Article on cricket

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at

the centre of which is a 22-yard (20-metre) pitch with a wicket at each end, each
comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striking
the ball bowled at the wicket with the bat (and running between the wickets), while
the bowling and fielding side tries to prevent this (by getting the ball to either wicket)
and dismiss each batter (so they are "out"). Means of dismissal include being bowled,
when the ball hits the stumps and dislodges the bails, and by the fielding
side catching the ball after it is hit by the bat, but before it hits the ground. When ten
batters have been dismissed, the innings ends and the teams swap roles. The game is
adjudicated by two umpires, aided by a third umpire and match referee in international
matches. They communicate with two off-field scorers who record the match's statistical
information.
Forms of cricket range from Twenty20, with each team batting for a single innings of
20 overs, to Test matches played over five days. Traditionally cricketers play in all-
white kit, but in limited overs cricket they wear club or team colours. In addition to the
basic kit, some players wear protective gear to prevent injury caused by the ball, which
is a hard, solid spheroid made of compressed leather with a slightly raised sewn seam
enclosing a cork core layered with tightly wound string.

Article on sport

Sport includes all forms of competitive physical activity or games which,[1] through

casual or organized participation, at least in part aim to use, maintain or improve
physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants, and in some
cases, entertainment for spectators.[2] Sports can bring positive results to one's physical
health. Hundreds of sports exist, from those between single contestants, through to
those with hundreds of simultaneous participants, either in teams or competing as
individuals. In certain sports such as racing, many contestants may compete,
simultaneously or consecutively, with one winner; in others, the contest (a match) is
between two sides, each attempting to exceed the other. Some sports allow a "tie" or
"draw", in which there is no single winner; others provide tie-breaking methods to
ensure one winner and one loser. A number of contests may be arranged in
a tournament producing a champion. Many sports leagues make an annual champion
by arranging games in a regular sports season, followed in some cases by playoffs.
Sport is generally recognised as system of activities which are based in
physical athleticism or physical dexterity, with the largest major competitions such as
the Olympic Games admitting only sports meeting this definition,[3] and other
organisations such as the Council of Europe using definitions precluding activities
without a physical element from classification as sports.[2] However, a number of
competitive, but non-physical, activities claim recognition as mind sports. The
International Olympic Committee (through ARISF) recognises
both chess and bridge as bona fide sports, and SportAccord, the international sports
federation association, recognises five non-physical sports: bridge,
[4][5]
chess, draughts (checkers), Go and xiangqi,  and limits the number of mind games
which can be admitted as sports.[1]
Sport is usually governed by a set of rules or customs, which serve to ensure fair
competition, and allow consistent adjudication of the winner. Winning can be
determined by physical events such as scoring goals or crossing a line first. It can also
be determined by judges who are scoring elements of the sporting performance,
including objective or subjective measures such as technical performance or artistic
impression

Article on football

Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to

score a goal. Unqualified, the word football normally means the form of football that is
the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly
called football include association football (known as soccer in some countries); gridiron
football (specifically American football or Canadian football); Australian rules
football; rugby football (either rugby union or rugby league); and Gaelic football.[1]
[2]
 These various forms of football share to varying extent common origins and are
known as football codes.
There are a number of references to traditional, ancient, or prehistoric ball games
played in many different parts of the world.[3][4][5] Contemporary codes of football can be
traced back to the codification of these games at English public schools during the 19th
century.[6][7] The expansion and cultural influence of the British Empire allowed these
rules of football to spread to areas of British influence outside the directly controlled
Empire.[8] By the end of the 19th century, distinct regional codes were already
developing: Gaelic football, for example, deliberately incorporated the rules of local
traditional football games in order to maintain their heritage.[9] In 1888, The Football
League was founded in England, becoming the first of many professional football
competitions. During the 20th century, several of the various kinds of football grew to
become some of the most popular team sports in the world.[10]

Article on basketball

Basketball, colloquially referred to as hoops,[1] is a team sport in which two teams,

most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court,
compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately 9.4 inches
(24 cm) in diameter) through the defender's hoop (a basket 18 inches (46 cm) in
diameter mounted 10 feet (3.048 m) high to a backboard at each end of the court) while
preventing the opposing team from shooting through their own hoop. A field goal is
worth two points, unless made from behind the three-point line, when it is worth three.
After a foul, timed play stops and the player fouled or designated to shoot a technical
foul is given one or more one-point free throws. The team with the most points at the
end of the game wins, but if regulation play expires with the score tied, an additional
period of play (overtime) is mandated.
Players advance the ball by bouncing it while walking or running (dribbling) or by
passing it to a teammate, both of which require considerable skill. On offense, players
may use a variety of shots—the lay-up, the jump shot, or a dunk; on defense, they may
steal the ball from a dribbler, intercept passes, or block shots; either offense or defense
may collect a rebound, that is, a missed shot that bounces from rim or backboard. It is a
violation to lift or drag one's pivot foot without dribbling the ball, to carry it, or to hold the
ball with both hands then resume dribbling.
The five players on each side fall into five playing positions. The tallest player is usually
the center, the second tallest and strongest is the power forward, a slightly shorter but
more agile player is the small forward, and the shortest players or the best ball handlers
are the shooting guard and the point guard, who implements the coach's game plan by
managing the execution of offensive and defensive plays (player positioning).
Informally, players may play three-on-three, two-on-two, and one-on-one.

The importance of sports in schools

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Sports and games are given lesser attention in Indian schools since it is considered a just physical
activity. But sports and games encompass more than just the benefits of physical things, it
increases in confidence, self-esteem and mental alertness which makes them an essential part of
the curriculum. Games and sports should be made an integral part of a student’s life. A student
should study hard to be successful in various test and examinations. But, he/she should also get
involved playing games to derive the health and vigor of life

Why sports should be included in schooling ?

When children participate in school sports, it provides a sense of belonging, and being part of a
group, enabling to work in a team environment. Besides, it helps the students to interact with
peers in a social and friendly manner. It also helps to learn to consider the interests of teammates
and to practice mutual respect and gain their cooperation. Work together, share time, emotional
space and other resources help to understand each other. Furthermore, it helps to take turns to
play and learn to cope with success and failure as a group and a team. These interactions can
greatly facilitate bonding and lasting friendships with schoolmates, which can help make
children more sociable in the future career. Several researches have indicated that children who
participate in sports and physical activities are less likely to move towards crimes.