Sports and Games for Kids
Sports teach teamwork, fitness, fair play and determination. These lessons explain the rules, history and skills of popular sports from around the world, from football and cricket to chess, yoga and the Paralympic Games.
All 113 Sports and Games topics
Football (Soccer)
Football is played by two teams of 11 trying to kick a ball into the other team's goal.
Basketball
In basketball two teams of five try to throw a ball through a hoop 10 feet high.
Cricket
Cricket is played with a bat and ball between two teams of 11.
Swimming
Swimming strokes include freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.
Running and Athletics
Athletics includes running, jumping and throwing events like sprints, long jump, high jump and javelin.
The Modern Olympics
The modern Olympic Games began in 1896 and happen every four years, with Summer and Winter editions.
Gymnastics
Gymnastics involves strength, balance and flexibility on events like floor, beam, bars and vault.
Tennis
Tennis is played with rackets and a ball over a net.
Badminton
Badminton players hit a shuttlecock over a net with rackets.
Chess
Chess is a strategy game for two players with 16 pieces each.
Cycling
Cycling is both a sport and a healthy way to travel.
Hockey
Field hockey and ice hockey are played with sticks.
Yoga
Yoga combines poses, breathing and focus.
Martial Arts
Martial arts like karate, judo and taekwondo teach self-defence, discipline and respect.
Good Sportsmanship
Good sportsmanship means playing fair, following rules, respecting opponents and referees and being gracious in winning and losing.
Baseball
In baseball a pitcher throws and a batter tries to hit the ball and run around four bases to score.
Volleyball
Volleyball players hit a ball over a high net, trying to land it on the opponent's court.
Skiing
Skiing is gliding over snow on long skis.
Table Tennis
Table tennis, or ping-pong, is played on a table with small paddles and a light ball.
Rugby
Rugby is a team sport with an oval ball.
Archery
Archery is shooting arrows at a target with a bow.
Skateboarding
Skateboarding involves riding and doing tricks on a board with wheels.
Rock Climbing
Rock climbing means climbing walls or rock faces using hands, feet and ropes for safety.
Marathons
A marathon is a long race of 42.195 kilometres (26.2 miles).
The Paralympics
The Paralympic Games are for athletes with disabilities and happen after each Olympics.
Boxing
Boxing is a sport where two competitors fight using padded gloves within a set number of rounds.
Judo
Judo is a Japanese martial art focused on throws, holds and grappling.
Karate
Karate is a martial art from Okinawa, Japan, that uses striking with hands and feet.
Fencing
Fencing is a sport using thin swords called foils, epees and sabres.
Golf
Golf is a sport where players hit a small ball into holes using clubs.
Rowing
Rowing is a sport in which athletes use oars to propel a boat through water.
Sailing
Sailing is a sport in which boats are moved by wind pushing on their sails.
Surfing
Surfing is riding waves on a board.
Diving
Diving is a sport in which athletes jump or dive from a platform or springboard and perform twists and somersaults before entering the…
Ice Skating
Ice skating is a sport in which skaters glide across ice and perform jumps, spins and footwork.
Ice Hockey
Ice hockey is played on an ice rink with skates, sticks and a small rubber disc called a puck.
Snowboarding
Snowboarding involves riding down a snowy slope on a single board with both feet attached.
Triathlon
A triathlon is an endurance event made up of swimming, cycling and running, one after another.
Javelin
Javelin is a throwing event in athletics where athletes hurl a long spear as far as possible.
High Jump
High jump is an athletics event where athletes run up to and leap over a bar set at increasing heights.
Long Jump
Long jump is an athletics event where athletes sprint down a runway and leap as far as possible into a sandpit.
Shot Put
Shot put is a throwing event in which athletes push a heavy metal ball, called the shot, from the shoulder.
Discus Throw
Discus throw is an athletics event where athletes spin around in a circle and release a heavy disc to travel as far as possible.
Hurdles
Hurdles is a running race where athletes must leap over a series of barriers placed along the track.
Sprinting
Sprinting is running at full speed over short distances, such as 100 metres.
Weightlifting
Weightlifting is a sport where athletes lift heavy barbells overhead in set movements.
Handball
Handball is a team sport in which players throw a ball into the opponent's goal using their hands.
Netball
Netball is a team sport played mostly by women and girls, in which players pass a ball and try to shoot it into a high net.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a fast team sport played with a stick that has a net at the end.
Kabaddi
Kabaddi is a team contact sport from South Asia in which a raider tries to tag opponents and return to their side while holding their…
Sumo Wrestling
Sumo is a traditional Japanese sport in which two wrestlers try to push or throw each other out of a circular ring.
Orienteering
Orienteering is a navigation sport in which competitors use a map and compass to find checkpoints in the countryside.
Parkour
Parkour is a discipline in which people move quickly through an environment by running, jumping and climbing over obstacles.
Kayaking
Kayaking is paddling a small, narrow boat called a kayak using a double-bladed paddle.
Dodgeball
Dodgeball is a team game where players try to throw balls at opponents to eliminate them, while dodging the balls thrown at them.
Rounders
Rounders is a bat-and-ball game played in teams.
Sprint Starts
A good sprint start uses a low crouch, strong arm drive and quick steps out of the blocks.
Water Polo
Water polo is a team sport played in a swimming pool.
Relay Races
A relay race is a team race where each runner carries a baton to the next runner.
Pole Vault
Pole vault is an athletics event where athletes use a flexible pole to launch themselves over a high bar.
Speed Skating
Speed skating is a winter sport where skaters race around an oval track on ice.
Tug of War
Tug of war is a game where two teams pull on opposite ends of a rope.
Hopscotch
Hopscotch is a playground game where players hop through a grid of squares drawn on the ground.
Ultimate Frisbee
Ultimate is a team sport played with a flying disc.
Bowling
Bowling is a game where players roll a heavy ball down a lane to knock down pins.
Snooker
Snooker is played on a large table using a cue and 22 balls.
Trampolining
Trampolining involves bouncing on a tight, springy mat to perform jumps and flips.
Rope Skipping
Rope skipping is a fun way to build fitness, balance and coordination.
Croquet
Croquet is a lawn game where players use mallets to hit balls through a series of hoops.
Canoeing
Canoeing is a water sport in which people paddle a small open boat.
Ice Dancing
Ice dancing is a figure skating event where pairs or groups skate to music.
Water Skiing
Water skiing involves being pulled across water on skis by a boat.
Racewalking
Racewalking is an athletics event in which competitors walk very fast while keeping one foot on the ground at all times.
Cross-Country Running
Cross-country running takes place on natural ground such as grass, mud and woodland trails.
Bobsleigh
Bobsleigh is a winter sport in which teams race down an icy track in a sled-like vehicle.
Curling
Curling is a winter sport played on ice where players slide heavy stones towards a target.
Dragon Boat Racing
Dragon boat racing is a team sport in which paddlers race long, decorated boats.
Synchronised Swimming
Synchronised swimming combines swimming, dance and gymnastics in the water.
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics uses hoops, ribbons, balls, clubs and ropes in routines set to music.
Wheelchair Basketball
Wheelchair basketball is played using the same rules as basketball, but players move using wheelchairs.
Goalball
Goalball is a team sport for players who are blind or have low vision.
Sitting Volleyball
Sitting volleyball is played with the same net and rules as volleyball, but players sit on the floor with their hips touching it.
Boccia
Boccia is a precision sport similar to bowls.
Para Swimming
Para swimming is a version of swimming for athletes with a range of physical disabilities.
Blind Football
Blind football is played with a ball that makes sound.
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art known for fast kicks and punches.
Wrestling
Wrestling is a sport in which two competitors try to pin each other or score points by taking the opponent down.
Biathlon
Biathlon combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.
BMX Racing
BMX racing is a fast bicycle sport where riders race around a dirt track with jumps and bends.
Hurling
Hurling is a fast team sport from Ireland that is played with a stick called a hurley and a small ball called a sliotar.
Padel
Padel is a racket sport played in pairs on a small enclosed court with walls.
Dance Sport
Dance sport is a competitive sport in which pairs perform ballroom or Latin dances.
Boules
Boules is a French ball game where players throw heavy metal balls as close as possible to a small target ball called the cochonnet.
Skeleton Sled
Skeleton is a winter sport in which athletes ride a small sled head-first down an icy track.
Sand Volleyball
Sand volleyball is played on a sandy court with teams of two.
Kendo
Kendo is a Japanese martial art that uses bamboo swords called shinai.
Canoe Slalom
Canoe slalom is a race in which paddlers navigate a fast-flowing river course with gates to pass through.
Squash
Squash is a racket sport played indoors in a four-walled court.
Pickleball
Pickleball is a paddle sport that mixes elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis.
Korfball
Korfball is a team sport played in mixed teams of men and women.
Bowls
Bowls is a game in which players roll heavy balls, called woods, along a grass green to get close to a small target ball called the jack.
Speedway
Speedway is a motorcycle racing sport in which riders race around an oval dirt track.
Hammer Throw
Hammer throw is an athletics event in which athletes spin with a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and then release it.
Motocross
Motocross is a motorcycle racing sport held on rough, hilly tracks with jumps and bumps.
Trail Running
Trail running is running on natural paths through forests, hills and mountains.
Scuba Diving
Scuba diving lets people explore underwater using a tank of air and special equipment.
Snorkelling
Snorkelling involves swimming on the surface of the water while looking down through a mask and breathing through a tube.
Paddleboarding
Paddleboarding involves standing on a board and moving across water using a long paddle.
Kayak Racing
Kayak racing is a water sport in which athletes paddle sleek, narrow boats over set distances.
Wheelchair Racing
Wheelchair racing is an athletics event in which athletes race in specially designed racing chairs.
Para Athletics
Para athletics is a version of athletics for athletes with a range of disabilities.
Ice Sledge Hockey
Ice sledge hockey is a version of ice hockey for players with physical disabilities.
Underwater Hockey
Underwater hockey is a team sport played in a swimming pool on the bottom.
Frequently asked questions about Sports and Games
What is the best sport for children to start with?
The best sport is one a child enjoys. Swimming, football, athletics and gymnastics are popular starting points because they build general skills.
Why is sportsmanship important?
It teaches fairness, respect and resilience. Winning and losing graciously helps players enjoy sport for life.
How much exercise do children need for sport?
Most children should be active for at least 60 minutes a day, and sport is a fun way to reach that target.