The sports glossary

A serve that the receiver fails to touch, winning the point outright for the server.

Activation refers to warm-up exercises that switch on and prime specific muscles so they contribute properly during the main session.

A rule that lets play continue after a foul when stopping would benefit the offending team, rather than immediately awarding a free kick.

A decision to let play continue after a foul because stopping it would benefit the team that committed the offence.

Relating to energy production that uses oxygen, powering sustained, lower-intensity activity over minutes to hours.

A tie decided by the combined score of two matches, one played at each team's ground.

The combined total of scores across two or more matches used to decide a multi-leg tie.

The ability to rapidly change the body's speed or direction in response to a stimulus, combining quickness with in-the-moment decision-making.

In golf, a score of three strokes under par on a single hole.

An athlete or competition category defined by taking part without payment, as distinct from professional sport.

Relating to energy production without oxygen, powering short, high-intensity efforts lasting from a few seconds up to about two minutes.

A request to a match official to make or reconsider a ruling, most formally in cricket where fielders must appeal before a batter can be given out.

A synthetic playing surface of manufactured grass-like fibres, used as an all-weather alternative to natural grass for football, hockey and other field sports.

A supporting match official who patrols a line or touchline to judge offside, out-of-play, and other calls, advising the main referee.

A basketball violation for illegally returning the ball to the backcourt after it has crossed into the frontcourt.

A stroke played with the back of the hand facing the direction of the shot, on the opposite side to the racquet arm.

A backhand hit with a high-to-low, open-faced swing that imparts backspin, making the ball stay low after bouncing.

Backward rotation on a ball that makes it float, stay low, and check or stop on the bounce.

The ability to control the body's position by keeping its centre of gravity over the base of support, whether still or moving.

The internal air pressure of an inflatable or pressurised ball, which governs how firm it feels and how high it bounces.

Base training is an early-season phase of mostly easy, high-volume aerobic work that builds the endurance foundation for harder training later.

The line marking the back boundary of a court, running parallel to the net or end wall.

An implement used to strike the ball, from the willow blade of cricket to the rounded baseball bat and, in British usage, the table-tennis paddle.

A wearable identifier in sport, most often a runner's numbered race bib, a coloured training bib, or a leader's bib in skiing.

An acrobatic strike in which a player kicks the ball backward over their own head while airborne with both feet off the ground.

The scientific study of the mechanical principles, such as forces, motion and structure, that govern how living bodies move.

In golf, completing a hole in one stroke fewer than its par.

In golf, completing a hole in one stroke more than its par.

Sport-specific footwear whose meaning ranges from a studded football boot to a rigid ski boot that clips into a binding.

The tree-shaped chart that maps who plays whom in a knockout tournament and how winners advance to the final.

In tennis and similar sports, a point on which the receiver can win a game the opponent is serving.

A situation where an attacker gets clear of the defenders and races toward the goal with few or no opponents in the way.

The race decisions cyclists make when a rider or small group tries to escape and stay ahead of the main pack.

A sand-filled hollow on a golf course that acts as a hazard.

A free pass to the next round when a competitor has no opponent, or in cricket a run scored without the bat touching the ball.

The rhythm of a repeated cyclic action, most often the number of steps per minute in running or pedal revolutions per minute in cycling.

A short verbal message between players during play, such as calling for the ball or warning a teammate.

The player appointed to lead a team during play, representing it to officials and often shaping tactics and morale.

Cardio is exercise that raises your heart rate and breathing to work the heart and lungs.

A ball-handling violation in which a player illegally scoops, holds, or supports the ball instead of cleanly striking or bouncing it.

A formal warning issued by an official for misconduct, shown in football by a yellow card, that is recorded against the offending player.

The single point at which the body's mass is balanced in all directions, and around which it tends to rotate and balance.

A score of 100 — of runs by a cricket batter, or of points in a single snooker visit.

A chalk talk is a classroom-style session where a coach explains tactics, plays, or concepts using a board or diagram.

A pre-planned manoeuvre in which an athlete redirects their line of travel, decelerating and then re-accelerating along a new path.

A short, lofted, gently struck shot that lifts the ball up and over a shorter distance rather than driving it hard.

The system of grouping para athletes so that those with a similar degree of activity limitation compete together.

A slow tennis court surface of crushed brick, stone or shale that produces a high, slower bounce and lets players slide into their shots.

A match in which a team or goalkeeper prevents the opposition from scoring at all.

Cleats are sports shoes fitted with studs or blades on the sole to grip grass and soft ground, and can also mean the studs themselves.

The shafted golf implement, with a grip and a head, used to strike the ball; made in categories such as woods, irons, wedges and the putter.

A pre-match procedure in which a coin is tossed, or a racket spun, to decide a choice such as which side starts, serves, or picks ends.

A points-scoring attempt taken after a try or touchdown, with the exact form depending on the sport.

A cool-down is a period of light activity done after exercise to gradually bring the body back towards rest.

The ability to combine movements of different body parts smoothly and accurately to produce an intended action.

The ability of the trunk muscles to control the position and movement of the torso, providing a stable base for the limbs.

A football (soccer) restart taken from the corner arc after the defending team last touched the ball over its own goal line.

A quick attacking move made immediately after winning the ball back, aiming to catch the opposition out of position.

A flat, precisely marked playing area, usually rectangular and often hard-surfaced, used for net and hoop sports such as tennis, basketball and volleyball.

Crampons are metal spiked frames strapped to boots to provide grip on ice and hard, compacted snow.

Cross-training means practising a different sport or type of exercise to support your main activity.

A dribbling move in which a ball-handler quickly switches the ball from one hand to the other to change direction and beat a defender.

A cue is a short, focused instruction a coach gives to direct an athlete's attention and shape a movement or decision.

A structured review after a match or session in which players and staff discuss what happened and what to improve.

The controlled reduction of the body's speed, absorbing momentum in order to stop, slow, or prepare to change direction.

In cricket, a technology-based system that lets players challenge on-field umpire decisions using replays, ball-tracking, and edge detection.

A player whose main role is to stop the opposition from creating chances and scoring.

A rules infringement in which a team or player unfairly slows down or delays the resumption of play.

A deload is a planned period of reduced training load used to shed fatigue and consolidate fitness before pushing on again.

In tennis, the score when both players reach 40, from which one must win two points in a row to take the game.

A defensive move in volleyball to keep the ball in play after a hard-driven attack such as a spike.

Openly disputing or protesting an official's decision by word or action, which is itself a punishable offence in many sports.

A tier or grouping of teams within a larger league structure, whose exact sense depends on the sporting culture.

DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) is the muscle soreness that appears a day or two after unfamiliar or intense exercise.

A basketball violation for dribbling with both hands at once, or resuming a dribble after having stopped.

A knockout format in which a competitor is only out of the tournament after losing twice.

The loss of a point in tennis when the server misses with both service attempts.

Riding, running or swimming closely behind another competitor to sit in their slipstream and save energy.

Moving the ball along under control using repeated touches, by bouncing it in basketball or with the feet in football.

A drill is a structured, repeatable practice activity designed to develop a specific skill, movement, or tactical pattern.

A neutral restart in football (soccer) used after the referee stops play for a reason not covered by another restart.

A drop set extends a set past initial fatigue by immediately reducing the weight and continuing to repetitions.

A softly played shot designed to land just over the net, forcing the opponent to rush forward.

A volley played softly with a relaxed grip so the ball drops just over the net with little forward pace.

The sheltered bench area beside the field where a team's substitutes, coaches and staff sit during a match.

In golf, completing a hole in two strokes fewer than its par.

An infringement in which a player enters a restricted area or crosses a required line before play is legally allowed to begin.

The scoring area at each end of the field beyond the goal line.

A paddling technique for righting a capsized kayak or canoe while remaining seated in it, using a coordinated hip and paddle motion.

The capacity to develop force very rapidly from a standing or low-velocity start, producing an immediate burst of movement.

Additional playing periods used in knockout matches to decide a winner when the scores are level at the end of normal time.

The closely mown strip of a golf hole between the teeing area and the green.

An infringement in racing when a competitor begins to move before the official starting signal.

An attacking play in basketball where a team pushes the ball up the court quickly to score before the defence is set.

A breach of the rules; in racket and net sports specifically, an illegal or failed service.

Feedback is the information an athlete receives about a performance, used to guide learning and improvement.

The officially bounded area within which a sport's action is legally contested, as distinct from surrounding run-off, benches and spectator zones.

A player's initial contact with a received ball, and the skill of using that contact to control and position it for the next action.

A scheduled match between two teams, or the arrangement of such a match within a season's programme.

A quick, wristy strike that whips the ball with sudden acceleration, with distinct forms in field hockey, table tennis and football.

The continuation of a striking, throwing, or kicking motion after contact, which shapes power, accuracy, and spin.

The coordinated foot movements and patterns that position the body correctly to execute a skill under time pressure.

A stroke played with the palm of the hand moving in the direction of the shot, on the racquet-arm side of the body.

A volley struck on the forehand (dominant-hand) side before the ball bounces, usually played near the net.

The loss of a contest awarded against a side that breaks rules, withdraws, or cannot field a valid team.

An action that breaks the rules of play and for which the offending player or team is penalised.

An unopposed shot at the basket awarded after certain fouls, taken from the free-throw line.

The striking technique used to shoot or deliver a dead ball awarded as a free kick, controlling curve, dip, and pace.

A match played outside any official competition, arranged for practice, fitness or exhibition rather than points or trophies.

The end of the regulation playing period of a match, signalled by the official, after which the result stands unless further play is required.

The strategic control of a match's pace, risk and situation to protect an advantage or influence the result.

A point that, if won by the leading side, wins the current game.

A tactic of immediately pressing to win the ball back in the seconds right after losing possession, when opponents are least organised.

A gi is the traditional two-piece uniform, worn with a belt, used in several grappling and striking martial arts.

A two-player move where a player passes to a teammate and immediately runs into space to receive an instant return pass.

A hand covering worn for protection, grip or catching, taking very different forms across boxing, goalkeeping, baseball, cricket and cycling.

A football (soccer) restart taken from the goal area after the attacking team last touched the ball over the goal line.

The defensive player whose main job is to guard the goal and stop the ball from crossing the goal line.

A natural turf playing surface of living, mown grass grown on soil, used for tennis, football, cricket and other field sports.

The foundational, community level of a sport where most people first take part, typically local, youth and recreational play.

The way a player holds a racket, club, bat, or ball, which governs the angle of the hitting surface and the shots available.

Wrapping applied to a handle for traction and sweat absorption; in skateboarding, the abrasive sheet bonded to the top of the deck.

A small tube-shaped insert set into the holes of a racket frame that the strings pass through, protecting them from the frame's edges.

The length of time a foot stays in contact with the ground during each step of running or sprinting.

An opening tournament phase in which entrants are split into groups that play a mini round-robin to decide who advances.

A sighted athlete who runs alongside a visually impaired runner to help them race safely and on course.

The interval that separates the two halves of a match, giving teams a break before they change ends and resume play.

A U-shaped ramp with curved walls used for riding back and forth and performing tricks.

A strike made immediately after the ball bounces, contacting it just as it rises off the ground.

A gesture used to communicate silently — by officials to indicate decisions, and by coaches or players to relay instructions or plans.

The coordinated control of hand movement guided by visual information, used to track and act on a moving object.

In football (soccer), the offence of a player illegally handling the ball with the hand or arm.

A numerical allowance that adjusts scores or conditions so players of differing ability can compete fairly.

A rigid tennis or racket-sport surface of acrylic-coated concrete or asphalt that gives a medium-fast, true and consistent bounce.

When a single player achieves a scoring feat, most often three goals, in one match.

Playing the ball with the head in football, to shoot, pass or clear it.

Protective headgear with a hard shell and energy-absorbing liner, worn to reduce the force of impacts to the head.

A defensive setup where the back line of defenders holds a position far up the field to compress the space available to the opposition.

A foul in which a player illegally uses the hands or arms to restrain or impede an opponent's movement.

A format in which teams meet both at one side's venue and the other's, sharing the advantage of playing at home.

A label for several curving actions across sports — a bent-arm punch in boxing, a strongly curving ball in golf or bowling, and a cross-batted pull in cricket.

An approach to sport designed so that disabled and non-disabled people can take part together or side by side.

Additional playing time added at the end of a period in football (soccer) to compensate for stoppages during normal time.

Interval training alternates short bursts of harder effort with periods of easier recovery.

A category of golf club with a thin, angled metal head, numbered by loft and used mainly for controlled approach shots.

A basketball tactic that clears space for one attacker to take on a single defender one-on-one.

A quick, straight punch thrown with the lead hand, used to score, keep distance and set up bigger shots.

The shirt or top worn by a player, typically in team colours with a number, and in cycling a marker of race leadership.

A basketball shot released at or near the peak of a vertical jump to raise the release above defenders.

A method of starting or restarting play with a kick from a designated spot, used across several football codes.

The concept that the body's segments act as a linked chain, transferring force from one joint to the next during movement.

The set of clothing and equipment a player or team wears and uses; in football it is the shirt, shorts and socks of the strip.

In boxing and combat sports, when a fighter is put to the canvas or otherwise ruled down and the referee administers a count.

In combat sports, ending a bout by a strike that leaves the opponent unable to continue.

The lactate threshold is the exercise intensity at which blood lactate starts to rise sharply because the body can no longer clear it as fast as it is produced.

One of the parallel marked corridors that divides a track, pool or bowling alley so competitors race or play within an assigned strip.

A close-range basketball shot taken while moving toward the basket, usually banked softly off the backboard.

A competition in which a fixed set of teams plays over a season, with standings decided by accumulated results.

A serve or rally that is replayed without penalty, often because a serve clips the net or a player is obstructed.

In volleyball, a back-row defensive specialist who focuses on receiving and digging rather than attacking.

A shot hit high over an opponent, sending the ball or shuttlecock deep toward the back of the court.

The term used in tennis for a score of zero.

A defensive approach where a team sits deep near its own goal in a compact shape, conceding space further up the field.

A defensive approach where each defender is assigned to guard one specific opponent throughout play.

A point which, if won by the leading player or side, wins the entire match.

A player who operates in the central area of the pitch, linking the defence and the attack.

A mobility drill is a controlled exercise that moves a joint actively through its range to prepare it for training or improve movement quality.

A basketball system built on continuous player movement, passing and screening rather than fixed, pre-set plays.

The process by which practice and experience produce relatively permanent improvements in the ability to perform a movement skill.

A mouthguard is a soft protective insert worn over the teeth in contact sports to help cushion impacts to the mouth.

The classification of skeletal muscle fibres into slow-twitch (Type I) and fast-twitch (Type II), which contract at different speeds and suit different demands.

A pass delivered while the passer looks in another direction to deceive defenders about its destination.

Information passed between teammates or from a coach without words — through body language, positioning, eye contact or gestures.

A shafted lever with a blade at one end used to propel a rowing boat, pivoting against the boat at a rowlock rather than being held free like a paddle.

Illegally impeding an opponent's movement or progress, typically by getting in the way rather than fairly playing the ball.

A rule that penalises an attacking player for being in an illegal forward position when the ball is played to them.

A defensive tactic in which defenders step forward together to leave an attacker offside just before the ball is played.

A one-rep max is the heaviest weight a person can lift for a single, full repetition of an exercise with proper form.

An attacking racket stroke played by swinging above head height to strike a descending ball steeply downward into the opponent's court.

An attacking run where a player sprints outside and beyond a teammate on the ball to offer a passing option down the flank.

Creating a numerical advantage in one area of the field or court so that attackers outnumber defenders there.

A goal accidentally scored by a player against their own team, counted for the opposition.

Padded protective equipment worn on the body or limbs, whose form varies widely from cricket leg guards to ice-hockey goaltender pads.

The standard number of strokes a skilled golfer is expected to need to complete a hole or course.

Competitive sport organised for athletes with a physical, visual, or intellectual impairment.

An informal term for a highly defensive approach where a team commits nearly all its players to protecting its own goal.

A hardwood basketball and indoor-sports floor laid in a geometric pattern of interlocking wooden blocks, prized for its spring and consistent bounce.

The large marked box in front of each goal in football where the goalkeeper may handle the ball.

In ice hockey, the enclosed bench where a penalised player must sit and serve their penalty time, leaving their team short-handed.

A direct shot at goal from a marked spot, awarded for a serious foul committed inside the defending team’s penalty area.

Periodisation is the planned division of training into phases so that workload and focus are varied to peak performance at the right time.

A personal best (PB) is the best result an individual has ever recorded in a given event or exercise.

A two-player basketball move where one player sets a screen for a teammate with the ball, then cuts toward the basket.

Holding an opponent's shoulders or back down against the mat; in wrestling it wins the bout instantly, while in judo a timed hold-down scores.

The narrow strip a fencing bout takes place on; also a marked, prepared ski run.

The bounded outdoor playing area used for field sports such as football, rugby and hockey, including its markings and goals.

The player who throws the ball toward the batter to begin each play in baseball and softball.

Rotating the body around one stationary foot to change facing or protect the ball without travelling.

A strategy of consistently choosing the option most likely to succeed rather than a lower-probability, higher-reward play.

A knockout or mini-series stage after the regular season that decides the champion or promotion.

Plyometrics are explosive jumping, bounding, and throwing exercises that use a rapid stretch-then-shorten muscle action to develop power.

A basketball position that acts as the team's main ball-handler and organiser of the attack.

The rate at which the body produces mechanical work, defined as the product of force and the speed at which that force is applied.

A tactic where players actively chase and close down opponents to win the ball back rather than dropping off and waiting for it.

Progressive overload is the principle of gradually increasing training demand over time so the body keeps adapting and improving.

Moving up from a lower division to a higher one, usually earned by finishing near the top of the table or winning a play-off.

A league system in which teams move up or down between divisions based on where they finish.

The body's internal sense of the position, movement and effort of its joints and limbs without relying on sight.

The hard vulcanised rubber disc used in place of a ball in ice hockey.

The area of very short, smooth grass surrounding the hole on a golf hole.

The process of earning a place in a main event, or in motorsport the timed session that sets the starting grid.

The player who leads the offence in American football, receiving the snap and starting most attacking plays.

The tightness at which a racket's strings are strung, usually measured in pounds or kilograms, which shapes the balance between power and control.

The extent, usually measured in degrees, through which a joint can move between its fully flexed and fully extended positions.

RPE is a subjective scale on which athletes rate how hard an effort feels, used to gauge and prescribe training intensity.

The interval between the appearance of a stimulus and the start of a deliberate movement made in response to it.

A card shown by an official to send a player off the field for a serious offence or a second caution.

The principal match official who enforces the laws of a game, controls play, and rules on infringements in sports such as football, rugby, and boxing.

Moving down from a higher division to a lower one, usually as a penalty for finishing near the bottom of the table.

A second-chance round that lets some competitors beaten earlier still qualify for the medal stages.

A repetition, or rep, is a single complete performance of an exercise movement.

The general term for any method by which play is resumed after it has been stopped.

A cricket batting shot in which the batter reverses their hands to sweep the ball to the opposite side from a normal sweep.

An enclosed sheet of ice, or a comparable bounded surface, on which sports such as ice hockey, figure skating and curling are contested.

The trade-off a player or team weighs between the potential gain of an action and the cost if it fails.

Chiefly in North American sport, the official list of players on a team, subject to size limits and active or inactive designations.

A format in which every entrant plays every other entrant, with standings decided by results across all games.

A kick delivered in a circular, sweeping arc that strikes with the shin or the top of the foot.

A term whose meaning differs by sport: a two-point score in gridiron football, and a defensive shot in cue sports.

A move where a player legally positions their body to block or obstruct an opponent, creating space or an advantage for a teammate.

A scrimmage is a practice game played under match-like conditions to rehearse tactics and skills without the stakes of a real fixture.

A rugby position that links the forwards and the backs, feeding the scrum and distributing the ball from the breakdown.

Ranking entrants before a draw so the strongest are kept apart and only meet in later rounds.

The shot that puts the ball or shuttlecock into play and starts a point in net and racquet sports.

A tennis tactic where the server follows their serve to the net, aiming to win the point with a quick volley.

The marked rectangular area a serve must land in for it to be valid.

In training, a set is a group of consecutive repetitions of an exercise performed before resting.

A rehearsed play that a team uses when the game restarts from a fixed, stationary situation such as a free kick or corner.

A point that, if won by the leading side, wins the current set.

A volleyball position that takes the team's second touch to set the ball up for an attacker.

Legally keeping your body between an opponent and the ball to protect possession while it remains within playing distance.

Shin guards are pads worn over the front of the lower leg to help protect the shins from knocks and impacts.

A countdown timer that limits how long a team may hold the ball before attempting a shot.

A shuttlecock is the light, cone-shaped projectile that players hit back and forth in badminton instead of a ball.

A temporary suspension in which a player must leave the field for a set period as a disciplinary sanction, used in rugby, ice hockey, and other sports.

A basketball shot where a player jumps and pushes the ball directly down through the hoop with one or both hands.

A stroke that imparts backspin or sidespin — and, in golf, an unintended shot that curves sharply away from the player.

A powerful overhead shot hit sharply downward into the opponent’s side, usually to end the point.

The deliberate positioning of attackers far enough apart to stretch the defence and open up passing and driving lanes.

A forceful downward attacking hit in volleyball, driving the ball sharply into the opponent’s court.

Spikes are shoes with small sharp points on the sole for extra grip, most associated with track and field athletics.

Rotation deliberately imparted to a ball that alters its flight through the air and its behaviour off the bounce or surface.

A small preparatory hop that lands a player balanced on the balls of both feet just as an opponent strikes, priming an explosive first move.

The full group of players registered and available to a team for a season or competition, from which each match line-up is chosen.

The set position of the feet and body a player adopts before or during a skill, providing balance and readiness to move or strike.

Any interruption to active play, such as for an injury, foul, or the ball leaving the field, that pauses the running of the game.

The distance covered in a single stride, typically measured from one footfall to the next contact of the same foot.

A forward attacking player whose main role is to score goals and lead the team's attack.

The protrusions on the outsole of football and rugby boots that dig into the ground for grip and stability.

The seated area, and the group of named substitutes and staff on it, from which replacements enter the game.

The replacement of one active player with a teammate from the bench during a match, carried out under each sport's specific procedures and limits.

A tie-breaking format in which the next score immediately ends the contest in favour of the side that scores.

A superset pairs two exercises performed back-to-back with little or no rest between them.

The area of a racket, bat or club face that delivers the best combination of power, control and feel with the least vibration on contact.

The water-filled tank in which competitive swimming, diving, water polo and artistic swimming take place, standardised by length and lane count for racing.

A format where entrants play a fixed number of rounds and are paired each round against others on a similar score, without being eliminated.

The all-weather rubberised surface, often called a tartan track, laid on modern athletics running tracks.

A move that brings a standing opponent down to the mat or ground while the attacker gains a controlling position.

A two-seat bicycle ridden by a sighted pilot at the front and a visually impaired stoker behind, used in para-cycling.

Tapering is the practice of reducing training in the period before a big event so you arrive feeling fresh.

The padded matting that covers the competition and training area in many martial arts.

An address to a team, usually by the coach or captain, given before a match or at half-time to instruct and motivate.

In football, the marked zone around the team bench within which a coach may stand and give instructions during a match.

A foul in basketball called for unsporting conduct or a rules breach not involving normal contact for the ball.

The marked starting area of a golf hole where the first shot is played.

A tempo run is a sustained run held at a comfortably hard, controlled pace for a set time or distance.

In cricket, an off-field official who uses television replays and technology to review decisions referred by the on-field umpires or triggered by players.

An attacking pattern where a third player times a run to receive the ball after it is passed between two other teammates.

Threshold training is sustained work at or near the effort where lactate begins to accumulate faster than the body can clear it, done to raise that ceiling.

A restart in which the ball is thrown back into play from the sideline after it has gone out of bounds.

A rule used to separate competitors who finish level, deciding order without an extra match.

A special game used to decide a set in tennis when the score reaches a tie, usually at six games all.

A possession-based football style built on short, quick passing and constant movement to keep and control the ball.

A short, rules-permitted stoppage a team or official can call to pause play for rest, coaching, or tactical reasons.

Forward rotation on a ball that makes it dip in flight and kick forward and up off the bounce.

A prepared oval or closed circuit around which running, cycling and other racing events are contested.

The phase of play when possession changes hands and teams must quickly switch between attacking and defending.

Bringing a moving ball under immediate control by cushioning or pinning it with a body part, most often the foot, thigh, or chest.

A basketball violation for illegally moving the feet while holding the ball without dribbling.

An assessment session in which players are observed and tested so selectors can decide who to offer a place in a squad.

A competitive swimming turn in which the swimmer somersaults forward at the wall to reverse direction without stopping.

A term with distinct meanings in tennis (a between-the-legs shot) and basketball (a player between two positions).

An official who adjudicates play and rules on facts such as dismissals, calls, or the score in sports including cricket, tennis, and baseball.

A team format in which athletes with and without intellectual disabilities play together on the same side.

A punch thrown upward from below along a vertical path, typically aimed at an opponent's chin or body.

The deputy leader who takes on the captain's responsibilities when the captain is absent or unavailable.

An off-field official in football who reviews video replays to help the on-field referee correct clear and obvious errors in key match situations.

VO2 max is the maximum rate at which a person can take in and use oxygen during intense exercise, a key measure of aerobic capacity.

Striking the ball before it bounces, whether with a racquet near the net or by kicking it out of the air in football.

In baseball and softball, the award of first base to a batter who receives four balls, also called a base on balls.

A win awarded to one side because the opponent does not start, withdraws, or is absent.

A warm-up is a period of gentle activity done before exercise to prepare the body for harder effort.

The shift of body weight through the base during a strike, throw, or kick to add power and control.

A wetsuit is a close-fitting neoprene suit worn in water sports to help keep the wearer warm in cold water.

Any sport played from a sports wheelchair, such as wheelchair basketball, rugby, or tennis.

A place in an event given at the organiser's discretion, or a playoff berth for a strong team that did not win its group.

A caution shown by an official to formally warn a player for misconduct or a serious foul.

A defending method, used mainly at set pieces, where defenders guard designated areas rather than tracking individual opponents.

A defensive system in which each player guards a specific area of the court or field rather than a specific opponent.