Sports are essentially competitive games and physical activities. This is perhaps the biggest difference between recreational, leisure or daily recreation. As a competitive venue for competition, sportsmanship develops. It is in this atmosphere that children develop into good citizens, men and women who respect the society in which they grow up and who take care of their fellow man.
The need for physical activity grew out of the need for hunters and gatherers. Today, it is almost more important to become fit and healthy than to hunt or fish. In order to develop into a sports person, one must be involved in sports as a child. The presence of various governing bodies such as governing bodies for professional sports such as the NFL, MLB, and NBA as well as governing bodies for different sports such as American football, cricket, Australian rugby league, soccer, tennis, and Australian rules football; all these create an environment for competitive play and an outlet for the energy and desire to succeed.
The popularity of association football (soccer) in the United States and England in particular has created huge avenues for participation by people of all ages. Not only does football help to develop physical fitness but it also stimulates mental agility, leadership qualities, teamwork, morale, and a wide variety of other things. To be a successful sportsperson today, it is very important to engage in the sport through organized sports training, such as gym classes, strength training and running and endurance activities such as swimming, cycling, tennis, and running. In addition, it is very important to have a competitive edge through participation in different forms of recreational sports, such as basketball, table tennis, badminton, soccer, and softball.