Sports are often described as exciting, thrilling, and action-packed. However, there are many other adjectives that can be used to describe sports. Here is a list of some of the most common adjectives used to describe sports:
1. Action-packed
2. Adrenaline-pumping
3. Competitive
4. Fast-paced
5. Exciting
6. Fun
7. Intense
8. Relaxing
9. Rewarding
10. Social
11. Stressful
12. Team-oriented
13. Thrilling
14. Unique
15. Difficult
16. Intimidating
17. Powerful
18. Prestigious
19. Provocative
20. Stimulating
21. Energetic
22. Enthusiastic
23. Exhilarating
24. Extreme
25. Fashionable
26. Fit
27. Fitful
28. Flexible
29. Fluid
30. Focused
>>> Read Also: ” Adjectives For Diamond “
Adjectives for Sports Person
1. Active
2. Agile
3. Athletic
4. Bold
5. Brave
6. Daring
7. Energetic
8. Fearless
9. Fit
10. Hardworking
11. Honest
12. Intense
13. Passionate
14. Persistent
15. Strong
Adjectives for Sports Players
1. Aggressive
2. Analytical
3. Assertive
4. Confident
5. Creative
6. Determined
7. Driven
8. Enthusiastic
9. Imaginative
10. Innovative
11. Motivated
12. Positive
13. Proactive
Adjectives for Sports Teams
1. Cooperative
2. Creative
3. Dedicated
3. Determined
4. Dynamic
5. Efficient
6. Focused
7. Hardworking
8. High-performing
9. Innovative
10. Passionate
11. Professional
12. Resilient
13. Supportive
Adjectives for Sports Fans
1. Ardent
2. Devoted
3. Die-hard
4. Fanatical
5. Fervent
6. Loyal
7. Passionate
8. Serious
9. Sincere
10. true blue
>>>> Read Also: ” Adjectives Start with Y “
Adjectives for sportsmanship
1. Admirable
2. Altruistic
3. Compassionate
4. Fair
5. Graceful
6. Honorable
7. Humble
8. Idealistic
9. Just
10. Merciful
11. Noble
12. Principled
13. Respectful
14. Selfless
Adjectives for Sports Day
1. Amusing
2. Breathtaking
3. Competitive
4. Exhilarating
5. Fun-filled
6. Lively
7. Memorable
8. Rewarding
9. Spectacular
10. Thrilling
Conclusion: Therefore, these are some of the adjectives used to describe sports. These are only a few of the many adjectives that can be used to describe sports. So, next time you watch or play a sport, see if you can identify some of these adjectives in action. And, who knows, maybe you’ll even come up with a few new ones.
>> Read Also: ” Adjectives For Landscape “
FAQs
How would you describe a sports man?
There are many adjectives that can be used to describe a sportsman. Some of the most common adjectives used to describe a sportsman include: active, agile, athletic, bold, brave, daring, energetic, fit, hardworking, intense, passionate, and persistent.
Can sport be used as an adjective?
No, sport cannot be used as an adjective. However, there are many adjectives that can be used to describe sports. Some of the most common adjectives used to describe sports include: action-packed, adrenaline-pumping, competitive, fast-paced, exciting, fun, and intense.
What’s another word for good at sport?
Some other words that can be used to describe someone who is good at sports include: athletic, skilled, and talented.
I am James Jani here, a frequent Linguist, English Enthusiast & a renowned Grammar teacher, would love you share with you about my learning experience. Here I share with my community, students & with everyone on the internet, my tips & tricks to learn adjectives fast.
A sportsman is a person who not only plays professionally but also plays sports in a way that shows respect and fairness to the other player or team. They participate in sports usually as a professional and always act in a sporty manner. You must have heard lots of motivational speeches in person and on your television set. And, these days, on the internet. The speeches often contain the word ‘sport’ as a metaphor. Being a good sportsman goes in parallel with sports and your real life.
What is Sportsmanship?
When participants at competitive events treat one another with respect and behave appropriately, this is referred to as sportsmanship. Good sportsmanship entails treating others fairly and ethically, including teammates and opponents, and is especially important for young athletes to learn.
Sportsmanship can also be applied to spectators, such as fans in the stands and coaches on the sidelines. Sportsmanship does not imply being gentle with opponents, as violence is often a component of the game. Being a good sport entails being kind and pleasant to others, as well as avoiding disrespecting others during game play.
This involves the various qualities of determination, skill and hard work that contribute to your chance of winning on the playing field or in other aspects of your life. This is interchangeably called as sportsmanship. Hence, we often say that being a good sportsman is what all it takes.
Some Characteristics of a good Sportsmanship:
- Fairness
- Equity
- Good form
- The desire to win.
These four elements are intrinsically tied and cannot be limited to one another.
Traits of a good sportsman
Let’s take a quick look at the various characteristics of a good sportsman.
1. A good sportsman always plays a fair game
A good sportsman is never biased. A person who is a good sport does not win by dishonesty. Thus, in order to be a good sport, you must learn to accept victory and failure.
2. Is a team player
You may be different from others in many aspects, but having a team spirit will help you evolve. Whether you are playing sports or dealing with matters in and outside your home, take honest approaches, but make a conscious effort.
3. Is always optimistic
Looking at the bright side of things is an important trait of a good sportsman or sportsmanship. People who look at the dark side of things are never successful in their lives. So, being optimistic in life is crucial in order to win your game and in life.
4. Is not a taleteller
Sportsmanship does not indulge in gossiping indiscreetly. A good sportsman is not a taleteller. As a good sportsman, you only involve in necessary conversation or discussions when required. It’s simply a waste of one’s time and energy gossiping about irrelevant things or situations.
5. Never underestimates their rivals
In order to be a sportsman, you should kill jealousy, treachery and underestimate your opponents, in the field or in your real life. Sometimes, being over-confident can lead to disruption.
6. Deals with failure gracefully
Only a small percentage of people have the fortitude to face defeat or loss. Learning to accept defeats, whether in a game on the field or in your personal or professional life, offers you a valuable lesson and prepares you to confront any challenge. In life, a good sportsman never gives up. Their goal is to be powerful.
7. Wins with pride
Every game has a winner and a loser. Winning with pride is the zeal of a good sportsman. When you put your effort in your game or in your real life and achieve success, you can feel the happiness and pride.
8. Respects each others’ opinions
A good sportsman is not judgemental. Having respect for each others’ opinions and views is also a fine quality. This requires you to be psychologically prepared and understand what the other person’s views are. It is helpful when you are dealing with individuals with different perspective minds in your everyday life.
Conclusion:
Playing and winning isn’t the end of the story. Everything that is related with your life counts, whether it is a game or your home and work. It’s all about how you handle the repercussions, being brave enough to accept setbacks, and then basking in the glory of triumph.
Download Article
Download Article
If sports are something that interests you, it stands to reason you would want to be good at them. Succeeding at a sport takes skill, and skill takes patience and determination. However, there are other things you need to think about if you want to be a good sports player. Skill alone may take you far, but you’ll never go all the way unless you have the right attitude and team spirit to back it up.
-
1
Join a sports team. If you want to become a sports superstar, joining a team is a good way to start. Even if your skills are currently low, joining an amateur league will sharpen up your skills. Sports teams are everywhere, and most of them are free to join. If you go to school, you should go for team tryouts when they’re happening. Recreation centres are often host to sports teams as well.[1]
- If you’re not in school, you can find or start a sports club online.[2]
- If you’re not in school, you can find or start a sports club online.[2]
-
2
Get a great coach. Great coaches come in all shapes and sizes.[3]
Certain coaching personalities will suit you better than others. The best scenario is having a coach who genuinely wants to see you succeed. In the early stages, enthusiasm is often more helpful than scientific know-how.- Across the board, communication skills are the most important trait a coach can have.[4]
- There are different levels of sports coach. Most after-school coaches are volunteers with a working knowledge of the sport and enthusiasm for the game. You can hire a sports coach with full training and education, although it will set you back a lot of money.[5]
Advertisement
- Across the board, communication skills are the most important trait a coach can have.[4]
-
3
Set your sights wide. If you want to be truly great at sports, it’s not enough to focus on a couple of sports alone. It is important to set your sights wide with your exercises. Don’t specialize in skills unless you’re already a great athlete. Find ways to train every part of your body. Whether this means playing multiple sports or doing an all-encompassing exercise routine, training your entire body will boost your sports performance.
- There’s a lot of evidence to suggest that athletes are better if they play more than one sport.[6]
- There’s a lot of evidence to suggest that athletes are better if they play more than one sport.[6]
-
4
Tend to basics first. it’s a common misgiving for young athletes to want to jump into the advanced stuff quickly. This isn’t an effective way to spend training time. You need a solid bedrock foundation before you move on to bigger things.[7]
If you’re new to a sport, take as much time as you need to get the basic movements down properly. It will make advanced skills a lot easier to grasp in the long run.- Some argue that fundamental «movement skills» (such as jumping and kicking) should be mastered properly before moving on to applied sports skills.[8]
- Some argue that fundamental «movement skills» (such as jumping and kicking) should be mastered properly before moving on to applied sports skills.[8]
-
5
Allow room for flexibility. In an actual competition, things aren’t usually going to play exactly by the books. While you’re practicing, you’ll usually be playing under optimal circumstances. In order to make sure you’ll be up for the unforeseen challenges, you need to predict the conditions of the competition.[9]
Ask yourself if you are learning a skill, or if you’re learning to actually use that skill in the competitions you’ll be in.- Remember this motto: «Train the way you want to play.»[10]
- There’s no way to perfectly replicate a competition in practice, but playing with other people can get you used to the scenarios you’ll need to beware of.
- Remember this motto: «Train the way you want to play.»[10]
-
6
Add new levels of challenge as you build a skill. It is common for bodies to adapt to a level of strain. Progress will slow down if you don’t keep upping the stakes as you go along. Bodybuilders and strength-oriented athletes do this by increasing their reps or the weights they work with. As a competition athlete, the best thing you can do to keep progress going is to practice the skills while under fatigue.[11]
- Studies have shown that skill execution goes out the window when you get tired, so it’s a good idea to build endurance in your sport.
- Building up your speed is important too. Speed usually comes with practice, but you shouldn’t try to rush into speed until you have the basics down pat.[12]
-
7
Practice until your skills become second nature. If you’re wondering at what point a skill becomes mastered, it is when you’re able to do it automatically and without thinking. This is called the autonomous phase, and it’s where you want to be at if you want to play sports competitively.[13]
Given enough time and repetition, a skill will eventually fall under this category. When you’re in the fray of a game, you won’t have time to think everything through, so practice until it’s all automatic, so you’ll know you’re ready.- When you’re playing a sport like football in a competition, you’re going to potentially need to throw a ball while getting chased by several competitors. You can’t replicate this stress in private practice, so you have to make sure your toss is perfected beforehand.
- Keep practicing. Practice is never something that should stop. even if you become great at sports, you can always become better. If you stop practicing, chances are that someone more determined will beat you.
Advertisement
-
1
Apply for a gym membership. The best athletes know that training doesn’t stop at sports skills. You want your body to be as sharp as it can be for whatever sport you’re playing. On the downtime away from sports, keep your body in general shape by going to the gym. Although it may seem daunting or expensive, it is absolutely worth the investment if you want to be good at sports. There are lots of benefits to going to a gym. As you’ll know from playing in sports teams, exercising with others is very motivating.
- Do some research into a prospective gym before you pay for a membership. Go for a tour, and ask for details. Make sure the gym fits the circumstances of your life before you make your first payment.[14]
- Do some research into a prospective gym before you pay for a membership. Go for a tour, and ask for details. Make sure the gym fits the circumstances of your life before you make your first payment.[14]
-
2
Get enough sleep. This one should come as obvious, but you might be surprised how often proper sleep is glazed over. This is especially true during times of intense practice or training, where things get so busy it becomes hard to cram everything into a regular day. Nonetheless, your body needs its full rest.[15]
- If you’re a teen, you should sleep 8-10 hours each night. If you’re an adult, get 7-9 hours of sleep each night.[16]
- If you’re a teen, you should sleep 8-10 hours each night. If you’re an adult, get 7-9 hours of sleep each night.[16]
-
3
Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Everyone should make a point of eating a diet that benefits their body. This is especially true if you want to be great at sports. Eating junk food will work against whatever efforts you make in the gym. Base your diet on vegetables, leafy greens, legumes, lean proteins, and whole grains.[17]
Cut back on «empty calories» (like soda) and replace them with things that improve your health.- If you’re lactose intolerant, try going without dairy. It may sound hard, but you’ll see benefits within a month.
-
4
Drink lots of water. Water cannot be underestimated as part of a healthy diet. Staying hydrated will help you feel mentally and physically your best. Water regulates everything, and you should expect to lose some of your natural hydration via sweat while you exercise.[18]
- The common «8 glasses a day» guideline isn’t mandatory, but you should try to keep water next to you whenever you can. It’s especially important to stock up on water while you’re exercising.
- Keep a refillable bottle of water around with you. Refill it when it goes empty. You’ll find your water consumption goes up a lot if you simply keep it near you.
-
5
Stay clear of intoxicants. Drugs and alcohol aren’t recommended if you want to be great at sports. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it drains your body of hydration.[19]
Your body will expend resources trying to get rid of the alcohol, and it can have a negative impact on your sports performance for days after the fact.- In the long run, the amount of calories you digest from alcohol like cider and beer can have a negative impact on your gut.[20]
- In the long run, the amount of calories you digest from alcohol like cider and beer can have a negative impact on your gut.[20]
Advertisement
-
1
Set ambitious but realistic goals for yourself. This does not mean being unrealistic, or saying you’re going to go professional within a year. Instead, you should take a look at what you are, and figure out where you think you would like to be. Give yourself a suitable amount of time to achieve that goal, and break it down into smaller parts if the goal is especially big.[21]
- For example, if you do want to go professional, take a look at what the requirements are, and work your way up to each one. You may have to go semi-pro first.
- Rather than focusing on the big picture, focus on the smaller one instead. For example, you could focus on your technique.
-
2
Be a good sport. Being good at sports means more than physical strength and speed. In order to be truly great, you need to apply that positive attitude to the way you treat other players, even if they’re on the other team. If you lose a match, accept the loss and show respect to the other player for their victory.[22]
- If you set an example of good sportsmanship, you’ll receive the same respect in turn when you win.
- Treat loss as a learning experience. Figure out what you did wrong, then try to improve it for the next game.
-
3
Be patient. No matter what you do, skills are often slow to build. If you’re not patient, you will try to leap into more advanced techniques long before you’re ready. Your motivation will sap away when you don’t see improvement immediately. Keep the long-term goal in mind, and hang tight in the meantime while you make it a reality.
- Remember: there is always going to be someone who can do it better than you, at least at first. Impatient athletes tend to make poor ones.
-
4
Accept criticism. When you play sports, you will inevitably receive criticism, and you need to be willing to listen when it’s constructive.[23]
Are they angry because you missed a pass, or do they sincerely want to help you improve? Learn to distinguish the constructive criticism from the hurtful remarks. In a lot of cases, you can use criticism as motivation to get better in whatever area they bring up.- Don’t let yourself get defensive.[24]
Your thinking becomes more limited if you allow yourself to become emotional against criticism. - Keep your ego under control. Even if you think you are the best, be open to constructive criticism.
- Don’t let yourself get defensive.[24]
-
5
Nurture friendships with other players. One of the biggest reasons people join sports teams in the first place is to make friends with new people. If you join a team, you’re bound to run into a lot of people. Chances are you’ll develop friendships with at least some of them. Making these friendships a priority is a good move if you want to become great at sports. You can practice together on your own time. The morale boost of playing with friends helps as well.
- Team sports like soccer can have some skills practiced in solitude, but for others (like goalkeeping and passing) another person is needed. It’s helpful to have this other person as a friend. It’ll make the practice process more enjoyable in the long term.
-
6
Let yourself have fun. It’s possible to get so obsessed with being good at something that you lose track of why you want to be good in the first place. Not taking the time to enjoy the sport you play results in a fast burnout. Whether you’re practicing or playing a competition, try to remember the other reasons why you play sports.[25]
- For example, this may include the natural satisfaction you get from exercise, or simply the quality time spent with friends.
Advertisement
-
1
Get lots of rest the night before game day. While it is recommended you try to stick to a regular sleeping schedule, it’s especially important to do so the night before a big game. The competition will be stiff enough, so it’s not worth it losing your edge just because you weren’t willing to sleep at least 8 hours.[26]
- If you are having troubles getting to sleep, try some deep breathing exercises or meditating.
-
2
Load up on carbohydrates prior to a game. While it wouldn’t be regularly recommended in a diet, athletes should load up on their carbohydrate intake.[27]
Carbs essentially give your body energy, and you’ll need lots of energy if you’re playing a sports competition.- Stay away from sugar for a few hours before a big competition. Sugar and starches dehydrate your body. That is something you want to avoid in the midst of competing.[28]
- Keep yourself up to pace with snacks.[29]
Longer matches will be a test of endurance, and something as simple as an energy bar or banana can make a big difference.
- Stay away from sugar for a few hours before a big competition. Sugar and starches dehydrate your body. That is something you want to avoid in the midst of competing.[28]
-
3
Warm up. Warm ups are important for any physically strenuous activity. They can be fairly light, but a proper warm up will help prevent early exhaustion and injury. Aim to warm up around half an hour before the start of the game.[30]
Stretch out your arms and legs. Run in place. Work up a bit of a sweat. This will get your body in the right mode for the competition.- Warm ups also help fight off anxiety. Pre-game anxiety can be an issue for some players, so you should keep that in mind if it’s something you suffer from.
-
4
Know your competition. Having a good idea what to expect with the opposing side is important, regardless whether you’re going one on one or playing as a team. If you want to know which techniques you should be using in the midst of certain competitors, it’s a good idea to study their methods in the days and weeks before a big game. If there is any footage of those players during a game, give it a shot.
- The science of analytics turns the respective skills of your teammates and competitors into a sharp formula.[31]
Matching each player to their best strengths is integral to a team’s success. Professional sports analysts make it their specific business to analyze the sporting behaviour of athletes.
- The science of analytics turns the respective skills of your teammates and competitors into a sharp formula.[31]
-
5
Stay focused on the game. You won’t get anywhere if you’re worried about something else happening in your life. Life is always complicated, and there may be things in your personal life that are bothering you. However, at least for the course of the game, you can’t let any of that stuff get to you. It may be easier said than done, but if winning the game means enough to you, it should be a straightforward matter to keep your eyes on the prize.[32]
-
6
Push yourself further than others are willing to go. A lot of the best athletes may have had a natural aptitude for it, but the reason they ultimately succeed is because they want victory more than any of the competition. That’s a tricky thing to develop inside yourself, but if the desire is intense enough, you will do just about anything to make your dreams a reality. This broadly applies to the mindset of training, but it’s incredibly important during a competition.
- How much you want to win will have an effect on how far you end up pushing yourself. Sometimes, the distance between winning and losing is very small. A world of difference is made from that added bit of effort.
- Remember, passion is the key to most kinds of success, and the same applies to sports.
Advertisement
Add New Question
-
Question
I am not good in sports at all. How can I improve myself?
Michele Dolan is a BCRPA certified Personal Trainer in British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002.
Certified Fitness Trainer
Expert Answer
Support wikiHow by
unlocking this expert answer.Base level fitness is important and makes a huge difference in athleticism. Start running 3 times a week and do some basic strength-training like push-ups and chin-ups. After you build up your cardiovascular fitness and strength, you can start to work on your coordination skills by practicing ball play, kicking, and catching to improve your hand-eye coordination. Then, you’ll be ready to learn sport-specific skills like dribbling a soccer ball or hitting a home run.
-
Question
I am a girl of 16 years, and I am not good at sports. However, I want to be a sports girl. What should I do?
Michele Dolan is a BCRPA certified Personal Trainer in British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002.
Certified Fitness Trainer
Expert Answer
Support wikiHow by
unlocking this expert answer.Start by building up your base level fitness, which is necessary for athleticism. You can do this by running 3 times a week and doing basic strength-training exercises, like push-ups and chin-ups. After you build up your cardiovascular strength and fitness, you can start building your coordination skills with ball play, kicking, and catching, which improve hand-eye coordination. Then you’ll be able to work on sport specific skills, such as dribbling a soccer ball, hitting a home run, or spiking a volleyball.
-
Question
How can you beat someone who is really good in long distance, if you are a short distance runner?
Practice endurance and do strength training. Set a steady pace when running and focus on your breathing.
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
-
Be a student in the game and out. If you’re looking for an edge, watch some of your sport’s greatest athletes at work in videos. If anything, it gives a great inspiration to improve your form.
-
Everything comes with time. You won’t become great at sports overnight, but if you put a little bit of time into honing your skills each day, you’ll see a huge result in time.
Advertisement
-
Don’t get jealous of others’ performance. You may think poorly of yourself due to the way you see other players compete, but that’s not going to do anything to help you in the long run. Keep your chin up, and keep your spirits high.
Advertisement
References
About This Article
Article SummaryX
To be good at sports, start by joining a sports team at your school or a recreation center. Next, focus on learning the basics to the point of them being second nature before tackling anything advanced. In addition to working on your sports skills, work on honing your entire body by joining a gym to stay in shape. Additionally, make sure to eat a healthy diet and get plenty of sleep in order to recover from your workouts. To learn how to stay focused on game day, keep reading!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 155,970 times.
Reader Success Stories
-
«This helped me because I had PE homework and this answered my questions. »
Did this article help you?
Can I say this kind of person is a sporty genius?
asked Apr 7, 2018 at 11:14
A sporty genius would be a genius who is sporty — Alan Turing was a mathematical genius and also a long-distance runner. He could be called a sporty genius.
Better could be a «sporting genius», it suggests someone who is clever at playing — «He is not the fastest player, but he reads the game better than anyone — a true sporting genius.»
You might use «virtuoso» (more often used for musicians), «prodigy» (early developer) or «master»(also suggests seniority), or slightly more casually «wizard», but with «sporting» not «sporty».
answered Apr 7, 2018 at 12:12
James KJames K
178k11 gold badges204 silver badges344 bronze badges
A sporty genius is not idiomatic, at least not in the sense you intend. «sporty» doesn’t refer to athleticism but to style, and «genius» is not usually used in the context of athletic ability, except perhaps to describe an athlete’s play-making ability, where strategy is involved and the player has to see opportunities. That said, a genius at sports would be probably be understood to mean that the person is a very talented athlete and can play a number of sports well, or possibly any sport whatsoever because of their prodigious natural ability, just as a genius at baking would probably be understood to mean that the person can make a wide variety of delicious baked goods and perhaps understands all there is to know about flours and altitude and humidity and temperature and how they combine to affect the finished product.
answered Apr 7, 2018 at 11:29
TᴚoɯɐuoTᴚoɯɐuo
119k7 gold badges98 silver badges199 bronze badges
A word that would fit is athlete. An athlete can mean someone who is in good form but if you combine it with good- as in good athlete it means someone who is pretty good at all sports they play.
answered Apr 8, 2018 at 1:48
You must log in to answer this question.
Not the answer you’re looking for? Browse other questions tagged
.
Not the answer you’re looking for? Browse other questions tagged
.
This page of
sports vocabulary has been carefully created to help you prepare for your IELTS
exam. Sport is an important part in many of our lives and is a topic that
often comes up in the test.
Whether we play
a sport ourselves, are a fan who likes to watch sport either live or on TV, or
we have little interest in sport, we all have an opinion on it and the famous
athletes that regularly appear in the media.
Bungee jumping is an extreme sport.
Sport is a
subject that could come up in any part of your test, so learning some sports
vocabulary is certainly to be recommended. You might also want to talk about it
when answering questions about your hobbies, leisure activities or school days.
Here’s a quick
overview of some of the things you could be asked about:
- Your interest in sport
- Your experience of playing a sport
- The popularly of sport in your
country
- Sports facilities in your town or
city
- Sport in schools
- Sports celebrities as role models
- Money and sport
- The importance of international
sporting events
To ensure that
you’re well prepared to answer any sport-related question, I’ve included four
things on this page:
- IELTS-style questions on the topic
of sport and fitness
- Sample answers
- A list of common sports
vocabulary with definitions & sample sentences
- Links to online reading and
listening resources
You’ll find PDF
downloads of both the questions and sample answers and the sports vocabulary
list at the bottom of the respective sections.
The questions relate to the Speaking
test because this part of the exam offers the broadest range of possible
questions on the topic of sport. They give the best opportunity for me to
demonstrate the vocabulary and for you to practise using it.
I’ve included IELTS-style questions
and answers for all three parts of the Speaking test. I’ve highlighted
keywords and phrases in bold.
You’ll find these words and phrases,
and many others, in the vocabulary list beneath. The list also includes
explanations and sample sentences and there’s an audio to listen to the
pronunciation.
The sports vocabulary list contains
words and phrases relevant to all parts of the IELTS exam.
Finally, at the bottom of the page I’ve added links to topical articles, short videos and podcasts that will help
you to improve both your sports vocabulary and your reading and listening
skills.
You need special kit and equipment to take part in many sports.
IELTS-Style Speaking Test Questions & Answers
Common sports vocabulary is
highlighted in bold.
Part 1
1) Do you like sport?
I’m
a great sports fan. I sometimes watch on it TV but I prefer
actually taking part in sport.
2) What sports did you do at school?
Sport was my favourite thing at school. In the autumn and spring
terms I played hockey and during the summer months we
did athletics. I even enjoyed cross-country running which
most people hated.
3) How important is keeping fit to you?
Keeping fit is and very important part of my
life. In fact, my friends would say I’m a bit of a fitness fanatic.
It helps to keep me healthy and I also work out to be in good shape for
taking part in my sport of rowing.
4) What do you do to keep fit?
I
do several things to keep fit. I take weight training classes,
go jogging, train on the water with my rowing crew
and walk my dog twice a day.
5) Is violence a problem at sporting events in your country?
There
used to be a serious problem with football fans getting
involved in fights both inside and outside stadiums but a lot
has been done to stop this happening. It’s much safer to go to matches now
and they have become family events again.
Walking is excellent exercise & really helps you to keep fit.
Part 2
Describe
a sports club you belong to or used to belong to.
You
should say:
- what club it is
- when you joined
- why you joined
and
explain the benefits of belonging to your club.
I belong to Barnstaple Pilot Gig Club. It’s a rowing club
but we row a very special type of boat called a pilot gig. They’re traditional
wooden boats, about 30 foot long and with six rowers and a cox. In the old
days, these gigs would have been used to take a pilot out to sailing ships
coming into port and they were also used as lifeboats. Now gig rowing has
become a competitive sport which is gradually
growing in popularity.
I joined the club when it started back in 2010. I’d wanted to
row pilot gigs from the age of 12 when my family started taking holidays in the
Isles of Scilly where gig races between the islanders took place every Friday
evening in the summer. I loved going out on the passenger boats to watch and
cheer on the crews. As soon as I heard about a gig club starting in my own town
I jumped at the chance to join.
Back when I was young, I never imagined that one day I’d be
racing in the Pilot Gig World Championships in the Isles of
Scilly but I’ve done so with my club several times now. It’s an amazing
experience with over 140 boats taking part. …a bit different to all those years
ago when I used to watch just seven or eight boats racing while on my holidays.
Although we mostly row on the river, we also train on
the sea to prepare us for rowing in competitions.
We compete in regattas all year round but the main season is
from March to September.
Rowing is very strenuous exercise and you need a
high level of aerobic fitness as well as strength. We train
hard both on the water and in the gym and I really
enjoy working out and training with the other
club members. We’re all close friends and often enjoy social activities
together. I’d go as far as to say that the club is my social life as well as
my sport.
I guess that sums up the main benefits of belonging to my club.
It contributes so much to both my physical and mental well-being that I can’t
imagine it not being a part of my life.
Pilot gig boats.
Part 3
1) Do you think people in your country exercise enough? If not,
why?
In my opinion, the majority of adults in the UK definitely don’t
get enough exercise. You only have to look around at the
level of obesity to see that this is true. I’d go as far as to say that the
majority of people are very out of condition and never
do any strenuous exercise.
I really don’t understand why this is the case. There’s more
knowledge than ever before about the advantages to both physical and
mental health of keeping fit, and the negative effects of
not taking enough exercise are well-known.
Every town has a range of sports facilities including fitness
centres, gyms and swimming pool for
people to use. Or they could just walk more or
maybe cycle to work. There really isn’t any excuse not
to take at least some exercise every day.
Many doctor’s surgeries even run their own fitness
programmes or will recommend some that you can join to help
you get in shape. I wish more people would take their fitness seriously
and take advantage of the opportunities to stay healthy.
2) Do you think competitive sport should be part of the school
curriculum?
Yes, I definitely think it’s important for children to take part
in competitive sports at school. In
recent years there’s been a trend of having non-competitive sports days
so that less sporty kids can take part without always being the loser. I
disagree with this.
I was good at sport and it was the only
thing I really achieve a high level of success in at school. This was extremely
important to me, so it works both ways. Life is competitive and
schools need to help children to cope with this.
I’m not saying that those children who hate sport and
always fail at it should put through this negative experience. Rather, I think
schools need to rethink how sport is taught. There is
such a huge range of sporting activities to choose from these days that I truly
believe there’s something every child can enjoy participating in. Schools need
to provide the opportunities.
3) What are the benefits of
international sports events?
I think there are several major
benefits of international sporting competitions. Firstly, it
helps to build relationships between people of different nationalities and
cultures. This is so important in our divided world. While the competitors may
be rivals during competitions, there is friendship when
the contest is over. You can see this and the respect
they have for each other when you watch big sporting events on TV.
Secondly, when top
international athletes compete together,
they motivate and inspire each other. This is why new world records
are often set at events such as the Olympics and many athletes achieve personal
bests.
Finally, international sporting
events encourage people to get involved in sport themselves,
especially the younger generation. The TV coverage of competitions for
disabled sportspeople in recent years has led to a massive increase in people
with disabilities taking up sports which
is life-changing for them.
An international athletics meeting.
Click this link to get a PDF download of these practise questions & sample answers.
Download PDF Now
Sports Vocabulary
* Important
- Do not try and learn this
list of sports vocabulary.
- Identify the vocabulary you find
useful for answering practise questions about this topic.
- Record these in your vocabulary
notebook and practise using them regularly.
I recommend
that you create your own answers to the Speaking questions on this page. You
will find many other IELTS-style practise questions by searching online.
For help on how
to learn vocabulary, what to learn and how to record it, visit these pages:
How to Learn Vocabulary for IELTS
Top 6 Types of IELTS Vocabulary
& Topic Word Lists
Sports Vocabulary – Common Words & Phrases
Sports Vocabulary Set
1: Key definitions
sport
– an
activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team
competes against another following rules
— Jamie
always struggled with his school work but was excellent at sports.
extreme sport
– a sport that is exciting but also dangerous such as skydiving
— Esther became interested in extreme sports when she tried bungee jump on a trip to New Zealand.
fitness – the
condition of being physically fit and healthy
— I’m trying to improve my fitness by walking to work each day.
Sports Vocabulary Pronunciation
Sports Vocabulary Set 2: Fitness
to keep fit – to
keep the body in good physical condition by exercising regularly
— I do several things to keep fit but dancing is the one I enjoy the most.
fitness
fanatic –
to be obsessed with keeping fit
—
Dylan is a real fitness fanatic and
goes to the gym every day.
to exercise – to do an activity requiring physical effort, generally
in order to improve health and fitness
— I make sure that I exercise every single day even if it’s only taking the dog for a
walk.
strenuous
exercise – exercise
that needs a lot of physical effort.
— I used to hate strenuous exercise until I took up
running to lose weight and now really enjoy it.
to get into
shape – to become
fit
— Jae Hwa
was so determined to get into shape
that she started cycling to work.
to take up (a sport) – to start playing a sport.
— I have
always wanted to take up archery and
am going to join the new club that has just started in my area.
to warm up – to prepare for strenuous activity by doing gentle
exercise first
— We
always warm up before we start our workout session in the gym.
to cool down – to end
a session of strenuous activity with gentle exercises to allow the heart rate
to come down and the body return to a near resting state.
— It’s important to cool
down after exercising hard as this helps to prevent injury.
to be out of condition – to
be not physical fit (unfit)
— My friend is so out
of condition that she gets out of breath walking up the stairs.
training
– to work hard at physical exercise and skills in order to be fitter and better
at a sport
— I often don’t feel like training but I know I have to if I want to win more races.
to train hard – to
train with a lot of effort and passion
— The team trained
hard before the match and beat the other team easily.
fitness programme
–
a planned
timetable of activities to help someone improve their health and
physical condition
— Following a fitness programme
at my local gym helped me to stay motivated as I got back into shape after
having a baby.
aerobic fitness – having strong heart and lungs and being able to
carry out sustained exercise such as jogging, swimming or cycling
— In
order to be a competitive rower, you need a high level of aerobic fitness.
to work out – to exercise, usually in a gym.
— Dhruv worked out at the gym three evenings a week.
a workout – a session of exercises, usually in a gym.
— Cressida found that a workout at the gym helped her de-stress
after a hard day at work.
to bulk up
– to make your body bigger and heavier,
especially by gaining more muscle
— He felt so much stronger since he started working out with
weights and his body was really beginning to bulk up.
boot camp
– a short, intensive, and rigorous course of training
— William couldn’t believe he’d agreed to go along to the boot camp with his friend. He didn’t
even like exercising.
Sports Vocabulary Pronunciation
Set 3: Sports facilities
sports facilities – places and buildings
used for sporting activities such as swimming pools and running tracks
— There are excellent sports facilities at my university
which is one reason I chose it.
stadium – a large
building, with tiers of seats for spectators,
where people watch sports events such as football matches or athletics
— The stadium was
buzzing with excitement as the two teams came out onto the pitch for the start
of the match.
fitness centre
– a place where people go to do physical exercise; usually has a gym, weights
equipment and rooms for exercise classes
— I can’t wait for the new fitness centre to open as they’re advertising some great exercise
classes.
sports centre
– a building
where people can do a range of different sports
— We have a great sports centre in our town which offers
everything from martial arts training to indoor bowls.
gym – a large hall
or room with special equipment for doing physical exercises
— If it’s raining when I want to go running, I run on the
treadmill in the gym instead.
an athletics track – a sporting facility
with a track for running and areas for other sports such high
jump, long jump and javelin throwing
— Each summer we have a big
competition for all the schools in our area down at the local athletics track.
pitch – a surface on which a particular
sport is played, such as a football pitch or baseball pitch, that is marked out
with lines
— Victor felt nervous as he waited with
his team to go out onto the pitch
for the first big match of the season.
court – a surface where you play sports
such as tennis, badminton and squash
— Shelley was playing an excellent
opponent who made her run from one side of the tennis court to the other throughout the match.
swimming pool – an area of water, often in a building, created for swimming in
— My mum took me to the swimming pool every Saturday morning
when I was a child.
changing room
– a room in a sports building or school where people can change their
clothes before exercise
— The changing room
smelt awful with all the sweaty bodies in there after the football match.
locker room
– a changing room where people can leave their clothes in a small lockable
cupboards
— Matilda put in a complaint as many of the lockers in the locker room were broken.
Sports Vocabulary Pronunciation
Set 4: People in sport
athlete
– a
person who is very good at sports or physical exercise, especially one who
competes in organised events
— Kofi trained hard for many years to become one of the top athletes in his country.
coach
– an expert who trains someone learning or
improving a skill
— The coach made them focus on their tackling
skills as this was a weakness in their game.
trainer
– similar to a coach but often relates more to the fitness side of training
— Janine has been concerned about working with the new trainer but her performance improved
considerably after just one month.
personal trainer – a coach or trainer who works with someone on a one-to-one
basis
— If you find it hard to stay
motivated when working out on your own, I recommend hiring a personal trainer.
competitor
– someone who takes part in a sports competition
— There were nearly 100 competitors
in the cycle race, so Megan was delighted to come tenth.
referee
– a person who is in charge of a sports
game and who makes certain that the rules are followed
— It’s hard being a referee
as not everyone agrees with your decisions.
umpire
– a referee in sports such as tennis and cricket
— The umpire
ruled that the ball was out of court.
goalkeeper
– the player whose job it is to stop the ball going into the goal in games such
as soccer and hockey
— Our goalkeeper
was the star of the match after saving two goals in the penalty shootout.
Sports Vocabulary Pronunciation
Set 5: Sporting achievements
a personal best – to get a better
score or achieve a faster time in your sport than you’ve ever done before
— Although Hicham didn’t win the 400m, he achieved a personal best of 45.38 seconds so was
delighted with his performance.
to set a record – to achieve the best result in a particular
sport
— I knew my jump was a good one but I couldn’t believe it
when I learnt I’d set a new long
jump record for my college.
to break a record – to do something that
is better, faster, etc. than anything that has been done before
— The crowd in the stadium went wild when Usain Bolt broke the 200m record yet again.
prize – a reward that
you get for being successful in a sports competition
— Fahmi didn’t compete for the prize money but because she loved playing tennis.
Sports Vocabulary Pronunciation
Set 6: Sports & fitness
activities
athletics
– the sport of competing in track and field events, including
running races and various competitions in jumping and throwing
Athletics sport:
running
hurdles
javelin
pole vault
long jump
high jump
discus
shot put
Sports Vocabulary Pronunciation
Ball sports:
soccer/football
American football
basketball
baseball
volleyball
cricket
rugby
golf
hockey
Racket sports:
Sports Vocabulary Pronunciation
Water sports:
swimming
diving
water polo
rowing
kayaking
canoeing
surfing
jet skiing
water skiing
sailing
wind surfing
rafting
scuba diving
Sports Vocabulary Pronunciation
Winter sports:
skiing
snowboarding
ice skating
Other sports & fitness activities:
walking
jogging
marathon (42.195 km)
cross-country running
triathlon — swim, cycle, run
cycling
mountain biking
climbing
weightlifting
weight training
aerobics – vigorous
exercise that strengthens the heart & lungs
gymnastics – exercises
on bars, beam, floor, rings & vaulting horse
martial
arts –
fighting sports that make both your body and mind stronger such as karate
aerobics
gymnastics
yoga
dancing
martial arts
boxing
fencing
table tenis
shooting
archery
horse riding
horse racing
motor racing
motorcycle racing
Sports Vocabulary Pronunciation
Set 7: Other sports
vocabulary
equipment – the items necessary to work out
or do a sport
— My gym is going to install some
new equipment as some of it is old
and worn out.
kit
– special clothing and equipment that you use when you take
part in a particular activity, especially a sport
— Mandy was furious when her son
decided to give up playing football just after she’d bought him some new kit.
membership – the state of belonging to a
group, a club or organisation
— Like many people, I take out a gym
membership every New Year but have
usually stopped going by February.
a home game – a
sports match played in the teams own stadium
— I’m so glad my team has a home game this week as my car has
broken down.
an away game – a sports match played in the opposing
team’s stadium
— I don’t enjoy playing away games as much as home games as
fewer of our own supporters are there.
supporter – someone who
admires a sports team and watches them play regularly
— I’ve been a Manchester United supporter all my life and watch live games wherever I can.
a fan – someone who
admires a specific person, sport or a sports team
— I’m a huge rugby fan
and especially enjoy watching the international matches on TV.
a competition – an event or contest in which individual
people or teams take part in order to establish who is best
— The coach was pleased with the way
the new team was playing and entered them in the under 12’s competition.
contest – a competition,
often involving two people
— Tosin was very nervous before the contest as he was up against a very
good boxer from Cuba.
match
– a sports competition in which two people or teams compete against each other
— They were really disappointed to have lost the match after being ahead in the first
half.
championship
– a large and important competition
— She was overjoyed to be selected to run for her country in
the world championships.
tournament
– a
competition for teams or single players in which a series of games is played,
and the winners of each game play against each other until only one winner is left
— The
school team arrived home with a large trophy after winning the regional hockey tournament.
regatta – a sporting event involving boats
— Gregor has only been learning to sail for six months when
he took part in his first regatta.
Sports Vocabulary Pronunciation
versus/v – against, used to denote competing teams or players in a sports contest
— The final of the men’s tennis championship was Nadal versus Federer.
to compete – to take part in a competition or sports event
— Jolene was so excited about competing in her first professional golf competition.
competitive – involving competition; wanting very much to win or be more successful than other people
— Danny was very competitive and trained harder than anyone else in the effort to be the best hurdler at his county.
league – a group of sports teams who take part in competitions between each other over a period of time
— If they won the next game, they would end the season top of the league.
to score – to get a point or goal in a game or sport
— Baz scored in the last minute of the match and won the game for his team.
the score – how many points an individual or team has
— The final score was 3-1 to the home side so there was much celebration in the town that evening.
a draw – when two competitors or teams get the same score
— When the final whistle blew the score was 34-34 so the basketball match was a draw.
reserve – an extra player who is ready to play if needed
— Narong was pleased to be selected as a reserve but really hoped he’d have a chance to play.
to drop out – to not do something that you were going to do, or to stop doing something before you have finished
— She was leading the race until she pulled a muscle and had to drop out in the third lap.
to pull out – to withdraw before an event or competition
— The crew had to pull out of the regatta after they all fell ill with a stomach bug.
injury – when part of the body is damaged or hurt
— Lena was favourite to win the golf tournament until she picked up a shoulder injury.
season – a period of the year when a particular sport is played
— I love it when the cricket season comes round each year as it means that summer has finally arrived.
a season ticket – an entry ticket for all of a team’s home games during a specific season
— For my thirtieth birthday, my family bought me a season ticket to watch my favourite soccer team play.
amateur – a person who engages in a pursuit, especially a sport, on an unpaid basis
— Although he only played rugby in an amateur team, it was his dream to turn professional one day.
professional – a person is paid for playing a sport
— Professional racing drivers get paid vast sums of money.
Sports Vocabulary Pronunciation
Set 8: Sports
idioms
blow
away the competition –
to easily beat the opposing competitor or team
—
I thought it was going to be a challenging race but he blew away the competition.
neck
and neck –
when two
competitors are level with each other and have an equal chance of winning
— Coming down the
home straight, the two front-runners were neck
and neck until Yoshi edged ahead as they reached the finish line.
front-runner – the person or team considered most likely to win
— There were some
excellent gymnasts in the competition but Nadia was definitely the front-runner and the one to beat.
to
get second wind –
to
experience renewed energy after a period of fatigue
— He began to struggle in the final stages of the
marathon but hearing the crowd cheer him on, he got second wind and
finished in the top twenty.
underdog – a competitor thought to
have little chance of doing well or winning
— The
British skiing team were definitely the underdogs
in the competition so everyone was shocked when they got third place.
Sports Vocabulary Pronunciation
Click this link to get a PDF download of this list of sports vocabulary.
Download PDF Now
Other Useful Sports Vocabulary
Whilst this list of sports
vocabulary includes the most common sports, there are also others you might
know about or take part in. In your country, you may even have sports that are
unique to your culture. Add any that you are likely to want to
talk about to your list.
It’s also a good idea to create your
own list of sports vocabulary related to sporting or fitness activities you
currently do or have done in the past so that you are ready to talk about them
if asked.
Most sports and fitness activities have their own set of vocabulary – equipment, kit, specialist terms, etc. Include the
most important words.
You’ll also find more sports vocabulary and fitness words on the Health
Vocabulary page.
Ways to Improve Your Sports Vocabulary
One of the best ways to improve your
vocabulary is through reading. Watching topic related YouTube videos and
listening to podcasts is also hugely beneficial.
Here are some online resources I
recommend.
TED
Talks
TED Talks are short videos with a
powerful message and are generally very interesting. They’re ideal for
improving your vocabulary and give valuable listening skills practise.
Search TED Talks —
Sport to help you improve your
sports vocabulary.
All Topic Vocabulary
Like this page?
-
Home
-
IELTS Vocabulary
-
Sports Vocabulary
›
›
-
Back To Top