What Makes a Sport a Sport?

Sports are played worldwide and are reflective of that particular areas cultural view. This has led to a wide variety of sports that are played. Due to this high level of diversity it has become extremely challenging to define what activities are considered a sport verse a recitation activity. Specialists in this field frequently debate this issue, discussing the criteria that should exist when evaluating a sport. The main goal is to make a list concise enough yet, at the same time detailed so it can be used in every sporting model.
Scholars have identified six separate components that must be present within a sport in order to be considered as a true sport. One of the first requirements on this list is that the sport must include a certain level of competition. This is particularly important because competition is believed to be the main force that motivates and athlete to perform up to their optimum levels. The second aspect a sport must contain is maintaining certain level of strategy or chance. This essentially means that the sport must be played in order to determine the winner or outcome. Another important aspect that must exist within a sport is a governing body. A governing body is always present at a high level of competition in order to enforce the rules and regulations. Another important trait that a sport should possess is it must require some form of physical and mental activity. These components incorporate speed, coordination and timing into a sports performance. All of these movements also require skill which is also another necessity a sport must have. Lastly the final aspect a sport must have is it must benefit someone. This can either be personal, extrinsic means or even for entertainment.
In class we were giv...

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...lly waiting. Unlike fishing that take skill in pulling the fishing line and dancing the bait all this athlete has little skill involved with capturing the fish. Even though chance is a major part in determining a true sport I believe this activity to be too dependent on chance and requires too small of human involvement on being successful. This had led me to classify this sport also as a recreational activity.
Both of these activities are considered to be sports to a few selected individuals but, when having a subjective view from the outside it is very difficult to classify these activates as sports. Both of these activities require a high level of animal involvement and therefore need little human participation or even skill. By allowing the animals to become the main focal point within the activity participants have ultimately removed themselves from the sport.