Sports are social activities that unite people. The United States is a great nation where people can engage in various forms of sports and games. In colonial North America, team sports were a common part of life. Native American tribes played ball games that may be considered early versions of lacrosse. European games brought to America during the 17th century were adapted and modified to form typical American sports. Today, these games and competitions remain the most popular in the world. Throughout history, various social rituals have been developed around these athletic contests.
Games and physical activities are both types of sports. Whether organized or informal, they can improve physical fitness and mental wellbeing. Many people enjoy participating in competitive activities, and these activities can be social and have long-lasting benefits. Listed below are just a few of the different types of sports: rugby, football, and tennis. There are also thousands of different games and competitions within each category, and each one has its own rules and regulations. The following table presents the differences between different types of sports, along with some of the most popular examples.
Most sports have rules and customs that govern them. These customs and rules help ensure fair competition and a consistent adjudication of winners. The rules of a sport are often governed by the physical events, but a score-card system is used for the purposes of determining a winner. A judge can use objective and subjective measures of a sporting performance to determine a winner. The rules of a sport will determine whether a game is fair, based on its rules and regulations.