Sports are physical activities that involve a degree of competition. They are played by teams, individuals, or both, with the objective of improving or maintaining physical ability. They can be both fun and educational, and they also provide entertainment and physical health benefits. There are hundreds of different sports, from single-person games to multi-player games involving thousands of people. Some sports have multiple participants, such as horse racing, while others are two-sided, with teams on one side and opponents on the other.
Rules and customs are often part of sport, which is the basis of competitive sport. These laws are set in place to ensure fair play and consistent adjudication of winners. Judges score elements of a sporting performance to determine whether a team or individual has won. In some cases, judges may score a contestant using subjective or objective criteria. A sport is not the same as a game if it does not adhere to these rules. In such cases, the winner is the one who performs better than the other team.
Some sports are individual activities that require teamwork and synergy. Even superstar athletes may not make a good team. For example, swimming relays and track and field events require a team to work together. Individual players may score points, but if the team can’t score, the team does. This is the case in tennis, track and field events, wrestling, and gymnastics. Team sports also help young people develop social skills and boost their self-esteem.