The History of Sports

By Ms.
Whitney
 Table of
Contents
What are Sports
How Sports Started
Women in Sports
Men in Sports
Historic Events in The Olympics
Sports Heroes
Why We Should Play Sports
The Importance of Teamwork
Glossary
Extra Resources
Credits
 What are Sports?
A sport is a physical activity that people do for fun, and as a
way to compete with others. People have enjoyed sports for
thousands of years. Every sport has a set of rules that players
follow.

Click here to learn

more about sports
 How Sports
Started

The earliest story of sports deals with preparation and training for war hunting
There were sports games that included throwing spears, stakes, rocks and play-fighting
Ancient Greece introduced formal sports, with the first Olympic Games in 776 BC.
Examples of sports include human and chariot races, wrestling, jumping, disk, and javelin
throwing

Click here to learn more

about javelin throwing
 Women in Sports

The history of women’s sports began in the 19th century.

By the end of the 19th century, horseback riding, archery, golf, tennis, skiing
and skating were played by women in the upper classes.
The first time for female athletes to participate in the modern Olympic
Games was the second Olympic Games in 1900.
 Men in Sports
Baseball:
Alexander Cartwright (1820-1892) of New York invented the modern
baseball field in 1845.
Alexander Cartwright and the members of his New York
Knickerbocker Base Ball Club came up with the first rules and
regulations that were eventually accepted as the modern game of
baseball.

Basketball:
The first formal rules were made in 1842.
In earlier times, players dribbled a soccer ball up and down a court.
Points were earned by landing the ball in the peach basket.
 Men in Sports

Ice Hockey:
Ice Hockey is played with two opposing teams wearing ice skates.
Unless a penalty occurs, each team only has six players on the ice rink at a time.
The idea of the game is to knock the hockey puck into the opposing team’s net.
The net is guarded by a special player called the goalie.

Click here to learn

about the history of ice
hockey.
 Historic Events in The Olympics Click here to learn more
about Olympic History.

The first Olympics took place from April 6, 1896 to April 15, 1896.
In 1971 the U.S. and China competed in ping-pong.
The 1956 Olympics water polo semi-final match between Hungary and the Soviet
Union
India wins in the 1983 Cricket World Cup.
Nelson Mandela supports the South African rugby team in the 1995 World Cup.
The 1936 Olympic gold metal wrestling match between a Jew and a German.
 Sports Heroes

Jackie Robinson:
Jackie Robinson was the first Major League Baseball player. Jackie stood up for human
rights.
Jackie was inspiring to all young people. He was a leader to the people he taught baseball to.
Jackie was brave to stand up to racism and was kind to the people he did not agree with.
Jackie won the Team MVP for the Dodgers. Jackie Robinson was inducted into the National
Baseball Hall of Fame on July 23, 1962. He is a hero many people look up to still today.

Click here to learn more

about Jackie Robinson
 Sports Heroes

Michael Jordan:
Michael Jordan was originally cut from his high school basketball team. However, he did not give up.
Michael once again tried out for the team and made it. Michael played college basketball at North
Carolina University. The Tarheels won the NCAA Championship in 1982 and by 1984 Michael won the
Naismith College Player of the year honor. In 1984, Michael was drafted by the Chicago Bulls and won
the Rookie of the Year Award. His career included five MVP awards, regular season; total of six awards
in MVP finals; three awards as MVP All-Star game, six NBA Championships and Defensive Player of the
Year. Michael Jordan retired in 1999.
Jordan is involved in lots of sports products which include: “Air Jordan.”
 Steph Curry
Sports Heroes highlight video.

Stephen Curry:
Stephen (Steph) Curry was drafted to the NBA at the age of 21. He now plays for the
Golden State Warriors. Steph helps various charities and children’s groups in his
free time. He also donates money to people in different countries who suffer from
malaria disease. Curry also donates thousands of bed nets to those in need.

Hi I’m David and this

is my favorite place
Oracle Arena. Oracle
Arena is where the
Golden State
Warriors play. My
favorite player is
Steph Curry
 Why We Should Play Sports

We should play sports because it teaches us companionship and friendship. Another great
benefit of playing sports is that it teaches us how to lose. Playing sports allows us to learn
discipline and respect for authority. Sports also allows us to develop persistence and
patience. Sports are also likely to develop a persons self-esteem. Playing sports allows you
to build a healthy heart, strengthens our bones, and helps us become strong adults in our
future.

Participation in Sports
by Age
The Importance of Teamwork

Click here to watch a

video clip on teamwork.
 Glossary

Preparation- The action or process of making ready or

being made ready for use
Modern- Relating to the present or recent times
Javelin Throw- Track and field event where the javelin
(a spear) about 2.5 meters in length is thrown
Archery- The sport or skill of shooting with a bow and
arrows at a target
Participate- Take part
Accepted- Believed to be correct
Occur- To happen, to take place
 Glossary

Opposing- In conflict or competition

Human Rights- A right that is believed to belong to every person
Racism- Prejudice, discrimination directed against someone of a different race based
on the belief that one’s own race is superior
National Baseball Hall of Fame- Displays the accomplishments of, and honors the
memory of baseballs greatest players
Rookie of the Year- An award given to an athlete in his or her first season within the
league
Malaria- A disease that can be spread by the bite of a mosquito or by a contaminated
needle
Companionship- A feeling of friendship
Discipline- The practice of training people to obey rules
Authority- The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience
Self-Esteem- Confidence in one’s own worth or abilities, self-respect
 Extra
Resources
Steph Curry Interview
https://youtu.be/Ent4njFAIiI
Jackie Robinson Inspirational Video
https://youtu.be/aZFvd_4W5i4
Michael Jordan Hype Video
https://youtu.be/hEB-PTX57jc

Win From Within https://

youtu.be/BHF7jF9hGrE
 Credits
https://nobelcoaching.com/sports-benefits/

https://www.biography.com/news/african-american-firsts-in-sports-21113411

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sports

https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-sports-1992447

https://www.juntendo.ac.jp/athletes/en/history/

http://historysheroes.e2bn.org/yourheroes/view/10699
 Credits
https://www.electro-mech.com/team-sports/basketball/michael-jordan-more-than-just-a-basketball-hero/

https://myhero.com/S_Curry_nagel_ms_US_2015_ul

https://www.biography.com/news/african-american-firsts-in-sports-21113411

https://nobelcoaching.com/sports-benefits/