College Homework Help|Essay on British Sports

Through the years Britain has developed their own unique sports that they are associated with. The use of recreational time has led to the development of sports that are distinct and influential in Great Britain. Polo is a mounted sport that has made its mark in England. The object of the game is like our soccer in which “each team attempts to score goals by striking a ball with its sticks between the opponents’ goalposts” (ROTG 274). Obviously the team that scores more goals is the winner. Polo and driving have many things in common, they both are fast paced and they both have right of ways for safety. If two separate players were going for the ball at different angles, it could result in a collision. That is why the rules state that whichever direction the ball is traveling, it is the angle one must come toward. No other rider may intersect in a dangerous manner. Safety is the most important factor in polo. That is in fact what “most of the rules of polo are” (Sport Polo 1). A player’s gear is part of that important safety. If they are to fall, their helmet, which they must wear, will absorb the hit. While riders are required to wear one thing for safety, horses are not allowed to wear another for safety. Horses are not allowed to have nails in their shoes. Players make many other safety precautions. For example, because polo is played on the largest field of any organized sport which is three hundred by one hundred and sixty yards, “players must change mounts after each chukker” (Sport Polo 1). Chukkers are seven-minute periods.

With eight chukkers per game and the extreme demands players put on their horses, it could be dangerous for just one horse. That is why each team of four, will usually have a minimum of twenty-four horses and will never try to overwork their horses. With twenty-four horses minimum per team, polo is usually played among the upper class. But there are those that are fortunate enough to get to play even if they are not rolling in money. One Maui Polo Club even opened up their horses to children to teach them how to play polo. Certainly, polo has become popular in places as far as Maui.

Rugby is like our football, made into their own and unique version. It is named after the school, Rugby High, rugby began when a soccer folly occurred in 1823. A soccer player, Webb Ellis actually picked up the soccer ball and ran with it. People could have laughed at him, but now, there is an international cup in his name. There are two different versions of how rugby is played, because in “1895 an argument over paying money to players led to a split between rugby clubs in England” (Hammond 14). This 1895 argument has lasted and made two very similar, but different games. The rugby league, the paid group, and the rugby union, the unpaid group have the same objective such as getting a try to win. A try is a name used for touching the ball down over the opponents’ goal line and they can also score by kicking the ball between the goalpost. They both have forty-minute halves and they both have the same equipment. Which is not much, their only protection is an optional shin guard and sometimes a scrumcap. The rest of their uniform includes a jersey, shorts, socks, and rubber studded shoes. For that reason, injuries are almost inevitable and consequently “players with greater body mass are 2.5 times greater risk of injury” (Babic 2). Making fitness, speed, and stamina an even more important aspect in rugby. Yet, with all the injuries, rugby has spread to many countries and kinds of people, even the quadriplegics have had a part in the game. Rugby is “believed to be the fastest growing wheelchair sport in the world” (Wheel Chair Rugby 1). Clearly different, the same concepts of the game are still the same. But instead of playing on the pitch, which is the grass, clay or sand field normal rugby players would play on, they play indoors. In addition, there are only four players playing at a time instead of the traditional thirteen players, that league has and the fifteen players that union has. Wheelchair can also be played with a co-ed team. Since the year 2000, wheelchair rugby has even become a full medal sport in the paralympics. Surely rugby has brought joy to many men, women and disabled alike. Cricket, like rugby, has an American tied sport, which is baseball with its own evident differences. The main objectives are the same; the pitcher known as the bowler tries to dismiss the batsman, while the batsman tries to score runs. Sports that were “Bat-and-ball games were probably played in England as long as the 13th century” (Hammond 26). Over time, however, cricket has evolved and even though the rules cricket players follow are the same ones made in the 18th century for five people, they still apply to the modern day eleven players. Another way cricket has evolved is the equipment used. Bats were originally curved blades, and even recently were switched in the 1970’s for an aluminum bat. The aluminum bat was not a substitute for the wooden bat, however, and was switched back to the traditional bat. The rest of the equipment includes protective cricket boots, abdomen protector, white padded leg guards, wicket keeper’s glove and a batsman’s glove. All of the protective clothing used are standard wear in all cricket playing locations, such as Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and even South Africa. Cricket is becoming very widespread. Just recently a game in California against a British team was played as a charity “to give young people, particularly those with special needs, a sporting chance” (James 1). Even though the U.S. team lost, they had a great time and they are anticipating their next game. Cricket players like those that played in California are inspiration for good sportsmanship. The teams were happy to play for fun and for charity. But while there are good players, there are those who take cricket and ruin the name by taking bribes and such. The “corrupt practices and deliberate under-performance have permeated all aspects of the game” (Lyons 1). Greed of some has left others mourning the lost of sportsmanship. Even worst, bad sportsmanship does not stop with greed. Some will stop at nothing just to win and instead of losing gracefully they will wreak havoc with their language unchecked. Cricket has had its ups and downs, but cricket is still fighting and is still progressing in its popularity. Curling, unlike any other sport, it has its own special style. Originating “in the 1500’s on the lakes and ponds of Northern Europe” (Curling 1). Curling was played only when winter time came and froze the water, but now curlers can play in Hawaii, if there is an ice rink. This bizarre sport is played on a rink forty-six yards long and with “two teams of four players delivering “stones” across a measured length of ice to a marked target area called a house” (ROTG 101). Each team competes for the highest points using brooms to sweep the ice, causing heat. This is done to make the rocks slide more smoothly and closer to the opponents house. One thing nice about curling is the fact that it does not require much equipment or protective clothing. So, unlike polo, selling a house to pay for equipment and supplies is not necessary. Making curling a sport for the young, the old, and the rich and even the poor. Curling is considered a true spirit game. “A true curler would prefer to lose rather than win unfairly” (Curling 1). Good curlers will stay quiet and do nothing to distract opponents from doing their best. Honor and knowing who is the best at their best is very important to curlers. Curling involves a great deal of sportsmanship.

They will admire a great shot from their opponent and will not cheer for themselves if it is not. One good example of great sportsmanship is an old tradition called broom stacking. Broom stacking is a post-game social get together.

Broom stacking is expected from a team, originally started when a game ended, the curlers would stack their brooms in front of a fire and would enjoy drinks together. And since the 2002 Olympics, curling has made a drastic increase in play. It is clear to see that Great Britain’s sports has impacted its own use of recreational time and the use of recreational time in countries around the globe.

PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET AN AMAZING DISCOUNT!

Is this the question you were looking for? If so, place your order here to get started!