Nature of sports

A. Brief History of Gymnastics

Gymnastics activities were mainly callisthenics and exercises to prepare for war in
the early as 2000 B.C. One of the types of the earliest gymnastics activities was bull
leaping wherein a contestant ran toward a charging bull and grabbed his horns and tried to get
tossed in the air by the bull and perform acrobatic stunts before landing on the bull’s back and
dismount from the bull with a flips.

Friedrich Jahn (1778-1852) known as the ‘Father of German Gymnastics” was

credited with his work for developing heavy apparatus. Today, gymnastics were used as a
conditioning training to improved physical fitness needed for efficient athletic
performance.

B. Meaning of Gymnastics
It is a sport which requires considerable level of physical strength, flexibility, agility,
coordination, and balance to perform gymnastics skills. This sport is a self-motivating
activity which requires focus and discipline so that one can manipulate the different parts of
their body into different movement skills both static and dynamic stunts and tumbling.

In gymnastics, some events require athletes to perform routines using heavy

equipment, such as a balance beam or parallel bars and light apparatus such
as ribbon and ball. Other events involve tumbling, leaping, or balancing on
the floor without equipment.

C. Some Benefits of Gymnastics

 To enhance and maintain a physically fit body and improve gracefulness
and efficiency of movements through poise, form, and rhythm.
 To develop and improve creativity through the exploration of new
movements and movements combinations
 To practice self-discipline and enhance courage, initiative, and
perseverance

D. Gymnastics Events
Athletics
• Athletics, also known as track and field, involves running,
walking, jumping and throwing. It is a group of sports divided
mainly in what is popularly known as track and field and it
has been played centuries ago in a sports competition. The
name "athletics" is derived from the Greek word "athlos,"
meaning "contest."

• Track and field was introduced to the Filipinos by the

Americans. It was warmly accepted as one of the events for
competition. Athletics, as part of the local competition, was
governed by the Philippines Athletics Track and Field
Association. Because of its worth and value, it was included
as a subject in Physical Education

RUNNING EVENTS
• Sprinters are innately gifted with a larger number of fast-
twitch muscle fibers. It permits them to execute explosive
movements and participate in high-intensity exercise for a
short period of time. Fast-twitch fibers can produce more
force in a shorter time than slow twitch fibers. Also, sprinters
are naturally more muscular and have a bigger build than
long-distance runners

HURDLES
• Hurdling is a sport in athletics (track and field) in which a
runner sprints and leaps over a series of hurdles, which are
set on a track with specific distance apart. Runners must stay
in their respective lanes throughout the race.
Jumping Events
High jump
• In the high jump event, the athlete must run in the
start and must jump over a bar without knocking it
over. They land on a big soft cushion. Being able to
jump high without knocking the bar is advantage to
win the game

Long Jump
• Long jumping is the least complicated of all field events.
It is formerly called broad jumping. Long jump has been a
popular athletics event since Ancient Greece Olympics.
In long jump, speed is the most vital ingredient for a
successful jump

Pole Vault
• The pole vault may be the toughest to master of all field
events. Pole vaulting is quite similar to high jump. Vaulters
attempt to vault over a crossbar placed on uprights, each
height. They are given three tries, then they land on a
large soft mattress for safety

Triple Jump
• The triple jump is similar to the long jump, it is known as the
hop, step, and jump. The jumper will first run down the track
gaining speed; at the start of the jump or take off point they
will jump or spring from one foot and land on that same foot
(hop); next they jump again, at this time landing on the
opposite foot (step); lastly they jump as far as they can and
land on both feet (jump) into the sand pit or landing pit.
Throwing Events
Discus
• A discus is a plate-like or round disc
(implement), typically made of plastic with a
metal rim. It is thrown from a concrete circle
that is about 2.50 metres in diameter
Javelin
• The javelin is something like a spear
(implement). It was introduced in the Olympics
of 708 BC. This event should be supervised at
all times to be sure no one is hurt. Javelin
throw does not use a circle when throwing
Shot Put
• Shot is a piece of a spherical iron ball thrown
from a concrete circle seven feet in diameter.
The front of the circle has a metal board called
a toe board or stop board. The thrower cannot
touch the top of the stop board or step over it
during the throw. The thrower holds the shot
close to his/her neck in one hand
Hammer Throw
• Hammer throw does not actually involve throwing a
usual hammer like you think. In this athletics throwing
event, the thrower throws a metal ball attached to a
handle and a straight wire about three feet long. The
hammer is thrown from a concrete circle 2.15 meter in
diameter (just like the shot put) but there is no toe
board or stop board
 Racket Sports
A. HISTORY (Table tennis)
The origin of Table Tennis is believed to have originated in the early 1880s as a
miniature version of tennis in England. In the past few years, Hollow, banjolike rackets,
rectangular millboard rackets, and rubber and cork balls were used as equipment in
playing the game. James Gibbs, an Englishman introduced the lively celluloid ball in
1890 permitting increased control of it by the player. E. C. Goode of London
introduced the rubber-faced racket in 1902 permitting an increased variety of strokes
and spins. In 1926, the first world tournament held in London was sponsored by
International Table Tennis Federation wherein rules and regulations was standardized
and followed. This federation was form in 1926 in Berlin. With the encouragement of
the Parker Brothers Salem of Massachusetts which is the only manufacture of official
ping pong equipment, the American Ping Pong Association was formed in 1930. For a
couple of year, other manufactures of official ping pong equipment sponsored the
formation of the United States Table Tennis Association which was adopted in 1934
when the two associations merged.

HISTORY (Badminton)
In the late 1800s, Badminton was very popular in England wherein palyers wore
tuxedos and gowns to play. The game spread to Canada and then United States in
1925. It was included as official sport in Olympic Games with full-medal Olympic in
1992. Today, there are over 45 countries accredited in the International Badminton
Federation.

WHAT IS BADMINTON?
Badminton is a racket sport played in an indoor in the rectangular court that is divided
by a net which will be played by two (singles) or four (Doubles) players. The players
attempt to score a point by striking a shuttlecock with their racket so that it passes
over the net and lands in their opponents’ half of the court or when the opponents
make an error and cannot play back the shuttlecock back across the net.