years, sports psychologists have become particularly interested in studying the mental factors involved in successful performance and in particular the role of positive thinking and positive emotions.
- The positive emotions that can be infectious when a person performs at his or her highest level. And it is this positive state of mind which can boost an athlete’s energy, spirits and confidence, making them both more efficient and less fatigued while performing at their best.
Sports psychology professionals; are also interested in studying how athletes manage the mental stress that inevitably comes with excelling at their sport. They have a unique opportunity to examine and challenge the validity of certain beliefs and stereotypes that athletes commonly hold, as well as the social and cultural pressure they face. These professionals have a unique expertise at developing programs and treatment plans that will help athletes overcome these stresses by helping them develop coping mechanisms and new ways of looking at their sport and themselves. They help athletes in other areas as well, such as: career planning, stress management, physical activity scheduling, injury prevention and rehabilitation, nutrition and nutritional counseling, motivation, and leadership development. Therefore, the field of sports psychology is an excellent choice for those who wish to add a new dimension to their life, especially those with an athleticism that makes them standout at the college or professional levels.