Range Layout of Archery

* The targets shall be set up at one end of the ground. They shall be inclined at an angle of about 15 degrees, with the pinholes 130cm(4ft.3in )+ 5cm above the ground. The height of the pinhole on a line of faces shall at all times look straight.
* Minimum spacing of target centers shall be:
Archers shooting singly or in pairs 2.5m (8ft.2in)
Archers shooting in threes 3.66m (12ft)
* Each target boss shall be securely anchored so that it cannot blow of its stand. Likewise stands shall be anchored to prevent them from blowing over.
* All targets shall be clearly numbered.
* The shooting line (over which the archers shall take up their shooting positions) shall be measured from points as follows:
Metric - Up to and including 50m- + 15cm
- above 50m - +30cm
Imperial - Up to and including 50yd - +6in
- above 50yd - +12in
* Shooting marks, consisting of discs or other flat markers, shall be positioned opposite the targets at the appropriate distances. The shooting marks are to bear the number of the target opposite which they are placed.
* Lines at right angles to the shooting line and extending from the shooting line to the target line making lanes containing one, or three bosses may be laid down.
* A waiting line shall be placed at least five yards behind the shooting line.
* On grounds where the public have right of access on area shall be roped off to indicate that no one can pass behind the target within 50 yards of them.

Badminton

Badminton is an indoor game in which the contestants bat a shuttlecock back and forth across a net without permitting the shuttlecock to touch the ground. The object of the game is to hit the shuttlecock to the floor on the opposite side of the net, so that the shot cannot be returned. Only the serving player can score a point. from a rally. Badminton singles is played by two opponents and doubles by teams of two people.

The game of badminton owes its origin and development in India, to the English army officers. The sport assumed wide popularity in India. Its first rules were printed in Karachi, which was then a part of India, in 1877. Indian badminton developed, with the first major game in Britain, where the first major international badminton meet began in 1899 under the name now popular as the All England Championships. The game of badminton was put on organisational basis in India, in the 1920's. All India Tournaments began to be organised in the middle of the thirties.

The Badminton Association of England was formed in 1893 with rules based on those drawn up at Karachi. From England it spread to Denmark and U.S.A. The International Badminton Federation was formed in 1934. The two famous matches of badminton are the Thomas Cup for men and the Uber Cup for women.

Davinder Mohan, Amrit Dewan, Nandu Natekar, Prakash Nath etc. were some of the famous Indian badminton players. Nandu Natekar was the first Indian to win a title abroad - the Men's singles in the Selangor International Tournament in Kuala Lumpur in 1956. Prakash Padukone was among the world's best badminton players.

Football Game

Football is a team sport in which players attempt to score goals by passing and dribbling the ball down the field past opposing defenders and kicking or heading the ball into the goal net, outwitting the defending goalkeepers.

At the beginning of the game, choice of ends and the kick off is decided by the toss of a coin. The team winning the toss will have the option of choice of ends or the kick off. The referee having given a signal the game is started by a player taking a place-kick (i.e. a kick at the ball while it is stationary on the ground in the centre of the field of play) into his opponents half of the field of play. Every player is in his own half of the field and every player of the opposing team of the kicker remains not less than 10 yards from the ball until it is kicked off. The kicker will not play the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by another player.

After a goal is scored, the game is restarted in like manner by a player of the team losing the goal.

After half-time, when restarting, ends is changed and the kick off is taken by a player of the opposite team to that of the player who started the game.Football Game

Fouls and Misconducts in football

(a) When a player of the defending side intentionally commit one of the offences below, within the penalty area he is penalized by a penalty kick.

1. Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent
2. Tripping an opponents, i.e. throwing or attempting to throw him by using legs or by stopping in front or behind him
3. Jumping at an opponent
4. Charging an opponent in a violent or dangerous manner
5. Charging an opponent from behind unless the latter obstructing him
6. Striking or attempting to strike an opponent
7. Holding an opponent
8. Pushing an opponent
9. Handling the ball, i.e. carrying, striking or propelling the ball with his hand or arm; are penalized by the award of an indirect free kick. It is to be taken by the opposing side from the place where the offence is committed.

(b) A player committing any of the five following offences are penalized by the award of an indirect free kick to be given by the opposite side from the place where the infringement occurred. The offences are

1. Playing in a manner considered by the referee to be dangerous. i.e. attempting to kick the ball while held by the goal keeper.
2. Charging fairly i.e. with the shoulder, when the ball is not within playing distance of the players concerned and they are definitely not trying to play it.
3. When not playing the ball, intentionally obstructing an opponent. i.e. running between the opponent and the ball or interposing the body so as to form an obstacle to an opponent.
4. Charging the goal keeper except when he
(a) is holding the ball
(b) is obstructing an opponent
(c) has passed outside his goal area
5. When playing as goal keeper and within his own penalty area.

From the moment he takes control of the ball with his hands, he takes more than four steps in any direction whilst holding, bouncing or throwing the ball in the air and catch it again, without releasing it into play or having released the ball into play before, during or after the four steps, he touches it, again with his hands, before it has been touched or played by another player of the same team outside the penalty area, or by a player of the opposing team either inside or outside the penalty area or indulges in tactics which in the opinion of the referee, are designed merely to hold up the game and thus waste time and so give an unfair advantage of his own team.

Rules of the Football

Free Kick

Free-kicks shall be classified under two headings. Direct (from which a goal can be scored direct against the offending side) and Indirect (from which a goal cannot be scored unless the ball has been played or touched by a player other than the kicker before passing through the goal).

When a player is taking a direct or an indirect free kick inside his own penalty area, all the opposing players are at least 10 yards from the ball and remain outside the penalty area until the ball has been kicked out of the area. The ball will be in play immediately it has traveled the distance of its own circumference and is beyond the penalty area. The goal keeper will not receive the ball into his hands, in order that he may thereafter kick it into play. If the ball is not kicked direct into play, beyond the penalty area, the kick is retaken.

When a player is taking a direct or an indirect free kick outside his own penalty area, all of the opposing players are at least 10 yards from the ball, until it is in play, unless they are standing on their own goal line between the goal post. The ball will be in play when it has traveled the distance of its own circumference.

If a player of the opposing side encroaches into the penalty area or within 10 yards of the ball before a free kick is taken, the referee may delay the taking of the kick, until the law is complied with.

The ball must be stationary when a free kick is taken and the kicker will not play the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by another player.

Notwithstanding any other reference in these laws to the point from which a free kick is to be taken.

Any free kick awarded to the defending team, within its own goal area may be taken from any point within that half of the goal area in which the free kick has been awarded.

Any indirect free kick awarded to the attacking team within its opponents goal area was taken from that part of the goal area line which runs parallel to the goal line, at the point nearest to where the offence was committed.

Penalty Kick

A penalty kick is taken from the penalty mark and when it is being taken, all players with the exception of the player taking the kick, properly identified, and the opposing goal keeper, is within the field of play but outside the penalty area, and at least 10 yards from the penalty mark. The opposing goal keeper must stand (without moving his feet) on his own goal line, between the goal posts, until the ball is kicked. The player taking the kick must kick the ball forward. He will not play the ball a second time until it has been toughed or played by another player. A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick. When a penalty kick is being taken during the normal course of play or when time has been extended to half time or full time to allow a penalty kick to be taken or retaken, a goal will not be nullifies if, before passing between the posts and under the cross bar, the ball touches either or both of the goal posts or the cross bar or the goal keeper or any combinations of these agencies, providing that no other infringement has occurred.

Throw in

When the whole of the ball passes over a touch line, either on the ground or in the air, it is thrown in from the point where it crossed the line, in any direction, by a player of the team opposite to that of the player who last touched it. The thrower at the moment of delivering the ball must face the field of play and part of each foot shall be either on the touchline or on the ground outside the touch line. The thrower uses both hands and deliver the ball from behind and over his head. The ball is in play immediately, it enters the field of play, but the thrower will not play the ball again until it has been touched or played by another player. A goal will not be scored direct from a throw in.

Goal Kick

When the ball passes over the goal line, excluding that portion between the goal posts, either in the air or on the ground, having last been played by one of the attacking team, it is kicked direct into play beyond the penalty area from a point within that half of the goal area nearest to where it crossed the line, by a player of the defending team. A goal keeper will not receive the ball into his hands from a goal kick in order that he may thereafter kick it into play. If the ball is not kicked beyond the penalty area i.e. direct into play, the kick is retaken. The kicker will not play the ball a second time until it has touched or been played by another player. A goal is not scored direct from such a kick. Players of the team opposing that of the player taking the goal kick remains outside the penalty area until the ball has been kicked out of the penalty area.

Corner Kick

When the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, excluding that portion between the goal posts, either in the air or on the ground, having last been played by one of the defending team, a member of the attacking team shall take a corner kick, i.e. the ball is placed within the quarter circle at the nearest corner flag post, which must not be moved and it must be kicked from that position. A goal may be scored direct from such a kick. Players of the team opposing that of the player taking the corner kick will not approach within 10 yards of the ball until it is in play nor the kicker play the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by another player.

Off Side

A player is in an off side position if he is nearer to his opponents goal line than the ball, unless there are at least two of his opponents nearer their own goal line than he is. A player is only declared off side and penalized for being in an off side position.

If a player is declared off side, the referee awards an indirect free kick, which is taken by a player of the opposing team from the place where the infringement occurred.

The undisputed 'King of Clay'

Rafael Nadal defeated Roger Federer in the French Open final for the third year running on Sunday and joined Swedish legend Bjorn Borg as the only man to win four straight titles at Roland Garros.

The Spaniard scored a stunning 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 triumph over the world No.1, taking the last nine games of the match, in stark contrast to the two four-set battles he edged to see off Federer in the two previous finals.

Federer was powerless to stop the barrage of heavy top spin fired at him as he slumped to a demoralising hiding. If he was a rapier, Nadal was a sledgehammer and in that matchup there was only ever going to be one winner.

Nadal has now won all 28 matches he has played at Roland Garros and having just turned 22, he is well on his way to replacing Borg as the greatest claycourt player of all time. (AFP Photo)

Sport is an activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. Sports commonly refer to activities where the physical capabilities of the competitor are the sole or primary determiner of the outcome (winning or losing), but the term is also used to include activities such as mind sports (a common name for some card games and board games with little to no element of chance) and motor sports where mental acuity or equipment quality are major factors. Some of the physical sports include association football, basketball, water polo, and baseball.

Sportsmanship is an attitude that strives for fair play, courtesy toward team mates and opponents, ethical behaviour and integrity, and grace in losing.

Sportsmanship expresses an aspiration or ethos that the activity will be enjoyed for its own sake. The well-known sentiment by sports journalist Grantland Rice, that it's “not that you won or lost but how you played the game," and the Modern Olympic creed expressed by its founder Pierre de Coubertin: "The most important thing . . . is not winning but taking part" are typical expressions of this sentiment.

But often the pressures of competition or an obsession with individual achievement—as well as the intrusion of technology—can all work against enjoyment and fair play by participants.

People responsible for leisure activities often seek recognition and respectability as sports by joining sports federations such as 5 International Olympic Committee, or by forming their own regulatory body. In this way sports evolve from leisure activity to more formal sports: relatively recent newcomers are BMX cycling, snowboarding, and wrestling. Some of these activities have been popular but uncodified pursuits in various forms for different lengths of time. Indeed, the formal regulation of sport is a relatively modern and increasing development.

Sportsmanship, within any given game, is how each competitor acts before, during, and after the competition. Not only is it important to have good sportsmanship if one wins, but also if one loses. For example, in football it is considered sportsmanlike to kick the ball out of play to allow treatment for an injured player on the other side. Reciprocally, the other team is expected to return the ball from the throw-in.

Violence in sports involves crossing the line between fair competition and intentional aggressive violence. Athletes, coaches, fans, and parents sometimes unleash violent behaviour on people or property, in misguided shows of loyalty, dominance, anger, or celebration. Rioting or hooliganism are common and ongoing problems at national and international sporting contests, particularly football matches.
Proffessionalism, the entertainment aspect of sports, together with the spread of mass media and increased leisure time, has led to professionalism in sports. This has resulted in some conflict, where the paycheck can be seen as more important than recreational aspects, or where the sports are changed simply to make them more profitable and popular, thereby losing certain valued traditions.

The entertainment aspect also means that sportsmen and women are often elevated to celebrity status.

Cricket

The game cricket seems to have found a new saviour in the form of the IPL. Or the 20-20 at least. Cricket was a sport played mostly by the commonwealth nations and had very little liking outside the British-ruled countries.

Attempts made by the ICC to popularise the sport in the Americas were all but in vain. The sub-continent is where the sport will always thrive. And so, the BCCI seems to have found the answer. The club version of the 'gentleman's game' has been embraced by one and all.

Cricket was always considered a boring and complicated sport having very little appeal with the masses. All of that changed in the late 1970s, when Kerry Packer introduced the 50-50 version now known as the ODI. And now, the T20 format seems to have become the newest craze.

In the late '90s and early 2000s, The England Cricket Board was going through a crisis. Attendance was dwindling at boring county games. So, in order to attract the crowds, The ECB introduced T20 cricket with each playing only 20 overs.

The trick worked, Crowds came back and attendance reached record highs. The game was revolutionised when the T20 World Cup was played in South Africa. India were the first champions in a thrilling final. The ODI World Cup debacle of the West Indies was all but forgotten, and now people believe that this is the new ODI.

The ICC was under fire when they were accused of mismanaging the ODI World Cup. Truly they did. The competition was disastrously lengthy, and the death of Bob Woolmer was the talking point. Australia were crowned champions for the Fourth time and the third time in succession.

All in all, it was very boring for a neutral because the biggest talking points were all negative, with the early exits of the Indian and Pakistani teams, along with Woolmer.

However, the T20 World Cup in South Africa was one to remember. After a great start with a 200-plus score chased, India and Pakistan met in the finals, which lived up to the hype. India won the Cup by a narrow margin.

And now, the introduction of the the IPL seems to been the final move in the resurrection of Cricket. Already, it has been a great show in the league matches. The game of cricket seems to have been saved from obscurity by the T20 format.

Hopefully, the T20 craze will last, and the game will spread to new countries.