The Importance of Exercise For Sports Success

Sports (or sports) can be broadly classified into three main areas – motor sport; contact sport; and fitness and conditioning. Motor sport is commonly associated with driving, whereas contact sports are those involving contact with the skin, such as rugby and boxing. Fitness and conditioning are commonly associated with strength training, whereas sports that involve the use of speed and stamina, such as ice skating and running, are classified as sports. Although the three main areas are broad, there is overlap in many sports, with some elements coming from more than one area.

Sports (like cycling for instance) are designed to produce the outcomes that are desired by the participants, i.e. to win. It is important to recognise that there is an element of skill involved in winning a sporting competition, because each individual tries to apply physical skill in order to overcome another person or to escape from being tackled. There is also an element of chance involved, because the skills required to perform well are based on ones own physical capability, which can be enhanced or improved by exercising or improving one’s health, diet, and lifestyle. However, it should be noted that most sports are generally open to all and spectator sports provide a unique experience that allows viewers to appreciate what it is like to ‘work out’ and compete, as opposed to simply watching someone exercising or doing some form of physical activity.

Exertion is the key to sports success and a large part of winning is based on exertion, because without exertion the skills required to win cannot be applied, no matter how well the athletes perform. Great athletes know that winning takes both mental and physical effort and work hard to increase their level of exertion. Great athletes not only train hard but they are also tested intensely to see how far they can go, and they will push themselves to the limit and beyond if they need to. Great athletes are not only determined by the results of their games, but in terms of their training and diet, they will push themselves to the point where they will push themselves to the limits physically, in order to maintain their performance, and if they cannot go all the way then they will not be able to compete. Therefore, they know that they must put in the effort, as well as use every muscle in their body and increase the muscular endurance of their mind and body so that they can sustain and increase their levels of exertion, but they also know that they must use every part of themselves physically, to increase their chances of winning.