There is a natural affinity for sports and contact sports. There is also a natural affinity for adventure and sports. Sports fulfill the natural need for contest and physical action. All sports are competitive. This is probably the biggest difference between recreation and sports.
As a venue for sporting competition, sports can develop important life skills. A good example of this development was highlighted during World War II. After the World War II ended, a number of nations developed new sports as a venue for Olympic games and other prestigious events. In the United States, the development of professional and competitive athletics, especially basketball and softball in particular, has greatly benefited kids and grown-ups. The association football is also a huge sporting event that promotes fair play among its participants.
In most of the developed countries, it is a widely accepted practice to have sporting competitions among friends or amongst family members. Family members who take part in the competitions are encouraged to hone their skills in a fair and even competition. Many people are encouraged to enter the professional sports because they are highly competitive and enjoy the physical activity. They gain respect from their peers and develop their athletic prowess.
Professional sports persons enjoy an increased level of earnings and status when compared to the average person. Because of this, they usually engage in extremely physically demanding sports. Athletes have to be in excellent shape to keep performing at their best. They also require the physical conditioning to withstand rigorous training sessions. The athletes have to be highly skilled in their craft and have to possess great endurance. Being highly talented in any sports can also be a major determining factor in success in a sport.
Sports that require the exertion of physical exertion such as athletics, golf, tennis, swimming and cycling are the few sports that attract large numbers of people. These sports attract the most number of competitors because they provide the opportunity to display a variety of skills. Golf attracts a large number of competitors because it is a game that requires excellent swing and shot-making skills, besides driving the ball over a distance of about one hundred yards. Tennis also requires a lot of physical exertion because the competitors need to master the serves, the return moves and the forehand and backhand shots.
Darts is another sport that requires a lot of physical and mental exertion because the dart thrower needs to have excellent reflexes and accurate strokes. Another form of popular sport is basketball wherein the competitor must be very disciplined to maintain the rhythm of the game and make sure that the team completes the action in the allotted time. International sports like cricket and soccer have evolved into professional games that require a lot of physical and mental exertion from the players. Cricket requires a player to stand up and support his team for a long period. Soccer involves a lot of physical contact and the players often break down into tears while playing.