America sports

America sports

Sports play an important part in the lives of Americans. Some sports are popular all over America, while other sports, such as lacrosse or ice-hockey, are popular in certain regions. However, the big three sports still are American football, baseball, and basketball.

American football (soccer)
– two teams, wearing helmets and pads, throw and run with an oddly-shaped ball (similar to a rugby ball)
– they block with their bodies and try to help other players on their team gain more ground
– if they cross a goal line at the end of the field, they score a touchdown
– it is a very strategic game, and also very rough; many players become injured each year

Baseball
– it is similar to the English game of cricket
– it is the most popular sport in the US
– nine players on each team take turns, trying to hit a leather ball with a wooden bat
– after the ball is hit, the player runs, stepping on bases, before he returns to where he was when he hit the ball, and scores a run (point) for his team
– if the other team touches him with the ball, he is „out“ and must leave the field (until his next turn)
– it is played on a special field called diamond and uses a bat and ball, as well as gloves

Basketball
– the idea is to put a ball through a hoop
– the game is played on a basketball court
– teams usually consist of five players each
– hand coordination is essential and the ability to dribble (bounce) the ball while running at the same time

Horseshoes
– very popular in the south
– the object of the game is to throw a curved piece of metal at an iron stick planted in the ground
– the rules are very similar to petanque

Ice hockey
– though it was invented in Canada, this game is now very popular around the world (including in the Czech Republic)
– the game is played on an ice rink by two teams of six players each
– players wear ice skates and use long sticks to try to hit a small rubber puck into their opponent’s net
– it requires good eye, hand coordination and the ability to skate well – it is one of the world’s fastest sports
– it can be played both indoors or outdoors, on artificial or natural ice
– the game also requires a lot of equipment, like pads, helmet, skates, and a stick
– the world’s most well known trophy it the Stanley Cup – the names of the wining team are engraved onto the trophy

Lacrosse
– the national sport, the most popular summer sport
– it is a field game where each player carries a long-handled racket, called a „crosse“ (a stick with a net on the end)
– a team sport played by ten men or twelve women
– though the game originated with Native Americans, it is known by its French name

New Zealand
Ball-oriented sports are very popular here

Netball
– was traditionally a women’s game
– it’s similar to basketball but the rules are stricter and not as much movement is allowed
– the New Zealand team is the best in the world at the moment

Golf
– this sport was invented in Scotland, but it is extremely popular in New Zealand

Rugby
Cricket

Canada
All Canadians play and love hockey
Curling
– this game is in the Winter Olympics
– the object is to push large stones along the ice and get them as close to the target as you can
– you can also knock away your opponent’s stones
– brooms are used in this sport to help control the direction of the stone
– there are usually four players on a team
– Lacrosse
– Ice hockey

Australia
Because of the climate, water sports are popular in Australia – sailing and surfing in coastal areas and water-skiing on rivers and lakes. Summer is the time for tennis, cricket and golf. In winter cricket is played.

Surfing
– this is an individual water sport
– the participant stands on a fiberglass board and tries to ride it on waves without falling off
– it is a very difficult and dangerous sport

Scuba diving
– it is usually done for recreation rather than competition
– you should use tanks of compressed air to breathe from, swim fins and wet suits

Rugby
Golf
Cricket