A good sport (vocabulary from reading, listening, use of English)

improvement The only way to get better at a sport and to see real improvement is to practise regularly and have a healthy lifestyle.

a change or addition that improves something

discovery Historians made the discovery that in fact, people had been playing the sport for centuries.

a fact or thing that someone finds out about, when it was not known about before

comfort I like to watch sport from the comfort of my living room. I don't understand people who stand in the cold and rain for hours watching their teams play.

a feeling of being physically relaxed and satisfied, so that nothing is hurting you, making you feel too hot or cold, etc.

application Have you filled in the application form for the football summer camp yet?

a formal, usually written, request for something such as a job, place at university or permission to do something

tennis Do you want to play a game of tennis? I've just had a new racket for my birthday and I really want to try it out.

a game for two people or two pairs of people who use rackets to hit a small soft ball backwards and forwards over a net

hockey My favourite sport is hockey. It's a game played on grass, between two teams who use long curved sticks to hit a ball.

a game played on grass by two teams of 11 players, with sticks and a ball

badminton Have you heard of badminton? It's a game for two or four players in which you hit a small object with feathers on it over a net.

a game that is similar to tennis but played with a shuttlecock (a small feathered object) instead of a ball

rival Sitting at a computer for hours just doesn't compare with the adrenaline high you get from knocking out a rival team in a competition.

a person, group, or organisation that you compete with in sport, business, a fight, etc.

hurdles My favourite race is the 400-metre hurdles where runners have to jump over small fences called hurdles.

a series of small fences that a person or horse has to jump over during a race

remote control He had the remote control in his hand and he was channel-hopping, listlessly.

a thing you use for controlling a piece of electrical or electronic equipment without having to touch it, for example for turning a television on or off

It is addictive. Go for it! It's such a great feeling, but it is addictive!

an activity that is addictive is so enjoyable that you do not want to stop

baseball Baseball is an American game in which two teams try to get points by hitting a ball and running around four bases, or corners, of a large square area of field.

an outdoor game between two teams of nine players, in which players try to get points by hitting a ball and running around

impatient My brother gets really impatient when he has to wait for his turn to play a video game. He really annoys me when he keeps asking if it's his go yet.

annoyed because of delays, someone else's mistakes, etc.

superior In psychology, this is known as the 'in group' and 'out group' principle, and sports fans are no different. This principle leads members of the 'in group' (the home fans) to feel superior to those of the 'out group' (the fans of the rival team).

better, more powerful, more effective, etc. than a similar person or thing, especially one that you are competing against

inexpensive Although Chloe's new trainers look like they cost a lot, they were actually quite inexpensive.

cheap - used to show approval

decision Eleanor has made the decision to give up professional tennis after a very successful career.

choice or judgment that you make after a period of discussion or thought

irresponsible It's irresponsible to go rock climbing without all the proper safety equipment. You could have an accident.

doing careless things without thinking or worrying about the possible bad results

motivation After losing all their matches, the team lost interest in training and there was a general lack of motivation.

eagerness and willingness to do something without needing to be told or forced to do it

exhaustion After running the marathon, he felt weak with exhaustion.

extreme tiredness

I was a natural. I was a natural and from that point on I was hooked.

having a particular quality or skill without needing to be taught and without needing to try hard

guidance The gym instructors provide guidance on how to use the gym equipment.

help and advice that is given to someone about their work, education or personal life

assistance The referee asked for assistance from the medical team when the player fell over and hurt her leg.

help or support

performance Her performance in the gymnastics competition was excellent. All the judges gave her high marks.

how well or badly a person, company, etc. does a particular job or activity

nonsense Collecting nonsense words is an interesting pastime.

ideas, opinions, statements, etc. that are not true or that seem very stupid

involve: coordination, training, teamwork Rugby involves good teamwork. A team cannot win a match if the players don't work together well.

if an activity or situation involves something, that thing is part of it or a result of it

demand: coordination, training, teamwork Tennis demands very good hand-eye coordination.

if one thing demands another, it needs that thing in order to happen or be done successfully

get together One of my favourite things is getting together with friends in the park and kicking a ball around.

if people get together, they meet in order to spend time with each other

It was a bit of a let-down When I opened the parcel it was a bit of a let-down.

if something is a let-down, it is a disappointment

the stakes are higher I guess it's because the stakes are higher now as I'm competing at a higher level.

if the stakes are high when you are trying to do something, you risk losing a lot or it will be dangerous if you fail

question There's no question that they are the better team.

if there is some question about something, there is doubt about it, or people feel uncertain about it

I was hooked. I was a natural and from that point on I was hooked.

if you are hooked on something, you enjoy it very much and you want to do it as often as possible I was a natural and from that point on I was hooked.

qualification If you want to be a sports therapist, you need to go to college and get the appropriate qualification.

if you have a qualification, you have passed an examination or course to show you have a particular level of skill or knowledge in a subject

unbelievably Unbelievably, they scored three more goals in the last ten minutes of the match.

in an amount or to a degree that is unusual or surprising

get the hang of it The average beginner probably takes a couple of weeks to get the hang of it.

learn how to do something or use something

misleading Some adverts for snack bars are misleading. They make them look like they're healthy snacks but actually, they're full of sugar!

likely to make someone believe something that is not true

immoral Some people lose a match on purpose in order to make money. Not only is this illegal, but in my opinion, it is also immoral.

morally wrong

illegally The police arrested some men who were selling football tickets illegally on the street outside the stadium.

not allowed by the law

unsuccessful After three unsuccessful attempts, he has finally won the world title.

not having a successful result or not achieving what you wanted to achieve

dishonest It's really dishonest to cheat when you're playing a game.

not honest, and so deceiving or cheating people

unfamiliar I was totally unfamiliar with the equipment they were using, as I'd never been to a gym before.

not known to you

impolite In the UK it is considered impolite to point at people.

not polite

illogical The pre-race superstitions and rituals that some athletes have seem illogical to most people, but they help the athletes feel more confident.

not sensible or reasonable

irrelevant I'm sorry, but how good you are at esports is irrelevant. You have to be over eighteen to enter this tournament and you're only sixteen.

not useful or not relating to a particular situation, and therefore not important

nonverbal During a game, players use nonverbal communication such as hand gestures and facial expressions to communicate with their teammates.

not using words

unmotivated It's always hard to get unmotivated people to do more exercise.

not very keen to do something or achieve something, especially because you do not find it interesting or exciting

sprinting Only the fastest runners compete in the sprinting races, such as the 100 metres.

running very fast for a short distance

athlete Robert has won lots of running competitions. He's a great athlete.

someone who competes in sports competitions, especially running, jumping and throwing

spectator Spectators have to show their tickets at the gate before they're allowed in to the stadium to watch the match.

someone who is watching an event or game

fan Thousands of football fans watched the big match on TV last night.

someone who likes a particular sport or performing art very much, or who admires a famous person

supporter My granddad's been a supporter of his team for forty-five years. He never misses a match!

someone who likes a particular sports team, and often goes to watch them play

referee I think the referee made the right decision when he gave the penalty to the other team.

someone who makes sure that the rules of a sport such as football, basketball or boxing, are followed

teammate Tom is one of my teammates. We play on the same basketball team.

someone who works in the same team as you

opponent Sarah knew her opponent well. She had competed against her in lots of other competitions.

someone who you try to defeat in a competition, game, fight or argument

invisible Harry's drone is so small that it's practically invisible when he's flying it high up in the sky.

something that is invisible cannot be seen

concentration Esports demand quick reactions and a high level of concentration. You need to be very focused on what you're doing.

the ability to think about something carefully or for a long time

trade The country's trade in sports clothing has doubled since 2007.

the activity of buying, selling or exchanging goods within a country or between countries

surfing In the summer we always go to the coast to go surfing. I love the feeling of riding the waves on my surfboard.

the activity or sport of riding over the waves on a special board

frustration Paul experienced feelings of frustration and disappointment, when after hours of training he wasn't picked for the school rugby team.

the feeling of being annoyed, upset or impatient, because you cannot control or change a situation, or achieve something

embarrassment Alice's face turned red with embarrassment when she fell over during the final race of her school's sports day.

the feeling you have when you are embarrassed

amusement Debbie looked at her brother in amusement as he slipped in a muddy puddle on the football pitch.

the feeling you have when you think something is funny

commitment In order to be the best at a sport, you need to show real commitment. That means turning up to every training session and spending your free time practising.

the hard work and loyalty that someone gives to an organisation, activity, etc.

nil They beat us three nil.

the number zero, used in sports results

rowing You need strong arm muscles for rowing as you need a lot of power to move a boat through water using only wooden oars.

the sport or activity of making a boat move through water with oars

riding Isobel's family owns three horses and they often go riding at the weekends.

the sport or activity of riding horses

behaviour The coach was really disappointed in the team's behaviour after they argued with the other team during the football match.

the things that a person or animal does

connection The connection between a healthy diet and physical performance is well known.

the way in which two facts, ideas, events, etc. are related to each other, and one is affected or caused by the other

appearance She may not have the usual appearance of a basketball player as she's not very tall, but she's really good.

the way someone or something looks to other people

design I don't like the design of these trainers. I think they look quite ugly

the way that something has been planned and made, including its appearance, how it works, etc. .

entertainment My ideal kind of entertainment is going to watch a sporting event with friends.

things such as films, television, performances, etc. that are intended to amuse or interest people

take (sth) on I'm feeling excited and nervous because I've just taken on the role of team captain for our school hockey team.

to agree to do some work or to be responsible for something

enter: a championship, tournament, competition You have to pass a fitness test before you can enter this tournament.

to arrange to take part in a race, competition, examination, etc., or to arrange for someone else to take part

take part in a: championship, tournament, competition Our school always takes part in a regional sports competition.

to be involved in an activity, sport, event, etc. with other people

get through (sth) I don't know how I'm going to get through this match, I feel really ill.

to be successful in a test or competition, or to make sure that someone or something is successful

misbehave The children often misbehave in their sports lesson because the teacher isn't very strict and so they do what they like.

to behave badly, and cause trouble or annoy people

jinx Equally, an action performed while the team lost will be considered bad luck and will be avoided in future for fear of jinxing the team.

to bring bad luck

rearrange Can we rearrange your appointment for next Thursday?

to change the position or order of things; to change the time of a meeting, etc.

knock (sb) out They knocked the other team out of the championship, which means they will be playing in the finals next week.

to defeat a person or team in a competition so that they can no longer take part

count on (sb) You can always count on David to know what to do in a crisis.

to depend on someone or something, especially in a difficult situation

get round to doing (sth) I still haven't got round to buying some new trainers. I've just had no time.

to do something that you have been intending to do for some time

misunderstand How did they misunderstand my instructions? I thought I was very clear when I told them to wear trainers not shoes!

to fail to understand someone or something correctly

get up I have to get up at 6 a.m. to go to my swimming training.

to get out of your bed after sleeping, or to make someone get out of their bed

win: a title, a trophy, prize money, a gold medal, a championship, a tournament, a competition The winner of the esports tournament not only gets the title of champion, but also wins prize money.

to get something as a prize for winning in a competition, or to be the best or most successful in a competition, game, election, etc.

beat: an opponent, the rival team We were so happy when we beat the rival team. We didn't expect to win as every year they usually win.

to get the most points, votes, etc. in a game, race or competition

delight: spectators, fans, viewers The excellent performance by both tennis players delighted spectators.

to give someone great satisfaction and enjoyment

hold: a championship, tournament, competition This year, the athletics championship will be held in Manchester.

to have a meeting, party, election, etc. in a particular place or at a particular time

get (sb) down It really gets me down when we lose a match.

to make someone feel unhappy and tired

disappoint: spectators, fans, viewers The news that the star player would not be playing in today's match disappointed fans.

to make someone feel unhappy because something they hoped for did not happen or was not as good as they expected

attract: spectators, fans, viewers Esports tournaments often attract more viewers than traditional sporting events.

to make someone interested in something, or make them want to take part in something

work out I work out at the gym every Saturday morning. My favourite piece of equipment is the rowing machine.

to make your body fit and strong by doing exercises

prepare for a: championship, tournament, competition It takes months of training for athletes to prepare for a competition.

to make yourself mentally or physically ready for something that you expect to happen soon

require: coordination, training, teamwork All sports require training of some kind.

to need something

discourage Our coach discourages us from eating fast food as she wants us to be as fit and healthy as possible.

to persuade someone not to do something, especially by making it seem difficult or bad

qualify for a: championship, tournament, competition You have to have more than ten points to qualify for a championship.

to reach the necessary standard to enter or continue in a competition or sports event

relieve For many, a live sporting event is the only place they feel comfortable high fiving strangers and showing their feelings so openly in public. It can be a great way to relieve stress and improve personal well-being.

to reduce someone's pain or unpleasant feelings

turn (sth/sb) down She turned down a place in the school netball team because she wanted to concentrate on her studies.

to refuse an offer, request or invitation

yell Whether they're cheering in the stadium, yelling at the referee from the sofa, or singing their team's victory song, sports fans exist all over the world.

to shout or say something very loudly, especially because you are frightened, angry or excited

root for They are identical in their passion, their spirit, and their devotion - the only real distinction between them is the team they're rooting for.

to support a sports team or player by shouting and cheering Ironically, the two sets of fans are far from being different.

compete for: a title, a trophy, prize money, a gold medal The Olympic athletes are all competing for a gold medal.

to take part in a competition or sports event to win a title, a trophy, prize money, a gold medal, etc.

get back to (sb) Can I get back to you about the time of the training session? I'll have to ask the coach.

to talk to someone or telephone them later in order to answer a question or give them information

boast Have you ever heard a sports fan boasting, 'We thrashed the other team today!' or 'We're top of the league at the moment'?

to talk too proudly about your abilities, achievements or possession; if a place, object or organisation boasts something, it has something that is very good

disapprove At first, Melanie's parents disapproved of her playing football, but now they think it's great.

to think that someone or their behaviour, ideas, etc. are bad or wrong

show off My brother loves showing off on the football pitch. He's always doing fancy kicks in front of the crowd.

to try to make people admire your abilities, achievements or possessions - used to show disapproval

defeat: an opponent, the rival team In order to win the championship, he needs to defeat his opponent.

to win a victory over someone in a war, competition, game, etc.

unrealistic Competing in the Olympics is an unrealistic goal for Rachel, as she has missed a lot of training because of her injury earlier this year.

unrealistic ideas or hopes are not reasonable or sensible

undoubtedly They are undoubtedly the most famous sisters in tennis.

used for saying that something is definitely true

unexpectedly We were all surprised when Lara came first in the race unexpectedly.

used to describe something that happens suddenly and surprisingly

expectation I can't believe our team won! It was beyond all our expectations.

what you think or hope will happen

production Doing exercise results in the production of certain chemicals in our brain that make us feel happy.

when something is produced through a natural process

encouragement The player was met with cheers of encouragement from the crowds, as he stepped forward to take the penalty.

when you encourage someone or something, or the things that encourage them

repayment Canceled checks show when repayments were made.

when you pay back money that you have borrowed