Whether you believe that sports were invented or not, there is no arguing that they have been around for centuries. In fact, the most common sports played by people in the United States are baseball, basketball, swimming, and hockey. These are all team sports. Almost every high school, college, or university has an athletics program. These programs help people become more physically fit, learn good decision-making skills, and maintain healthy weights.
While there is no definitive answer to when sports started, there is evidence that they were in existence before Abraham Lincoln was born. They were common among the Aztecs and Chinese. They were also played by African people. The Egyptians and Arabs also played ball games.
In the United States, baseball has long been the national sport. Other team sports include basketball, hockey, and football. These are also played by millions of people.
Although the sports of today are not similar to those of ancient times, the basic principles remain the same. Players must be physically fit, have good reflexes, and use their brains to compete. They also require repetition, memorization, and learning.
In the United States, basketball has grown into a mainstream sport since the 1980s. Similarly, ice hockey has grown into a mainstream sport since the 1990s. The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the largest collegiate sports governing body.
Another long-standing spectator sport is tennis. Tennis has broken attendance records and is one of the most popular spectator sports in the United States. Tennis was the first sport to be played at the Olympics in 1908.
Soccer is another popular spectator sport. The FA Cup, which is a soccer championship, is organized by the Football Association of England. The FA Cup is played between a team drawn at random in the first round of the tournament. The teams then play a home and home series. The winner of each series advances to the championship round.