The types of sport differ according to the way in which competition is developed and the objective of the game. The types of sports can be classified as:
- invasion sports
- network sports
- field and club sports
- wall sports
- combat sports
- branded sports
- precision sports
- technical-combination sports
1. invasion sports
Invasion sports are aimed at attacking the opponent's field and achieving their goal.
This goal, in general, must be achieved by a ball or similar object (puck, in hockey). A point is scored when a goal, basket, touchdown or try is reached, for example.
Examples of invasion sports:
- Soccer
- futsal
- Basketball
- Handball
- Football
- rugby
- Hockey
- Water polo
Learn more at: invasion sports.
2. branded sports
Branded sports are those in which competitors compete by comparing their brands. In races, for example, wins whoever completes the course in the shortest time possible. In throws, the goal is to reach the longest distance. In weightlifting, the winner is whoever lifts the greatest amount of weight.
Examples of branded sports:
- Athletics
- Swimming
- Candle
- triathlon
- Cycling (categories: road, track, bmx and mountain bike)
- Weightlifting (Weightlifting)
- rowing
- Canoeing
- alpine skiing
- Ski jump
- Climbing
- Equestrianism
- crossfit
- motoring
3. precision sports
Precision sports aim to hit or approach a fixed or moving target.
The object that must hit the target can be projected in different ways depending on the modality. It can be projected by a weapon, as in the case of shooting and archery. It can be hit with a club, as in golf and snooker, or thrown with the hands, as in bocce, curling, darts, etc.
Examples of precision sports:
- Shot
- archery
- Bowling
- Curling (a sport practiced on an ice rink, the objective of which is to throw a stone with a handle at a target. For this, team players rub brooms on the ice in order to increase or decrease friction, regulating the speed of the stone)
- Golf
- Croqué (a game whose objective is to hit a ball with a mallet, making it go through a circuit marked by arcs fixed on the ground)
- pool
- Bocce
- Darts
4. network and wall sports
Net sports have the general objective of throwing the ball over a net into the opponent's field, in order to make it difficult to return it.
Some net sports allow the ball to bounce on the field, such as tennis and padel. In other sports, if the ball or the object of the dispute touches the field of play, it sets up a point, as in the case of volleyball.
Wall sports are those in which competitors take turns attacking the ball and hitting it against a rebound wall, as in the case of squash. The point occurs when one of the players fails to respond to the opponent's attacks.
Examples of net and rebound wall sports:
- Volleyball
- Beach volleyball
- footvolley
- Sneakers
- Table tennis
- Badminton
- squash
- Padel (game with rackets and ball, similar to tennis, with dimensions restricted by walls that are part of the game)
5. combat sports
Combat sports are fighting and martial arts. Each combat modality has its own rules and predefined blows Combat modalities can be carried out in melee or with objects as in the case of fencing. The objective is to score points by hitting the opponent, dominating him or taking him to the knockout.
Examples of combat sports:
- Boxing
- Judo
- Taekwondo
- Jiu Jitsu
- karate
- Muay Thai
- MMA
- Fencing
- Kendo (Japanese wrestling with wooden swords)
- Wrestling
- Greco-roman fight
6. field and club sports
Field and club sports aim to protect your base and hit the ball so that the opposing team takes a long time to take control.
Examples of field and bat sports:
- Baseball
- Softball (version of baseball with less dense balls, smaller bats and reduced field dimensions. Softball pitching is done from the bottom up, unlike baseball)
- Cricket (club game whose objective is to hit the ball defending three sticks stuck in the ground, called wicket)
7. Technical-combination sports
The technical-combination sports are those in which athletes follow a routine of movements and are evaluated by a panel of judges. The judges judge the degree of difficulty of the execution and the precision of the movements.
Examples of technical-combination sports:
- artistic gymnastics
- Rhythmic gymnastics
- Diving
- Synchronized swimming
- figure skating
- Surfing
- Cycling (category: freestyle)
- Breakdance (confirmed for the 2024 Olympics in Paris)
- slackline
See too:
- Olympics
- Olympic torch
