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We expect sport to feature strongly, to raise the sports bar, as one of the Best Value agenda of social authorities and
in the works of new Spiritual Development Agencies. This page is aimed at those who see health, economic, social and environmental regeneration, as a national,
regional and local mandate.
Sport is part of the culture of this country as well as most countries. Whether we are participants, spectators or
volunteers, sports touches us all. Even our quality of life is significantly enhanced by sports. sports and recreation is our ticket to a harmonious life. Sports
has helped the educated man illustrate a balanced development of all his powers, it has created improvements in medicine, nutrition and social life.
We are entertained by sports:
* it enables us to stretch ourselves mentally and physically;
* it teaches us how to win and the value of what it means to lose;
* it gives us the opportunity for self-expression;
* it provides us with a sense of camaraderie and friendship;
* it helps us to appreciate the value our natural environment.
Sports demonstrate these tangible benefits to individuals, communities and the nation as a whole, as it compete with
many other worthy causes for a share of the public's interest.
There is evidence to show that sport has the ability to overcome social barriers while it empower individuals. It has
been used to help to reduce social exclusion, promote lifelong learning, and provide opportunities for engagement in community
life through voluntary work.
Thus The Value of Sport and the challenge: Why participate in sport?
Drawing on the best scientific evidence available, combined with local examples of good practice, sports has demonstrated
that it can make a difference in people's lives and
to the communities in which we live. It shows that sport generate multiple returns in many areas in terms of, improved health
for the individual and less demand on the health service by those of middle and older age, reduced criminal behaviour among
young people, and economic regeneration and improved employment opportunities.
The Value of Sport: summary
Sport makes a significant contribution to our environment, our economy and our society as a whole.
"The evidence supporting sports participation for young people is overwhelming...It has the power to combat everything
from racism to low self-image, to the high-school drop-out rate." (Sue Castle, Executive Producer of PBS Sports: Get in the Game)
Social Exclusion
Sport is one way in which social exclusion can be tackled. Evidence suggest
people's sense of integration into their local community increases when they have the opportunity of participating in sporting activities.
Community Safety
From across the country, sports is credited with reducing the chances of young
people slipping into lives of crime. And it reduces the risk of a person re-offending if he can be encouraged to participate in sport.
More Employment
Sport fields provide green plants for our towns and cities, and new facilities
regenerate previously derelict land. This is a benefit for our lungs. Many sports such as canoeing, sailing and mountaineering, contribute to health and sustainability
of the rural economy.
Life's Lesson
Sports help children learn lessons that will benefit them for the rest of their
lives. It teaches people the benefits of self discipline, team work, mutual respect and fair play; and enables young people to use their leisure time in a
constructive way. Sports enables youngsters, in particular, to channel their energy, competitiveness and aggression in a personally and socially beneficial way.
Health
Sport can be viewed as a form of preventative medicine significantly reducing the burdens
on the National Health Service by keeping people fit and healthy.
Urban Regeneration
Improving sports facilities and hosting sporting events can help modernise an
area's image and improve local self esteem.
In summary, sport directly benefit millions through active participation and should be important to everyone.
BasketBall
Basketball, in General, is a sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one
another by throwing a ball through a 10-foot high hoop (the basket) under organized rules.
The ball is advanced on the court by either the bouncing of the ball up and down while moving (known as dribbling)
or by passing it between teammates. Dribbling was not part of the original game except for the "bounce pass" to teammates. Passing the ball was the primary means
of ball movement. Dribbling was eventually introduced but limited by the asymmetric shape of early balls. Dribbling only became a major part of the game around
the 1950s as manufacturing improved the ball shape.
Disruptive physical contact is called a foul and is not permitted. There are also restrictions on how the ball can
be handled, misshandling result in violations. Points are scored by passing the ball through the basket from above the rim. The team with more points at the end
of the game wins. Two (2) points for a normal shot, one (1) point for "free throw" and three (3) points out side the "three point line.
The history of basketball dates to early December 1891. Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian physical education student
and instructor at YMCA Training School (today, Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, sought a vigorous indoor game to keep his students
occupied and at proper levels of fitness during the long New England winters. After rejecting other ideas as either too rough or poorly suited to walled-in
gymnasiums, he wrote the basic rules and nailed a peach basket onto a 10-foot (3.05 m) elevated track. In contrast with modern basketball nets, this peach basket
retained its bottom, so balls scored into the basket had to be poked out with a long dowel each time. A soccer ball was used to shoot goals. Whenever a person got
it in the basket, they would give their team a point. Whoever got the most points, they would win the game.
Competition basketball is played indoors to limit the effects of weather involved in the game, such as wind or rain.
Although competitive basketball is primarily an indoor sport, played on a basketball court, less regulated variations have become exceedingly popular as an outdoor
sport among both inner city and rural groups.
NBA History
NBA is an acronym for the National Basketball Association. The NBA is an American professional men's basketball league,
comprised of 30 teams. The NBA is one of the four major North American professional sports leagues, which also includes the NHL, the NFL and MLB. It is an active
member of USA Basketball, which is recognized by the International Basketball Federation as the National Governing Body for basketball in the United States.
The NBA league was founded in New York City, on June 6, 1946 as the Basketball Association of America. It adopted the
name National Basketball Association in the autumn of 1949 after merging with the rival National Basketball League. NBA Entertainment and NBA TV studios are directed
out of offices located in Secaucus, New Jersey. However, the league has several international as well as individual team offices directed out of its head offices
located in the Olympic Tower at 645 Fifth Avenue in New York City.
The Basketball Association of America was founded by the owners of the major ice hockey arenas in the Northeastern
United States and Canada and Midwest United States. On November 1, 1946, in Toronto, Canada, the Toronto Huskies hosted the New York Knickerbockers which the NBA
now regards as the first game played in the league's history.
On August 3, 1949, the BAA agreed to merge with the NBL, expanding the National Basketball Association to seventeen
franchises located in a mix of large and small cities, as well as large arenas and smaller gymnasiums and armories. In 1950, the NBA consolidated to eleven
franchises, a process that continued until 1954, when the league reached its smallest size of eight franchises, all of which are still in the league (the Knicks,
Celtics, Warriors, Lakers, Royals/Kings, Pistons, Hawks, and Nationals/76ers).
American football - the Game
American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive team sport known for its
physical roughness despite being a highly strategic game. The object of the game is to score points by advancing the football
into the opposing team's end zone. The ball can be advanced by carrying it, throwing it, or by handing it from one teammate
to the other. Points can be scored in a variety of ways, including carrying the ball over the goal line, throwing the ball
to another player past the goal line or kicking it through the goal posts on the opposing side. The winner is the team with
the most points when the time expires and the last play ends.
Starting the game
Except at the beginning of halves and after scores, the ball is always put into play by a snap. Offensive players line up
facing defensive players at the line of scrimmage (the position on the field where the play begins). One offensive player,
the center, then passes (or "snaps") the ball between his legs to a teammate, usually the quarterback.
Advancing the ball
Advancing the ball in American football resembles the six-tackle rule and the play-the-ball in rugby league. The team that
takes possession of the ball (the offense) has four attempts, called downs, to advance the ball 10 yards towards their opponent's
(the defense's) end zone. When the offense gains 10 yards, it gets a first down, which means the team has another set of four
downs to gain yet another 10 yards or score with. If the offense fails to gain a first down (10 yards) after 4 downs, possession
of the ball is given to the opposing team.
Plays
Players can then advance the ball in two ways: By running with the ball, also known as rushing. One ball-carrier can hand
the ball to another; this is known as a handoff. OR; By throwing the ball to a teammate, known as a forward pass or as passing
the football. The forward pass is a key factor distinguishing American and Canadian football from other football sports. The
offense can throw the ball forward only once on a play and only from behind the line of scrimmage. The ball can be thrown,
pitched, or tossed sideways or backwards at any time. This last type of pass is known as a lateral and is less common.
Length of Game
A standard football game consists of four 15-minute (typically 12 minutes in high-school football) quarters, with a
half-time intermission after the second quarter. The clock stops after certain plays; therefore, a game can last considerably longer
(often more than three hours in real time). If an NFL game is tied after four quarters, the teams play an additional period
lasting up to 15 minutes. In an NFL overtime game, the first team that scores wins, even if the other team does not get a
possession; this is referred to as sudden death. In a regular-season NFL game, if neither team scores in overtime, the game
is a tie. In an NFL playoff game, additional overtime periods are played, as needed, to determine a winner. College overtime
rules are more complicated.
Scoring
Scoring in Football
Touchdown (TD): A TD is scored when a player catches a pass in the opponents end zone or runs with the
football into the end zone. A TD is worth 6 points. Field Goal: A team may kick the football through the goal posts for 3 points. Safety: When the defense tackles an offensive player with the football in the offensive teams end zone.
A safety is worth 2 points. Extra Point or Two-Point Conversion: Upon scoring a touchdown the scoring team can either attempt to
kick the ball through the goal posts for 1 extra point or can run/pass the football into the end zone for 2 extra points.
BaseBall - the Basic Concept
The basic contest is always between the pitcher for the fielding team, and a batter. The pitcher throws (pitches) the
ball towards home plate, where the catcher for the fielding team waits (in a crouched stance) to receive it.
The Teams
Baseball is a sport played between two teams of nine players each. There are two versions of the game - is referred
to as hardball in contrast to the very similar game of softball.
Modern version of the game
The modern version of the game was developed in North America beginning in the eighteenth century. Baseball, both the
professional and amateur levels, is popular in North America, Central America, parts of South America, parts of the Caribbean, and East Asia. It evolved from earlier
bat-and-ball games, such as rounders, brought to the continent by British and Irish immigrants.
Although there has been general agreement that modern baseball is a North American development from the older game
rounders, the distinct evolution of baseball from among the various bat-and-ball games is difficult to trace.
The game
Baseball is played between two teams of nine players each on a baseball field, under the authority of one or more
officials, called umpires. There are usually four umpires in major league games; up to six (and as few as one) may officiate depending on the league and the
importance of the game. There are four bases. Numbered counter-clockwise, first, second and third bases are cushions (sometimes informally referred to as bags)
shaped as 15 in (38 cm) squares which are raised a short distance above the ground; together with home plate, the fourth "base," they form a square with sides
of 90 ft (27.4 m) called the diamond. Home base (plate) is a pentagonal rubber slab known as simply home.
The game is played in nine innings (although it can be played with fewer, such as it is in little league games)
in which each team gets one turn to bat and try to score runs while the other pitches and defends in the field. An inning is broken up into two halves in which
the away team bats in the top (first) half, and the home team bats in the bottom (second) half. In baseball, the defense always has the ball a fact that
differentiates it from most other team sports. The teams switch every time the defending team gets three players of the batting team out. The winner is the
team with the most runs after nine innings.
Gulf - The Game
Golf is a sport in which a player, using several types of clubs including a driver and a putter, hits a ball into each
hole on a golf course in the lowest possible number of strokes. Golf is one of the few ball games that does not use a standardized
playing area; rather, the game is played on golf "courses", each one of which has a unique design and typically consists of
either 9 or 18 holes. Golf is defined in the Rules of Golf as "playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the
hole by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the Rules."
Golf competition may be played as stroke play, in which the individual with the lowest number of strokes is declared
the winner, stableford points play (as devised in 1931 by Dr. Frank Stableford of the Wallasey & Royal Liverpool Golf Clubs), in which
the individual with the highest points score is declared the winner or as match play with the winner determined by whichever
individual or team posts the lower score on the most individual holes during a complete round. In addition, team events such
as fourball have been introduced, and these can be played using either the stroke, stableford or matchplay format. Alternative
ways to play golf have also been introduced, such as miniature golf, sholf and disc golf.
Golf has gained World popularity
In 2005 Golf Digest calculated that there were nearly 32,000 golf courses in the world, approximately half of
them in the United States. The countries with most golf courses in relation to population, starting with the best endowed were: Scotland,
New Zealand, Australia, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Canada, Wales, United States, Sweden, and England (countries
with fewer than 500,000 people were excluded). Apart from Sweden, all of these countries have English as the majority language,
but the number of courses in new territories is increasing rapidly. For example the first golf course in the People's Republic
of China opened in the mid-1980s, but by 2005 there were 200 courses in that country.
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods (born Eldrick Tont Woods, December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer whose achievements to
date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Currently the World No. 1, Woods was the highest-paid professional athlete
in 2007, having earned an estimated $122 million from winnings and endorsements. According to Golf Digest, Woods made $769,440,709
from 1996 to 2007, and the magazine predicts that by 2010, Woods will become the world's first athlete to pass one billion
dollars in earnings.
Woods has won fourteen professional major golf championships, the second highest of any male player, and 65 PGA
Tour events, third all time. He has more career major wins and career PGA Tour wins than any other active golfer. He is the youngest player
to achieve the career Grand Slam, and the youngest and fastest to win 50 tournaments on tour.
Woods has held the number one position in the world rankings for the most consecutive weeks and for the greatest
total number of weeks. He has been awarded PGA Player of the Year a record nine times, the Byron Nelson Award for lowest adjusted scoring
average a record eight times, and has tied Jack Nicklaus' record of leading the money list in eight different seasons. He
has been named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year a record-tying four times, and is the only person to be named Sports
Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year more than once.
Woods, who is multiracial, is credited with prompting a major surge of interest in the game of golf. Woods
dramatically increased attendance and TV ratings and generated interest among a multicultural audience in a game that used to be considered insular
and elitist.
Sports, meditation and spirituality
Our existence is more than just a biochemical reaction in our brain, it is the wholelistic yet
subtle interaction between spiritual, mental/emotional and the physical aspects of ourselves.
The Spirituality of Sports
If you knowingly or unknowingly feel drawn to the natural beauty of the outdoors, or if the spiritual aspects of
Sports matter to you; If you seek that special harmony of body-mind synchronization or enjoy playing games just for the fun of it, then you have connected with
the spiritual aspect of sports.
The spirituallity of sports takes us beyond just winning, it goes within ourselves to the "inner game", the area
of that special connection of spirit, mind and body, the concernes of mindfulness.
History teaches us that Sports evolved from a fight for survival. Today it is an art of the expansion of
consciousness and discovery for the unlimited potential within ourselves.
In the present fragmented society, many have lost touch with their deepest need to grow emotionally and
spiritually. We need to restore the traditional "rites of passage" from youth to adulthood but in a new way, different from the ancient days. This is the
task of "Spiritual Warriors".
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