Sociology of Sport Practice Exam 2026 – Complete Prep Resource

Sports are typically defined by physical exertion and athletic performance carried out within formal rules and organized structures. The author emphasizes that the bodily, kinetic dimension is what distinguishes sport from other competitive activities. Baseball, football, and polo all involve substantial physical effort, skilled movement, and competition at formal, regulated levels, which fits this definition of sport. Chess, in contrast, centers on strategy and mental skill rather than sustained physical activity. While it is highly competitive and well organized, it does not involve the level of physical performance the author uses to define sport, so it’s treated as a game or mind sport rather than a sport. That’s why chess is identified as not a sport.