Dressage is a specialized equestrian discipline in which minimal commands direct the horse to perform tasks. This sport uses and promotes the natural disposition of the horse through gymnastic exercises. Dressage evaluates different figures and gaits. What is needed is a so-called rideable horse, which reacts to minimal signals or help and carries out a task or lesson exactly.

The dressage training of the horse, the so-called scale of training, is the basis of every equestrian activity, completed in the High School. Here horse and rider seem to merge into one living being. This sport is therefore often compared to dance sport, since equestrian sport becomes an art of riding.

For all other well-known riding styles, such as show jumping, dressage is also the basic requirement.

Development of dressage

One origin of dressage can be found in the courtly horse shows, the so-called “Caroussels” and “Horse Ballets” or quadrilles. Modern dressage has its origins in military riding, as this sport requires a thoroughly trained horse. On the one hand, it has to be muscular in order to be able to carry the rider and his equipment. It must also listen to the rider’s instructions. On this basis, a special riding style and riding lessons developed. Their aim was for the horses to run in beautiful figures and carry the rider accordingly.

Figures in dressage are, for example, the pirouette, piaffe and passage. The gaits are divided into trot, canter and walk. There are both individual and team competitions.

Dressage is also an Olympic discipline in which German athletes are particularly successful and, for example, won Olympic gold in 2008. Germany has been an international leader in this sport for decades, also due to its success in horse breeding. Since 2009, men and women have competed together in German dressage competitions. Women are leaders in dressage worldwide.

Equipment

Dressage saddles and English bridles are used in dressage.

Safety is what counts most for the rider and the following equipment should not be left out during training:

• Properly fitting head protection (riding helmet or riding cap)
• Jacket, sweater or vest
• Safety vest or airbag vest
• Breeches with protectors
• Riding shoes or riding boots
• Special gloves
• protectors for the back
• whip and spurs

The legs and lower body of the horse are usually smeared with petroleum jelly or lubricant. This reduces the risk of injury when touching obstacles. There are also ready-made mixtures available in stores. Horses often also wear gaiters for added protection.

When it comes to the clothing of the riders and the equipment of the horses, it is also important to ensure that there are no unnecessary accessories and decorations. Because these can get caught or chafe.

Equipment in competitions

At dressage competitions or tests in dressage, the equipment of horse and rider must follow a set of rules.

• The dressage saddle allows the rider’s thighs to come into close contact with the horse’s body.
• The bridle is usually a double bridle (transfer of rein aids to the lower jaw and poll) with a bridle (softens the effect of the double bridle).
• Bridle reins and double bridle reins enable the transmission of finely tuned aids from the rider’s hand to the horse’s mouth.
• Protective leggings for the horse are prohibited
• The use of the dressage whip is prohibited
• Spores are allowed, the length of the spore spine may not exceed 3.5 centimeters.
• Spurs without a thorn are also allowed.

The clothing of the riders is strictly prescribed and consists of

• a dark riding jacket or uniform jacket; in performance tests such as the Prix Sankt Georges, a black or
• dark blue tailcoat
• a white breeches
• a white shirt
• plastron or tie
• black riding boots
• white riding gloves
• a headgear: top hat, bowler hat or uniform hat

Training of the horse

Dressage riding does not focus on conditioning the horse to respond to commands in the narrower sense of dressage. It’s more about gymnastics and sensitization of the horse to increase strength, mobility and permeability. Permeability is defined as the horse’s ability and willingness to respond to the rider’s instructions and help.

Training in dressage encourages and refines the horse’s natural movements and enables the animal to optimally carry the weight of the rider. This also helps keep the horse healthy. A dressage horse is trained using a training scale.

Dressage figures

The dressage tasks in a competition consist of a certain number of lessons. The typical figures must be shown in a certain order in corresponding difficulty levels. In a free program with background music, however, the sequence can be chosen freely.

The basic gaits are walk, trot and canter on straight and curved lines, the so-called track figures. The horse moves forwards, sideways or backwards. More complicated movements occur in the higher disciplines of dressage. The assessment assesses the rider’s seat and aids, the movement and rideability of the horse and the correctness of the performance of the required lessons.

Typical figures in dressage are

• Forehand turn, a turn around a point near the inside front foot
• Hindquarter turn, here the horse turns on the inside hind leg
• Short U-turn, the horse turns 180 degrees
• Pirouettes, where the horse is turned around the inside hind leg. Proper pirouettes, however, are high school.
• Leg yields can be described with the movements “reduce square” and “enlarge square” or “reduce circle” and “enlarge circle” and are typical exercises in dressage.
• Travers and renvers, forward and sideways movements of the horse in different evaluation directions
• Traversal, a forward-sideways movement at a trot or canter along a diagonal line
• With travers, renvers and traversals, the hoof line is particularly important. These exercises already require a high level of trust and training from both horse and rider.

High school

High school exercises are difficult to learn and require a lot from rider and horse. A horse only continues to be trained for this level of dressage from the age of five and after basic training. It can take up to five years to master all the figures of the high school. Therefore, horses are only admitted to high school from the age of 12.

The demanding figures in the so-called high school are for example

Piaffe, from the French term “piaffer”, prance, stomp: The horse performs a trot-like movement at the spot
Spanish Step: The arch of the front foot through the air is particularly high and expansive.
Passage is a trot in delayed strides with an extended supporting or hanging leg phase.
Redopp or Terre à terre is a short, high, rocking gallop in two or slightly shifted four beats almost on the spot. Both front hooves are raised and set down again slightly offset in front of each other, then both hind legs jump in the same way.
Volte denotes a small circle
Pessade is a semi-volte where the hind legs are held inside so they describe a smaller circle than the front legs.
Gallop pirouettes can only be performed by horses that have been trained for several years and have enough experience.

Dressage tests

Depending on the level, there are different tests in dressage, for example

• Prix St Georges
• Intermediary I
• Intermediate I Freestyle
• Intermediary II
• Intermediaries A and B
• Dressage Grand Prix
• Grand Prix Special and
• Grand Prix Freestyle.

Valuation

At tournaments, riders and horses receive a score from 0 (not shown) to 10 (excellent) in dressage tasks. There is either a grade for the entire assignment or an overall grade. This consists of separate grades for each individual lesson of the assignment. The tests are carried out individually or in small groups on a standardized dressage arena. The assessments are carried out by up to five judges together or individually.

The Rider Aids

The so-called rider aids are the necessary actions of the rider on the horse. A rider has a number of options for giving the horse minimal signals as to what movements the animal should make. If the horse carries out the requirements accordingly, one speaks of a lesson. Through the dressage these movements of the horse are improved and refined.

• Thigh aids are easiest for the horse to understand: the rider presses the thigh against the horse, instructing it to move forwards, to the side, or to brake.
• Giving in or tightening the reins signals the horse
• to stand still
• to get up
• to turn or
• to go sideways.
• Weight aids are weight shifts by the rider, which show the horse the way. A one-sided load shows the animal, for example, that it should move to the side or turn.
• The lower back aid signals to the horse that it should relax or that a new task is waiting.
• Tuning aids are rarely used in dressage and are used more to calm young or nervous horses.

Golf is a ball sport practiced on special golf courses with marked areas. The players carry the ball with a bat from the starting point or tee (tee) to a likewise marked target, the so-called green (green). The goal is to get the ball from the tee to the hole in the green in as few strokes as possible. The standardized areas on a golf course over which the ball must be played are the closely mowed area between the teeing area and the green, called the fairway, and the rough, the taller grass to the side of the fairway. Areas with sand or water are also common to increase the level of difficulty. A complete round of golf usually consists of 18 holes that have to be played.

Origin

The basic idea of ​​a game with a ball and bats can be found in many sports throughout history. Such games existed in Holland, France, Belgium, Japan and Korea, or even in ancient Rome and Egypt. Games like hockey, croquet, baseball or billiards also have a certain relationship with golf. In general, however, Scotland is considered the country of origin of the modern game of golf, as it can be attested to for the first time in 1457.

The origin of the word “golf” is also disputed. It probably derives from the Latin word clava (“cudgel”). The game of golf did not become common in any non-British country until the 19th or 20th century. In the meantime, golf has developed worldwide from an elite sport to a popular sport.

Organization

The international umbrella organization International Golf Federation (IGF) based in Lausanne has 143 member associations from 138 countries. There are over 60 million golfers worldwide who are members of golf associations. Golf has been an Olympic discipline again since 2016. However, the most important golf tournaments are the majors. It used to include the two most important amateur tournaments (British Amateur and US Amateur). Nowadays, however, the majors are invariably professionals.

Golf Game Forms

In golf, as in tennis or baseball, it is important to learn and practice the correct sequence of movements for hitting the ball. The more precise a player’s shot position, the more successful a game will be.

Golf can be played in two different ways, match play or stroke play.

• In match play, the lowest possible number of strokes at each hole decides
• In stroke play, the number of strokes counts for the complete round.
• There is also the Stableford counting method: The number of points depends on the number of strokes in relation to the personal par or handicap of the respective player.

Golf course

Golf is played on a specially designed golf course with 9 to 18 fairways or holes. Every course contains at least the basic elements tee, fairway and green. A golf course is designed by a golf architect and managed by a golf club or commercial operating company. The care of a golf course is very complex and requires many specialists, the so-called greenkeepers, as well as a number of special machines. Therefore, even today membership in a golf club cannot be cheap.

Golf clubs and handicap

For a long time, golf was a sport that was reserved for the nobility and elite due to the necessary investment of time and money. There are now many public golf courses and equipment is available at regular sporting goods stores or can be hired for the occasion. However, most private golf clubs still have various access restrictions, although they also accept day guests without membership.

In some countries, including Germany, Austria and Switzerland, permission to play on a golf course depends on the so-called Platzreife or Platzerlaubnis (PE). This can be achieved in various courses where, in addition to the golf rules, golf etiquette is also learned. In Anglo-American countries, however, golf is already a popular sport and there are many courses open to the public.

Golf etiquette

In addition to the course rules applicable to the respective golf club, there are general rules of conduct for golfers, which are summarized as golf etiquette. These relate primarily to safety and consideration when playing, but also to protecting the lawn. The most important such rules are:

Before attempting a shot or practice swing, make sure no one is too close to be hit by a club, golf ball, or flying rocks. Players are generally not allowed to play until other golfers are out of range in front of them.
The English call “Fore” means that players are at risk from a flying golf ball. There are always accidents caused by flying golf balls.
Teammates only touch down their balls after the player who has the honor has teed off.
Moving, speaking, or standing close to the ball or hole when a player is making a stroke is prohibited.
A player’s side and back remain free. Teammates and golf bags are always opposite to players. The golf bag should also not be placed on the tee.
It is forbidden to step into the putt line – the line between the ball and the hole – of the other player.
The priority on the pitch is determined by the pace of play of a group of players (flight).
A slower flight must give way to a faster-playing group. A single player also falls under the term group. In many cases, individual course rules determine the rights of single players or two, three and four-man flights.
Any flight that plays a full round must be let through without being asked by flights that play shortened rounds (lateral entrants).
Players who are searching for a ball for a long time must immediately give a following flight priority to overtake and may not continue play until the following flight has finished playing and is out of range.
If a flight has putted to the end, he must leave the green as soon as possible and write down the score later.
Any damage to the field by knocking out pieces of grass (divots) must be avoided. If it does happen, divots must be put back and kicked down.
In the sand obstacle, all bumps and footprints must be leveled again with a bunker rake.
Impact holes in the ball (pitch marks) and damage caused by spikes on the green also need to be repaired using a pitch repair tool.
The flagpole must be put back into the hole, taking care not to damage the edge of the hole.
Golf bags are not allowed to be placed on the green and it is also forbidden to cross the green with a golf cart.

The golf equipment

The golf ball

The size and texture of a golf ball is strictly regulated. It consists of a hard plastic shell with different cores. These cores can be made of hard rubber or multi-layer cores. The ball diameter is at least 42.67 millimeters and the maximum weight is 45.93 grams. The surface of a golf ball has hundreds of dents arranged in a pattern, the so-called dimples. The angle of the club head causes the golf ball to rotate on impact, giving it directional stability in flight. The surface structure of the golf ball and the rotation allows a golf ball to fly three times further than an ordinary ball without dimples. Additional factors for the flight characteristics are the lateral deflection or the buoyancy of the ball caused by the rotation.

Golf club

Golf clubs come in many varieties and designs and for different purposes. The rules state that no more than 14 golf clubs can be taken for a round of golf. Since golf clubs used to be primarily made of wood, the term “wood” has become common for certain golf clubs. Today’s racquets are mainly made of metal (aluminium, steel and titanium) or carbon.

Basic types

Driver / Wood 1: The longest golf club with which the greatest distance can be achieved. A tee is also used for the tee shot with the driver.
Fairway Wood: Club with a voluminous head. Wood 3, 5 and 7 are typical. There are also wood 2, 4, 9, 11, 13 and 15, but these are rarely used and are no longer offered. The shooting distance with such woods is usually higher than with irons, but also less accurate.
Putter: A straight-faced golf club used to hit the green to put the ball in the hole.
Chipper: Putter-like golf club with a lofted face for approach shots around the green.
Irons: Golf clubs with heads made of metal: (chrome-plated) zinc alloys, steel of various stainless steel alloys, titanium, bronze, copper, beryllium and various combinations of these materials. Irons come in 1 and 2 chops, long 3, 4 and 5 irons, medium 6, 7 and 8 irons, and short 9 irons and wedges.
Wedges: Wedges are iron clubs for approach shots around the green, under 100 yards. They give the ball a steep and high trajectory. There are pitching wedges, gap wedges, sand wedges for bunker shots and lob wedges.

Dress

Comfortable clothing that you can move in is important when playing golf. However, jeans, jogging suits or tracksuits are frowned upon. Shirts or shirts with a collar (polo shirt) with short or long sleeves are common. Pants should be elastic and not too short, covering half the thigh. Long or knee-length shorts are preferred. At professional golf tournaments it is even mandatory to wear long trousers, regardless of the weather. Water-repellent jackets or so-called windbreakers with a windproof fabric layer are also recommended. Additional pockets or eyelets for golf tees and ball markers increase functionality.

Golf shoes

There are special shoes for golf that have a sole with replaceable soft spikes. They give you a stable footing with every shot. The shoes should be chosen with a precise fit so that they remain comfortable even after several kilometers. Stable lateral support is also important for golf shots.

Golf gloves

Golf gloves are allowed but not required. A glove protects against blisters and gives a secure grip.

Golf bag and trolley

The golf bag or golf bag is used to transport golf equipment on the golf course. It is available in Tourbag, Cartbag and Carrybag versions. To make it easier, a golf bag can also be attached to a trolley, a frame with two or three wheels (caddy trolley, cart). Some golf clubs also provide electric trolleys, golf carts (buggy) or even a Segway for covering long distances.

Golf tee

The term tee has become established in golf for the tee, a rectangular and slightly raised lawn at the beginning of each fairway. However, the golf tee is actually a small pin made of wood or plastic on which the ball is placed (teed up). A golf tee can be between 5 and 10 centimeters long, the permitted length depends on the wood (club) used. The ball is higher and easier to play, but teeing up is only allowed on the first shot of a fairway (teeing ground).

Golf Rules

The modern rules of golf were established by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A), founded in 1754, and published jointly with the United States Golf Association (USGA). A current version has been in effect since January 1, 2019, with most of the changes being in the area of ​​game speed. The set of rules is particularly extensive compared to other sports, since golf has a very large and largely natural playing field. The rules must therefore take into account a large number of conceivable situations.

As the national golf association in Germany, the DGV with its expert commission is responsible for disputed rule issues. In addition, there are the respective course rules, a regulation of golf course-specific features. It can therefore be useful to carry a golf rule book with you at every game.

Basics

Basically, a golfer must

• play the ball as it lies and
• play the course as he finds it
• play the same ball from tee to hole
• play your own ball. It is therefore useful to mark your own ball with a mark.

Furthermore:

• If a ball is completely lost (e.g. in a water hazard), a new (individually marked) ball may be used.
• However, there is a penalty.
• There is also a penalty stroke if the ball lands out of bounds. The player must retake the shot from the spot where he made the failed shot.
• In an obstacle (bunker, water ditch) the player is not allowed to put down the racket.
• In an obstacle (bunker, water ditch) “loose, obstructive natural substances” must not be moved before the shot. Elsewhere on the golf course, however, leaves and branches lying on the ground may be moved away without penalty.
• If a player declares a ball unplayable, he receives one penalty stroke and has three options:
  repeat the stroke from the original spot
• dropping the ball within two club-lengths of where the unplayable ball lies
• go on an imaginary line from the hole over the unplayable ball and starting from the ball as far back
• as you like and drop
• Although so-called movable obstacles (e.g. a bench) can be removed without penalty, this is not possible with immovable obstacles. For example, if a bench is screwed on, the player is allowed to drop the ball within one club length.
• The ball may be lifted and cleaned on the green with no penalty.
• If the ball is on the green, it must not touch the flagpole when putting. Therefore, a teammate can help and take the pin out of the hole as the putting progresses.

Golf variants

In addition to the traditional game of golf, there are numerous variants. For getting started in the sport you know.

• Cross golf or urban golf away from traditional golf courses
• Swingolf, played with a hard foam ball and a universal club, away from golf courses
• Snow golf on snow and ice surfaces
• Hickory golf played with traditional wooden clubs
• Small golf variants on specially designed courses, such as lane golf, office golf, mini golf, indoor golf and pitch and putt
• Disc golf played with frisbees.

Archery combines tradition and modernity in a special way. While it used to be a common form of hunting, today it is a popular sport for the whole family.

The fascinating sport with bow and arrow is particularly impressive due to its diversity. Regular training promotes concentration, helps to relax body and mind and ensures physical activity in a playful way.

The art of archery does not require high-tech equipment. A bow and arrow, sure instinct and good concentration are all you need to practice this sport.

Depending on the style of the bow, a distinction is made between sporting and traditional forms of archery. While the traditional way focuses on hitting targets and is based entirely on personal intuition, the sporty style requires an extra dose of attention to the target.

Which type you prefer depends on personal preferences. Adventurers can, for example, let off steam in 4D or 3D courses, while intuitive archery is mainly practiced in the great outdoors. The best thing to do is to try out all the variants in order to decide for yourself.

Nothing beats an archery holiday here. Ideally, you should spend this in an archery hotel or in an area with several courses to choose from.

In Austria, for example, the archery village Stuhlfelden is very popular among archers. The first archery village in Europe lies in the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park and is the ideal place for an archery holiday. Sufficient variety and training opportunities are provided – at any time of the year.

Safely on the move with bow and arrow

Before you start getting active, there are a few important safety rules that you should definitely observe. A bow and arrow is not considered a weapon or a toy, but rather sports equipment.

Nevertheless, archery harbors some dangers if handled incorrectly. That’s why it’s important to bring the basic rules closer to beginners, in particular, and to repeat them over and over again in order to avoid accidents.

It is clear that humans and animals are not targets. The darts can cause serious injury if handled carelessly.

Your own safety as an archer

Appropriate protective equipment is one of the most important points for your own safety. This usually includes arm and finger protection. Depending on the discipline, chest protection is also recommended.

When it comes to clothing, the tighter the better. Especially in the arm area, tight clothing prevents the tendon from getting caught on the body and thus effectively prevents possible injuries.

Sturdy shoes with non-slip soles ensure a good and secure footing. A firm footing thanks to good shoes is not only recommended for safety, but also supports aiming!

Regular maintenance

Regular maintenance of the equipment before each use should be taken for granted. Arrows, bows and protective equipment must meet all necessary safety standards and be in perfect condition.

With the bow, particular attention must be paid to possible damage to the string. Otherwise dangerous situations may occur. When stretching the bow, it is helpful to use a bungee cord so as not to damage the bow.

In particular, the arrows must be checked after each missed shot. Especially with wooden arrows it can happen that they break. A check can be made by bending and ordinary visual inspection.

Safe aiming

In order not to endanger yourself and others, you have to be careful, especially on wide terrain or courses, to stay on marked paths and only move in the given directions on marked paths. There is a possibility of shot crossings and subsequent injuries on unmarked paths.

Even intuitive archery requires attention and mindfulness towards others. The area must be secured for archery. At official shooting ranges, all markings can usually be found on a clear map, where the main sources of danger are also outlined.

The following applies to all types of archery: as soon as people or animals are in the line of fire, the bow and arrow must be lowered and only used again when the lane is clear.

Careful shooting technique

Safety is also required after aiming. When removing the arrows from the target, make sure that no one is standing behind them. It is usually the case that the arrows are stuck in there quite firmly and can only be removed with a good deal of force. In the worst case, inattentive behavior can lead to injuries to the face or eyes.

Better safe than sorry

Your own safety and that of other shooters or bystanders has top priority. As long as all these safety rules are observed and consistently observed by all archers, dangerous situations can be effectively avoided.

In most cases, these rules are also part of the archery course and archery course regulations. As a rule, these must also be signed.

If you are affected yourself or observe someone disregarding these game and safety rules, it is your own responsibility to act and point out compliance to prevent incidents.

You should be particularly careful with children and beginners. They often lack the experience to assess dangerous situations accordingly.

Even if it sounds complex and extensive in advance, with continuous and regular practice of archery it is not only a matter of course, but also child’s play to internalize and observe all these rules. And if you follow these rules, basically nothing stands in the way of fun and, above all, safe archery!

It’s finally here: on June 11, the first pan-European European football championship. 24 nations qualified for the finals. The tournament will be opened in the Olympic Stadium in Rome. 49 games later, the final will take place on July 11, 2021 at Wembley Stadium in London. Everything you need to know about Euro 2020 and all the rules of the finals can be found here at a glance.

Eleven cities instead of one country

First the most important change: UEFA has decided not to choose a host country this year. Until now, it has been customary for the finals to be played by one organizer. Two nations have distinguished themselves as hosts three times. Now the first European championship that really deserves its name is rising. Eleven cities in eleven different countries will host the tournament.

Among them is even a city in Asia, with Baku in Azerbaijan. Other venues are London (3 group matches, 2 round of 16, 2 semi-finals, final), Munich (3 group matches, 1 quarter-final), Rome (3 group matches, 1 quarter-final), Glasgow (3 group matches, 1 round of 16), St. Petersburg (6 group matches , 1 quarter-finals), Copenhagen (3 group matches, 1 round of 16), Sevilla (3 group matches, 1 round of 16), Amsterdam (3 group matches, 1 round of 16), Budapest (3 group matches, 1 round of 16) and Bucharest (3 group matches, 1 round of 16).

Unique thing for the anniversary

At Euro 2020, Jogi Löw’s last major tournament as national coach, Germany is again one of the favorites alongside France, England, Belgium, Spain and defending champion Portugal. However, it will be the first and only national tournament to be held across Europe. This idea was implemented on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the competition, which is intended to commemorate 60 years of the European Championship. The environmental aspect also plays a role, since numerous fan articles and materials have already been produced with the corresponding lettering.

Incidentally, this time all nations had to secure their ticket via a qualification route. It didn’t matter whether you acted as organizer or defending champion. In Group A, the games will be played in Italy and Azerbaijan. These include Turkey, Italy, Wales and Switzerland. Group B consists of Denmark, Finland, Belgium and Russia. The games will be played in Denmark and Russia. The Netherlands, Ukraine, Austria and North Macedonia have been drawn into Group C, with Romania and the Netherlands playing hostages. In Group D, which is played in England and Scotland, the hosts are joined by the Croatians and the Czechs. Spain and Russia share the games of Group E consisting of Spain, Sweden, Poland and Slovakia. Germany plays in Group F against France, Portugal and co-hosts Hungary.

The tournament mode

As usual, the top two teams per group will qualify for the knockout stages. However, since this only occupies twelve places, the four best third-placed teams also advance to the next round. A distinction is made between the higher number of points after the group phase, the better goal difference and the larger number of goals scored. If two or more nations are tied, the larger number of victories decides, then the fair play rating and finally the rating in the European Championship qualification.

After the group phase, the round of 16 will continue as usual in knockout mode. The winner advances to the next round, the loser is eliminated. If there is a draw after 90 minutes, there is extra time and then a penalty shoot-out. In contrast to the World Cup, there will be no match for third place at the Euro.

A total of 51 games will be played at the upcoming major event. The German sporting goods manufacturer Adidas provides the “Uniforma” match ball. His name is formed from the English terms for unity (unity) and euphoria (euphoria). This is intended to symbolize the unity of Europe. Exactly this feeling should spark the first pan-European EM. After a year’s delay, there is finally nothing standing in the way of the big event.

How do I play netball?

To play netball correctly, you absolutely need the rules. We have summarized these for you and explained them in detail so that there are no misunderstandings during the game.

What is netball?

Netball is a team sport and will remind some of you of basketball. Compared to basketball, however, it is not primarily played in the USA and men (although the sport is now played all over the world), but mainly in Great Britain, New Zealand and South Africa. Here in Germany it is still relatively unknown, while in Namibia it has been a national sport since 2018.

In the meantime, a real fan base has even been created, which is why world championships have taken place every 4 years since 1963. Australia is way ahead and has already won the title 11 times. New Zealand, on the other hand, holds the record for the international World Series, which has been played since 2009.

General information about the game

Goal of the game

One team needs to make more baskets than the other to win.

Team

A team consists of 7 players. There are a total of 14 players on the field. There are also 4 substitutes.

Players must wear the designation of their position on their jersey.

Attacker / goal attack (middle third and attacking third (incl. goal circle)
Main attacker / goal shooter (attack third (incl. goal circle))
Outside attacker / wing attack (middle third and attacking third (without goal circle))
Center (all thirds (without goal circle)
External defender / wing defense (defense third and middle third (without goal circle))
TorverdeidigerIn / goal defense (defense third and middle third (incl. goal circle))
Goalkeeper (defense third (incl. goal circle))
The marking is crucial for the referee.

Ball

You play with a hollow ball made of (artificial) leather with a diameter of 69 to 71 cm and a weight of 400-450 grams.

Matchfield

As a rule, you play netball on a so-called hard court. This means a floor that has a plastic laid on concrete and is therefore less slippery. Some of you know the hard court from tennis, for example. However, you can also play in the park or somewhere else if you don’t have a hard court available.

The field itself is 15.25 x 30.5 meters and there is a 3.05 meter high basket on each of the narrow sides (similar to basketball). It is provided with a white-lined semicircle and is called “gate circle”.

Center circle

In the middle of the playing field is the 90 cm center circle. The game starts from this circle and is restarted from here after every interruption.

The third lines divide the field into three-thirds:

• the attacking third
• the middle third
• defense third

Markings are e.g. all lines on the playing field, which must all be at least 5 cm wide and are considered part of the playing field.

This is how you play netball

The game always begins with the center player in the center circle and passing the ball. Two players face each other at a minimum distance of 90 cm in the center circle and the Schieri throws the ball up. The players try to win the ball, but are not allowed to touch or even obstruct each other. From there, each team tries to keep possession of the ball in order to make a basket.

The Netball Rules

How does the team collect points?

In netball you can only score if you are in the semicircle in front of the basket and hit it from there. Furthermore, not every player can score a point:

• attacker
• main attacker
• You can all pass the ball with passes, but not with dribbles.

How can you move?

• Dribbling and running with the ball are prohibited
• Pass the ball within a few seconds with a pass
• maximum one step
• depending on the position, a certain area of ​​the field may not be left
• landing with one foot on the ground when catching allows a star step
• when taking off with the landing foot, the ball must be released before the foot touches the ground
• bilateral footstand or landing allows a star step
• at least three feet of space between opponents

Passport Rules

• make sure there is enough space between you and a third player
• Do not throw the ball the full length of the field (at least one player per third)

Rule violations

• hold the ball
• Foot fault, the player in possession of the ball is only allowed to take one step, not a second
• Offside, the player in possession of the ball is not allowed to leave her zone

Are you interested in the “Modern Pentathlon Rules”? Very good, then you’ve come to the right place! There is a lot to consider in this special sport, which is why we are happy to explain to you exactly how modern pentathlon works.

History of the modern pentathlon

The idea of ​​a five-sport competition as a pentathlon is not new. A pentathlon was already an athletic discipline at the ancient Olympic Games. The name is the Greek word for “five competitions”, namely javelin and discus throw, vault, run and wrestling.

In athletics, five individual competitions in different disciplines are also held in the pentathlon. These individual results are included in a points table that is based on the respective world record. The participant with the highest total of points from all five sub-disciplines wins. In the meantime, these competitions have been replaced by the decathlon for men and the heptathlon for women. For young people, however, there is still the pentathlon.

The modern pentathlon, also known as the pentathlon, is an eventing sport. It was invented by Pierre de Coubertin, the initiator of the modern Olympic Games.

Here are five different individual disciplines combined in the form of an all-around:

• pistol shooting
• epee fencing
• To swim
• show jumping
• cross-country run

Until the Second World War, participants from the military and police mostly competed in the modern pentathlon.

Modern pentathlon as an Olympic discipline

The modern pentathlon was basically conceived as an Olympic competition. Although Pierre de Coubertin is credited with being the inventor, there is a tradition of military all-around combat from Sweden. Due to the regulations of the IOC, international championships were only held as part of the Olympic Games for a long time. World championships have been held annually since 1984 and European championships since 1987. Since 2000, women have also competed in the Olympic modern pentathlon.

At the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, there was also a team competition for the first time. The last was at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Due to the high number of participants with 66 in riding and fencing, there were great organizational difficulties. In 1996 the number of participants was limited to a one-day program for the entire competition.

2008: 36 participants
2009: The shooting and running disciplines were combined to form what is known as the Combined
Since 2016: Time-consuming placement round in fencing is held in the run-up to the final

Qualification

At world championships and the other major international competitions, the qualification takes place according to the modern pentathlon rules at the venue. Each national federation may enter three to four participants. However, the total number of participants should not exceed 108 for women and men. There is no riding during the qualification and there is usually a competition in two or three groups. 36 participants each qualify for the final with riding, the top 12 of the two qualifying groups plus the 12 with the best points. If there are three qualifying groups, the top 8 of each group plus the 12 points with the best are in the final.

Competition rules

What is special about the modern pentathlon are the individual disciplines with very different demands on the participants. Running and swimming require strength and stamina, while shooting and fencing require the ability to concentrate and react quickly. The riding discipline, in turn, requires a pronounced sense of balance as well as empathy and sensitivity when dealing with the horse as a sporting partner. Therefore, it means a lot of effort to train for this sport.

In contrast to triathlon, according to the modern pentathlon rules, the individual competitions in these five disciplines do not occur one after the other. There is at least an hour gap between them. The performances achieved are converted into points and added up.

The individual disciplines according to the modern pentathlon rules

To swim

200 meter freestyle swim where 250 points can be scored in a time of 2:30 minutes. Every second over or under the target time means three points more or less.

Epee fencing

For the placement round (ranking round) everyone fights against everyone (round robin system) – that’s how the modern pentathlon rules want it. A hit within a minute is enough for victory, otherwise a double defeat applies. For 70 percent of the possible victories there are 250 points as a guideline. The score for each win more or less is set in a table. Since 2015 there has been an additional bonus round: the last-placed competes against the penultimate, the winner receives a bonus point and then competes against the third-last. The winning athlete always stays on the planche. This so-called ladder system is continued up to the leader and if he wins his (only) fight, he receives two bonus points.

Show jumping

A 350 to 400 meter long course with 12 to 15 obstacles has to be mastered. The organizer provides the horses and the horses are allocated by lot for the individual participants. There is a maximum of 300 points for a flawless ride. Seven points are deducted for each throw and 10 points for each refusal or fall. Zero points or elimination applies if a competitor does not complete the course or has four refusals or two falls.

Combined

Combined consists of 3 km cross-country running and pistol shooting. Since 2009, shooting and cross-country running are no longer individual disciplines, but a combined discipline. As the last in the five disciplines, there is a handicap start. The lead is calculated based on the points according to the principle 1 point = 1 second. Whoever crosses the finish line first is the winner of the modern pentathlon.

In the past, air pistols were used to shoot at folding targets similar to biathlon or at an electronic target with a diameter of 59.5 millimeters at a distance of 10 meters. There have been laser pistols since 2011, and four series since 2013. The first series of shots comes shortly after the start, the next after 800, 1600 and 2400 meters of cross-country running. A series is considered over when either five hits are scored or 50 seconds have elapsed. Only then can the run continue. A time of 13:20 minutes is considered a benchmark for 500 points. Every second above or below gives one point more or less.

Relay competition

The relay competition, or relay, premiered in 1987 and was officially held for the first time at the 1989 World Championships in Budapest. Since there is a greater organizational effort, these competitions only occur at world and continental championships, the Summer Youth Olympic Games and major international competitions. There are separate relay competitions for women and men as a 2-person relay and since 2010 also as a mixed relay.

The relay competitions are usually separate 1-day competitions at the start of major competitions and 24 teams are allowed to start.

Swimming: 2 × 100 meter freestyle with a flying start. 250 points for a time of 2:30 minutes and three points more or less for every second over or under.
Fencing: In the placement round in teams of 2, each team against each team. The sum of all team battles won is counted, 70 percent of the possible victories give 250 points. Then there is the bonus round, as in the regulations for singles.
Riding: There is a transition zone within the jumping course, the riders of a team start one after the other without a time delay. Jumping and time errors are added and deducted from the maximum score of 300 points.
Combined: A run of 2 times 1600 meters with two shooting bouts per team, a total time of 13:20 minutes gives 500 points. Every second above or below gives a point more or less. The start takes place with a handicap, which means that the team with the best points starts first and the relay team with the last runner at the finish line first wins.

Team competition

Until 1992 there was also a team competition at the Olympic Games. Here, however, only the scores within the individual competition of the three admitted participants of each participating nation were added up. Since 1996, this rating no longer exists at the Olympic Games, but only at world championships and continental championships.

Winter Pentathlon

At the 1948 Winter Olympics, there was a winter pentathlon as a demonstration sport as a winter version of the modern pentathlon. The competition included 10 km cross-country skiing, pistol shooting with 4 x 5 shots at 25 meters, downhill skiing, epee fencing and a cross-country ride in the snow. But it stayed with this one-off event. The IOC chose biathlon as a winter all-around event in the Olympic Games.

Which sports belong to the modern pentathlon?

Epee fencing, swimming, show jumping, laser run

Which disciplines belonged to the ancient pentathlon?

Discus throw, long jump, javelin throw, running and wrestling

In what order do the final competitions in the modern pentathlon take place?

Swimming, fencing, horseback riding, laser run (running/shooting).

How does Modern Pentathlon work?

Everyone competes once against all other athletes.

What distinguishes a good athlete in modern pentathlon?

It requires shooting precision, fencing speed, swimming power, riding sensitivity and running endurance.

Since when is the Modern Pentathlon part of the Olympic Games?

It was first contested in 1912 in Stockholm (Women 2000 in Sydney).

Cheerleading Rules: Here’s everything you need to know

The sport of cheerleading originated in the USA. The term is made up of the English word for “cheer” (applause) and “to lead” (to lead or lead) together. So the meaning is “lead the applause,” which was the original purpose of cheerleading. You can learn more about the cheerleading rules here.

Cheerleading is so much more than waving pompoms

Initially, the task of cheering on the audience was incumbent on the men alone. Cheerleaders were scattered among the spectators at a sporting event, cheering up the teams with loud shouts and pertinent gestures. The first organized crowd cheering took place in an 1898 American football final between the University of Minnesota and Northwestern University. It wasn’t until 1980 that the first female cheerleaders were accepted by the public.

Nowadays, female or mixed cheerleading teams are part of the picture of sporting events. In addition to American football and basketball, there are, for example, handball, volleyball, soccer and ice hockey, the cheerleading groups or squads to which they naturally belong.

In the meantime, cheerleading has even established itself as an independent competitive sport on a national and international level – so much more than looking good and waving your pom poms.

Cheerleading as Sports Art

Cheerleading as a sport consists of elements of gymnastics, acrobatics and dance, plus rhythmic cheers. For the competitions, which take place throughout the year, the organized squads have to follow a fixed set of rules. A squad’s program must provide certain mandatory elements within a 2 to 3 minute routine. The judges evaluate the performance according to the degree of difficulty and execution.

As a result, squads are now primarily working towards championships and align their program and training accordingly. Appearances at sporting events are no longer the main job of these cheerleaders.

Age groups

Cheerleading has different age divisions for each competitive category, with only slight differences between the two organizations.

Children/Peewees: CvD up to 12 years, CCVD up to 12 years
Youth/Juniors: CvD 12 to 17 years, CCVD 11 to 17 years
Adults/Seniors: CvD from 16 years, CCVD from 14 years

Styles

The styles of cheering in competition include

Cheerleading with acrobatics (stunts, baskets, pyramids), floor exercises (tumbling) and cheers.
Cheerdance or performance cheer focuses on the dance. There are various dance styles to choose from, such as freestyle (pom dance), theme dance (CVD) and also hip hop (CCVD).
competition categories
In addition to the division into cheerleading and cheerdance, competitions are also divided into all-girl (girls/women) and male-female mixed coed teams. These two variants also occur in all age groups. In addition, different levels are distinguished in the 3 age groups Peewees, Juniors and Seniors. These levels define the degree of difficulty of the programs.

Furthermore, a distinction is made between team categories (12 to 24 active or 16 to 24 active in the respective highest level except limited) and special categories (2 to 5 active).

Among the special categories are

Group Stunt (4 to 5 people) Allgirl and Coed
Partner stunt (1 woman and 1 man)
Double dance (2 people)
In open championships such as the GermanCheerMasters, Elite Beach Cup or the CCVS XMas Cup, there are other categories such as Individual or Hardest Group Stunt.

Cheerleading routine

The program or routine in cheerleading consists of certain movements, artistic elements and cheers.

Fall under

Motions: Specific arm movements used in cheers, chants, stunts and dances.
Chants: chants with mimic and gestural underlining of the content, usually repeated three times.
Cheers: Combinations of words and movements that last longer than chants and are not repeated. The cheer also occurs at the events and is only performed during the official game stoppage and after the game.
Stunts: Lifting figures involving at least two and up to five people (stunt group). A stunt group consists of the flyer, who performs artistic figures, and those who lift, support and catch the flyer (base). Such lifting figures follow strict cheerleading rules and are called, for example, 1 main base and 1 side base, 1 backscoop/backspot, 1 flyer/top or 1 front. Several stunts can also be put together to form a larger overall picture with top/flyer or high flyer (pyramid). The number of people involved is unlimited.
Basket toss or Basket: A flyer is thrown off base and caught. The bases enclose their wrists in such a way that a kind of basket is formed. The flyer also makes figures such as twist, back tuck, toe touch, pike, kick twist/double, x-out, lay-out and the like.
Jumps or leaps can be built into cheers, tumbling, and even dances. There are figures like Toe Touch, Pike, Double Nine or Spread Eagle.
Dance: A dance is part of every performance and every routine, but the pom-poms don’t necessarily have to be there. Many cheerleading teams already have dedicated dance teams dedicated solely to dancing.
Spotter: The word spot is an abbreviation for save person on top, because the job of the spotter is to secure a stunt and prevent injuries. Internal spotters can contribute to the program, but external spotters cannot.
Tumbling are elements of floor exercise such as handstand, flick flack, (extended) somersault, cartwheel, wheel turn or handstand rollover.
Props are tools for a performance, such as the famous pompoms or flags, signs and cardboard megaphones.

Appear

The sport of cheerleading is intended to attract and hold the attention of the audience in a huge and well-filled stadium. Therefore, traditionally, the cheerleading squads appear in flashy glittering and colorful costumes. Often they also use props with more glitter and glamor like from the carnival.

Cheerleading Requirements

If you now want to get started as a cheerleader, you will find the requirements for this great sport, which can also indirectly be called cheerleading rules, here.

Personal requirements

Ambition (Be willing to always improve)
Ability to work in a team (it doesn’t work without cohesion as a team)
Discipline (Don’t give up)
Loyalty (stand by your team)
physical requirements
Athleticism (or the will to become athletic)
extensibility
ideal: experience in gymnastics, ballet
Even if you think you have to be super slim and lean, cheerleading enthusiasts who have a little more on their ribs can also pursue their passion. Depending on this, it can be used as a base or flyer.

Another important thing

As with any other sport, you should be prepared to exercise a lot and adjust your diet. Cheerleading is a very demanding hobby in which the body works at peak performance – so it needs a good basis that you can’t achieve with fries and the like.

Cheerleading Risks

In addition, this sport is not without its dangers, no matter how well the cheerleading rules are followed. A study by the US National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury shows that about 65 percent of serious sports accidents in high schools occur while cheerleading.

A 2009 court ruling upheld cheerleading as a contact sport and associated injuries as an “occupational hazard.”

How much do Dallas cowboys cheerleaders make?

That is, if you’re a popular, well-known squad. For instance, Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, aka America’s Sweethearts, who happen to be one of the most popular groups in the NFL, earn about $15-20 per hour, or $500 per match. Therefore, their yearly salary comes out to about $75,000.

How much do NFL cheerleaders make?

Surprisingly, NFL cheerleaders do not earn as much as you might think. On average, the cheerleaders earn about $150 per game. This comes out to about $22,500 per year. They also receive anywhere from $50 to $75 if they are featured for a public appearance.

Is cheerleading a sport yes or no?

Today, cheerleading is popular and taken seriously by cheerleaders who consider it a sport, “an activity that involves physical exertion and skill and in which an individual or team competes against another for entertainment.”

Which NFL teams don’t have cheerleaders?

However, not all NFL teams have NFL cheerleaders. So what are NFL teams without cheerleaders? There are seven football teams without NFL cheerleading squads: the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, LA Chargers, New York Giants, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Is cheerleading sexist?

Is cheerleading a form of female objectification?

No. Objectification is something that is done to them. Even if women dress in a way that is particularly attractive to men, it is because they want to feel pretty, not because they actually want to attract men.

Is cheerleading feminine?

While female athletes have much more freedom to participate in athletics, cheerleading remains a feminized activity and continues to reflect a supporting role to masculine athletics.

Can a cheerleader be male?

As of 2005, overall statistics show around 97% of all modern cheerleading participants are female, although at the collegiate level, cheerleading is co-ed with about 50% of participants being male. Modern male cheerleaders’ stunts focus less on flexibility and more on tumbling, flips, pikes, and handstands.

How much do professional cheerleaders make?

Surprisingly, NFL cheerleaders do not earn as much as you might think. On average, the cheerleaders earn about $150 per game. This comes out to about $22,500 per year.

Is competitive cheerleading a sport?

But unlike football, cheerleading is not officially recognized as a sport — neither by the NCAA nor by U.S. federal Title IX guidelines.

Is cheerleading an olympic sport?

No