Спорт в Великобритании
занимательные факты по иностранному языку (4 класс)

Государственное бюджетное профессиональное образовательное учреждение Ростовской области

«Волгодонский педагогический колледж»

(ГБПОУ РО «ВПК»)

Summary on the topic:

Sports in the UK

Completed:

A student of the PNK-3.1 group

Romashkova V. E.

Checked:

Sereda N.Yu.

Assessment: ________

Volgodonsk, 2022.

Table of contents

Introduction ………………………………………………………………..……p. 3

Chapter 1: The Emergence of Sports in Great Britain

1.1. The history of the emergence of sports in England………………………………………………………….………….……p. 4

1.2. The Role of Sports in British Schools…………………………………………………………………….….…p. 5

Chapter 2: Popular Sports in the UK

2.1 Cricket……………………………………………………………...…….….p. 8

2.2 Football………………………………………………………………………p. 9

2.3 Rugby…………………………………………………………………...….p. 11

2.4 Golf………………………………………………………………….……..p. 12

2.5 Polo ………………………………………………………………….…….p. 14

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………..p. 19

Internet Resources……………………………………………………………...p. 20

List of used literature…………………………………………………….….….p. 20

Introduction

People all over the world love sports and games. Sport keeps people healthy, keeps them in shape, and makes them more organized and disciplined. Some people play sports for pleasure, and some - professionally.

Sport is an integral part of our life. People have been involved in sports since ancient times. Archaeologists are finding rock carvings that are reminiscent of modern sports. The most popular sporting event known since ancient times is the Olympic Games. During the games, it was even forbidden to wage war, and the winners of the competitions were revered as heroes. Sports have evolved along with society.

Today, a variety of sports are popular in the UK, which involve a huge number of participants and spectators. Some sports appeal to a minority or only certain classes of society, while others appeal to the vast majority of Britons.

The number of people involved in sports has increased in recent years, as have sports centers in both the private and public sectors. This coincided with a greater concern for their own health and the need for physical activity in most Britons. About a third of the adult population in the UK regularly participates in outdoor sports, and a quarter in gyms. Spending on sports, attending sports and buying sports equipment occupy a significant part of the budget of British families.

The most popular sport for both men and women is walking. For men, the next sports in descending order of popularity are billiards, snooker, darts, swimming and football. For women - swimming and aerobics.

Chapter 1: The Emergence of Sports in Great Britain

1.1. The history of the sport in England

In 1688–1689 There was a coup d'etat in England known as the Glorious Revolution. One of the results of the coup is the lifting of bans on games and entertainment. Rural entertainment became the basis for the revival of games and competitions. The most striking example of English rural entertainment is the Olympic Games of Prosecutor Robert Dover, held for more than 100 years, starting in 1604. The content of these games included dancing, wrestling, bowling, skittles, football, hunting, running.

The economic aspect of the competition should be emphasized: the English tradition of betting on the participants or on the result of the competition involved up to several hundred pounds sterling in circulation. This led to an increase in the excitement and entertainment of the competition. The result was the emergence of professionals and the streamlining of competitions by developing clear rules. Thus, in the 20-30s. 18th century a new social phenomenon took shape, called "sport" (from the French desport or deport and the English disport, which meant rest from work, entertainment). The sport that influenced the further development of other types of competitions was horse racing. In the XVIII century. three types of races have separated: Hunting Matches, Wild Geese Chase, Matches Against Time.

Hunting Matches (hunting matches) were carried out in two ways. The first way - two hunters on horseback rode after the dogs following the trail of the hare. The unpredictability of the trajectory of the hare's run caused a significant duration of the competition and inconvenience for the spectators. The evolution of this method led to the exclusive use of the second method - the races began to be carried out on an artificial track for a distance of 3-5 miles.

Wild Geese Chase (hunting for wild geese) consisted in the fact that the riders started in strict sequence one after the other. The victory was awarded when the opponent was ahead of 240 yards. Races were held on the roads connecting the settlements, or along a circular path (one circle - 1–2.5 miles).

In 1731, the most important event in the history of sports took place - a stopwatch was first used at the races, which gave impetus to the development of Matches Against Time (matches against time). Participants had to overcome the distance in a certain time or show the best time at a certain distance. In parallel with the races, running competitions were held (competition of two or more runners at a set distance; competition of two successive runners and a horse). Gradually, the popularity of running grew, and this type of competition became isolated. So, in 1727 in London, in addition to the race track, a jogging track was built. London's Hyde Park has become the center of a kind of running competition. Competitions were organized in it: a runner with a fat cook; a young runner with an old one; professional with a negro servant. This type of competition was also proposed - to go a certain distance at a precisely set time and meet the specified number of steps.

Regarding boxing, there is an opinion that there is a relationship between the rings in the venues of equestrian competitions and the development of boxing as a sport. However, a reliable known fact is only the fact that the rules of boxing were modernized by fencing master James Figg.

In the XVIII century. fencing matches to resolve disputes were banned, but demonstration fencing matches continued to be held indoors. This spectacle was called prize-fights (fights for the prize) - the participants received the money that the audience threw onto the stage during the fight, and part of the proceeds from ticket sales and was distributed between the winner and the loser as 2 to 1.

There was a variety of duels presented to the audience: several pairs fought with different types of weapons; fights of women's and mixed pairs were arranged; fights on sticks and clubs were demonstrated. Often the spectacle was supplemented by fights of wrestlers and boxing fights. James Figg in his amphitheater (built in 1719) from 1725 began to show international boxing matches. He modernized the rules of boxing by introducing a time criterion and began giving boxing lessons as the sport became popular with all segments of the English population. John Broughton became a follower of James Figg. In the 40s. 18th century he, relying on the basics of anatomy and physiology, as well as the experience of boxing and wrestling, developed and described various strikes and their effectiveness. In 1749, the boxing academy John

1.2. The Role of Sports in British Schools

The role of sports in British boarding schools is extremely high, it is not for nothing that such legendary athletes as the captains of the men's and women's cricket teams of England Nasser Hussein and Claire Connor, the player of Manchester United Quentin Fortune, a member of the football team Frank Lampard, the champion in rowing Matthew Pinsent, rugby player Johnny Wilkinson and many others. The role of sport in educating the elite of British society cannot be overestimated: both the legend of the nation Winston Churchill and the young crown princes William and Harry glorified their schools with sports success.

In the UK, there are men's schools, whose history goes back 500 years - they were created at the monasteries in the Middle Ages. The monks taught the boys rhetoric, theology, arithmetic, grammar, poetry - and also organized sports games for them. Games, on the one hand, were an urgent need to release youthful energy, and on the other, an excellent way to prepare pets for the service of the British Crown as military officers and officials.

At that time, the most popular game was the ball game - both the boys and the entire male population of the country played it. Huge crowds of people chased the ball along the city streets and country roads - without strict rules, kicked, threw with their hands - just to drive it to the side of the enemy. As a rule, such competitions ended in terrible brawls, which gave reason to ban these games in the cities: decrees against football (with varying success) were issued by Edward II, and Richard II, and Edward III. But these decrees did not concern schoolchildren, they continued to play ball, moreover, the game was improved, rules were developed, competitions were organized between schools. As early as 1519, William Horman, Principal of Eton and Winchester Colleges, mentions a game reminiscent of today's football and rugby. The trouble is that the rules of the game in each school were different (somewhere you could take the ball with your hands, somewhere you couldn’t, somewhere you could pass with your hands, but only back, towards your own goal, etc.), the size of the fields and the number of players were different. But it was in schools that the game turned from the barbaric entertainment of the street crowd into a sport that contributes not only to the physical, but also to the moral education of noble youths, their preparation for military service.

Teaching both leadership and teamwork skills, sport is used as an important tool to prepare students for the struggles of life. Therefore, it is not surprising that even such a seemingly unathletic man as Sir Winston Churchill, who studied at the prestigious Harrow School, was an excellent polo player and said more than once that this sport is “a pass to high society”. In the relaxed atmosphere of polo matches, the great politician, communicating with influential people, effortlessly resolved the most important issues.

In Britain, physical education at school is a wide range of sports and disciplines. The sports result is not an end in itself, the main thing is the motivation and full development of each student.

For all students in British schools, sports are strictly required from 5 to 16 years. Starting from 11-13 years old, schoolchildren decide for themselves what kind of sport they will do in the current trimester. Teachers usually advise teenagers to try themselves in a variety of sports disciplines.

The list of sports that can be practiced at a British boarding school is amazing: rugby, football, field hockey, cricket, athletics, basketball, badminton, lawn and table tennis, fencing, golf, swimming, rowing, water polo, sailing , squash, volleyball, sports shooting, gymnastics, horseback riding, polo, sports shooting, archery, martial arts, yoga, rock climbing... The sports equipment of schools is amazing: sports centers, playgrounds, golf courses, swimming pools , stables...

Few graduates of boarding schools choose a professional sports career, but everyone, without exception, gets the maximum opportunity to grow up physically and mentally strong people, faithful to their sports passion for the rest of their lives. Pupils of boarding schools can both qualify for one of the teams (of different skill levels), and go in for sports individually. The most popular team sports are rugby and football among boys, netball (a game developed by the creator of basketball specifically for women - ed.) among girls, and field hockey enjoys increased attention from both sexes. The sports program of each school is individual, as a rule, physical education classes last.

Chapter 2: Popular Sports in the UK

2.1 Cricket        

Cricket is the game of high society in England. It has existed since ancient times and preserves its traditions, not changing them even after many years.

Cricket has become a symbol of England, just like the fog or the monarchy. The game, which gentlemen from high society prefer to play, has always been popular also among the common people. But official cricket clubs have always consisted of only the most distinguished persons. That is why membership in a cricket club served as a hallmark of an aristocrat. To this day, the queue for membership in the best cricket clubs in the world can last more than one year.

HISTORY OF THE GAME

The game of English gentlemen and noblemen originated in the 13th century. Initially, cricket was considered only a child's game, but over time it became a pastime that is an integral part of English traditions. True popularity came to cricket in the 18th century, when the rules of the game were officially established and fixed. At the same time, clubs of professional cricketers began to appear.

In 1990, cricket was included in the Olympic roster. However, the game, not too well known at that time, did not win the hearts of the audience and cricket was very soon excluded from the Olympic program.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, cricket has become popular not only in England, but also in other countries of Europe, Africa and even Australia.

WHAT IS CRICKET?

Cricket is played on a grassy surface. The shape of the general field does not matter much, usually the radius of the entire site is about 130 -150 meters. The main action of the game takes place on a court located in the middle of the field, the length of which is 22 yards or 20.12 meters, and the width is about 3 meters. Gates are installed on both edges of the site - similar to gates - consisting of three rails lined up in a row with two crossbars. The gate is 67.5 cm high and 20 cm wide.

Cricket is played by two teams, each of which has 11 players, of which 4-5 bowlers and 5-6 batters. Another important participant is the wicket-keeper. 

The game is played as follows. The server throws the ball into the wicket, trying to break it. In turn, the batter from the opposing team must prevent this and hit the ball in time with a bat. If the serve is returned, the batsman must run to the other end of the playing court, while another batsman of the same team, who is on the opposite end of the court, must take his place. For a full run - a change in the position of the batters - the team is awarded one point.

Players of the opposing team not participating in the rally are dispersed across the playing field. Their job is to catch the ball and put it back in play. If the ball is caught and returned to the game before the end of the batsmen's run, the run is considered lost, and the batsman is out of the game. Also, the batsman is eliminated if the batted ball was caught in the air or the serve was not hit at all.

Each match includes two stages - imming. Imming ends when each team completes one series of innings. Teams change places after 10 players are eliminated. It often happens that a cricket match can drag on for several days due to the fact that the teams are developing attack tactics and defense strategies for a long time.

CRICKET FEATURES

Cricket seems to be a rather simple game, however, thanks to the preservation of centuries-old traditions, the game has retained a lot of subtleties and nuances, the description of which takes up a weighty volume called the “Cricket Rulebook”. The most important "law" of cricket, the violation of which is punished with particular severity, is presented in the following extract from the code: "Since the players are full of honor and must adhere to lofty traditions, it is considered the height of indecency not to report a violation of the rules even if the referee did not notice it" .

2.2. Football

One of the most popular games in the world is football. It is played everywhere: at stadiums, in gyms, in yards, and even just on the lake during the holidays. Football is a rather old game, it is believed that it originated in the UK. After all, even the word "football" is of purely English origin and is translated as "kick ball". However, not so long ago, archaeologists found evidence that games very similar to football were popular even before our era. During the excavations, not only rock paintings depicting people playing football were found, but also objects very similar to a ball.

Many years before our era in ancient China, with the help of a game very reminiscent of football, warriors figured out which army was stronger. French historians believe that it was in their homeland that this ball game originated. In Egypt, people gathered in the deserts and kicked a leather ball stuffed with old clothes. Even in Rus', during the holidays, people took to the streets and played ball. Thus, almost every country can consider itself the founder of modern football. Why, then, does everyone say that it originated in the UK? And this is due to the fact that England became the first country in the world, which in 1863 created a football association. After that, the very first football rules were created. This game began to win the hearts of the locals and in just a few weeks the first official teams were formed. Many team leaders suggested changing the rules of the game and allowing goalkeepers to play not only with their feet, but also with their hands. And they managed to achieve such changes, but only after 8 years. Also, it was in England that the first referee teams were formed, which were supposed to monitor the implementation of all the rules of the game on the field. And in 1890, thanks to the owner of the factory for the manufacture of fishing nets, a net appeared on the gate.

Football came to Russia thanks to the ports. After all, it was here that ships from different countries moored, in which this game was already very popular. By the beginning of 1900, many circles for football fans were created in St. Petersburg. By about 1909, many football clubs had been formed. In Russia, football developed and gained popularity before the outbreak of World War II. By the end of 1941, football had completely disappeared in the Soviet Union. After the end of the war, this game began to gain momentum again. In the 1950s, new stars of Russian football appeared, such as Lev Yashin, Igor Netto, Vladimir Maslachenko and others. After the collapse of the USSR, Soviet football disappeared. And a new era of Russian football began.

Initially, in the UK, playing football was an integral part of the festivities during the butter week. Of course, in those days there were no rules of the game, the team could have an unlimited number of players, and the main goal of the game was to get into the opponent's goal frame. Violence was an integral part of the original version of football, so injuries were inevitable. In addition, in certain English cities, the head of one of the defeated rivals served as the ball. And yet, there is evidence that the inhabitants of the then London played football without being accompanied by injury and mutilation. In England, football became widely known to the public during the reign of King Edward II. Moreover, the game became so popular that the further rulers of the state considered it a waste of time and by any means tried to ban this pastime. However, since the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth I, football has regained its wide popularity, while still not having any rules.

The beginning of the existence of the rules of the game of football dates back to 1846, when experts from the University of Cambridge and other educational institutions approved these rules, called the "Cambridge Rules". During the championships, confusion often reigned between different schools, as some schools refrained from signing the document and preferred their own rules. Due to the hitherto unprecedented popularity of the game, the players were forced through the newspapers to call for the compilation of uniform rules for all, which would only improve its quality.

Therefore, in the autumn of 1863, a dozen London clubs commissioned the foundation of the English Football Association. On December 1 of this year, a set of rules was approved, based on the above-mentioned Cambridge document. According to this code, it was forbidden to push and hook the opponent, as well as to move the player on the field with the ball in his hands. Still, it was still allowed to stop the ball with your hand.

2.3 Rugby

THE ENTERING OF RUGBY IN THE UK

Team ball games were a huge success in England a few centuries ago. In those days, there were no uniform rules for the game, and its participants were usually tasked with sending the ball to the opponent's side by any means. The formulation and codification of rules began in the 19th century and dragged on for several decades. This work was going on in seven privileged schools. Six of them (including Eton, Harrow and Winchester) established broadly similar rules.

A completely different version of the game existed at Rugby School, located in Warwickshire. Reliable information about the origin of this game, apparently, does not exist. On April 7, 1823, a Rugby School student named William Webb Ellis "defeated the rules, picked up the ball and started running" became widely circulated. This episode was subsequently described in one of the issues of the school magazine, which gave grounds to consider William Webb Ellis the founder of rugby.

A rugby match sometimes resembles a children's bunch. However, today the number of opponents of this theory many times exceeds the number of its supporters. Skeptics usually do not question the fact that William Webb Ellis, who defied the rules, really studied at Rugby in 1823, but they also note that the only evidence of this ball run appeared after his death, and there is no reason to believe that a single episode involving Ellis or some other player dramatically changed the game at Rugby School. In addition, other schools allowed players to touch the ball until the founding of the Football Association in 1863, which led to the final separation of football and rugby. Be that as it may, running with the ball was widely practiced in Rugby in the 1830s.

Initially, in order to win the match, the team needed to score two goals, so the outcome of the meeting depended, rather, not on the ability to run with the ball, but on the ability to break through on goal. The goal posts had a height of 5.3 meters, the crossbar was located at a height of 3 meters. Simultaneously with the crossbar, a new rule appeared, according to which a goal is counted only if the ball flies over the crossbar. A player who managed to make a "try" - that is, bring the ball into the end zone and touch the ground with it - was entitled to an additional kick, but if he did not manage to score a goal, the attempt did not bring points to his team. For this reason, the victory was most often brought by "drop goals" - kicks from the rebound made during the game, and many matches held in the 50-60s of the XIX century ended in a draw: players often failed to realize an attempt by scoring a goal against opponents .

Beginning in 1875, the winning team was the one with the most attempts. In 1886, three attempts were equated to one goal. By 1893, the scoring system began to take on a modern look: one attempt brought the team three points, an additional kick or conversion - five points, a free kick converted - three, a "field goal" (or the so-called "drop goal" - kick from the rebound) - four. This system, which finally took shape in 1905, lasted almost unchanged for more than 50 years (with the exception of the 1948/49 season, when a drop goal brought four points).

GAME RULES AND TERMS

The team consists of 18-22 people, there are 15 players on the field - eight play in attack, seven in defense. In case of injuries, substitutions are allowed with the consent of the field judge. The initial kick to the ball is performed from the middle of the center line of the field. The kick is performed by the team that received the right to start the game (the other team starts the next half). After the kick is made, any player may catch or pick up the ball and run with it, advance the ball with his hand or foot, or pass it to another player, attack the player in possession of the ball (push, tackle), take part in the scrum, ruck, pier or lineout, bring the ball into the opponent's penalty area and touch the ground with the ball.

The corridor is formed when the ball is thrown in from behind the touchline. The players line up parallel to the line of touch (i.e. at right angles to the touchline). At the same time, each team has a player who has to catch the ball if his teammates send it back. The lineout also includes a hooker, the player taking the throw-in, his opponent and two players ready to catch the ball from the lineout.

English rugby players are considered to be among the strongest in the world. The pier is created.

2.4 Golf

GOLF IN ENGLAND

The legend about how an ordinary shepherd, wandering along the coastal dunes, hit a round stone with a stick with a stick and accidentally rolled it into a rabbit hole, is connected with the origin of the game of golf. Then he was joined by friends who liked the new fun. Later, stones were replaced with gutta-percha balls, rabbit holes were replaced with holes, and sticks were used instead of sticks.

As is often the case, many countries claim to be the birthplace of golf. For example, "kolven" was very popular in Holland (although it was played on ice), the Romans had a golf-like game called "paganica" which may have passed from them to England around 400 AD. The Chinese believe that the progenitor of modern golf was the ancient game "gui wang", widespread in the Celestial Empire in the 3rd-2nd centuries BC. The French and Belgians have their own versions. Nevertheless, the small Scottish town of St. Andrews, named after the patron saint of the city, St. Andrew, whose tomb is located in a dilapidated cathedral built about six centuries ago, is considered the birthplace of classic golf. By the way, on one of the stained-glass windows of this ancient cathedral you can see the image of a man with a stick in his hands.

The first written mention of golf, which is considered to be the beginning of the official history of the game, dates back to 1457. It was then that King James forbade the game of golf, because for the sake of it his soldiers neglected their main duty - training in archery. The ban was expressed in an ordinance of the Scottish Parliament.Golf is a whole separate culture that carefully preserves many traditions, legends and legends. So, the Scottish Queen Mary Stuart is considered the first woman golfer. The title of the oldest golf club is contested by the Gentleman Golfers (now the Onorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers), formed in March 1744, and the Royal Burges Golfing Segaiity from Edinburgh, which considers the date of its foundation to be 1735.

In 1870, Sir David Mancrafe made a bet with Exwire John White-Melvin that whoever lived the longest should present St. Andrew's Golf Club with a silver club on which the terms of the bet would be entered. 13 years later, the stick was donated to the club by Mr. White-Melvin. In the same year, he was elected chairman of the club, but did not have time to take up his duties, having departed to another world. His portrait adorns one of the club's smoking rooms.

In the 20th century, golf even reached the moon! In February 1971, Alan Shepard, the captain of the Apollo 14 spacecraft, hit two balls twice. In 1974, the stick that Alan used when playing in space was donated to one of the museums.

Introduction to golf means much more than just a passion for a new sport - it is rather an introduction to a very special culture: rich in traditions, aesthetic, aristocratic and multifaceted (From the series: "An Alternative Guide to England"). On a fine Sunday afternoon at a British golf club, you can meet a large number of excited pensioners, women and children ...- yes, yes, everyone in Britain plays golf, from young to old and without distinction of sexes.

In addition to the usual golf, which is very rare for us, but still shown on TV (we are talking about the Eurosport and Eurosport-2 channels), there is also minigolf, crazy golf (or adventure golf) and putting-golf. Putting golf is the easiest with one stick. Everyone who is going to get out into a large field should start with it. Minigolf and crazy golf are child's play. Like Disneyland with rides, pirates, dinosaurs and more. These types of golf are the most suitable for families. The procedure for getting on the field is simple: buy a ticket - and go. The ticket price depends on the location of the club, the size of the field and also on the day of the week. And ranges from two to fifty pounds. But do not be upset: in Japan, for example, the minimum ticket price is $100. And the unfortunate Japanese go to England specifically to play golf!

In Moscow, even worse: only two golf clubs and only for members. And membership is affordable for one millionaires. And we have a huge selection here. If you do not have the necessary personal belongings, do not be embarrassed. The clubs have shops where you can buy everything from golf underpants to a car for moving around the golf courses. If desired, you can probably order a helicopter.

But the main thing at first is not to get lost among the endless multitude

сlub - клюшка для гольфа

ball - мяч для гольфа

green - зеленый лужок вокруг лунки

hole - лунка

irons - стандартный набор из девяти клюшек

woods - первые три клюшки

putter - клюшка для putting-golf

golf range - клуб, где можно попрактиковаться в ударах по мячу

2.5 Polo

Polo is by all means an elite sport. Polo makes high demands not only on the athlete's bank account. Among the indispensable attributes of polo are the aristocratic origin and upbringing of the players. Polo starts at Eton and Milfield and continues at Oxford.

In the United Kingdom, many generations of the royal family were passionate fans of this sport, and the grandson of the seventh Duke of Marlborough, Sir Winston Churchill, was one of the truly talented players: his personal handicap was six points out of ten. Churchill played polo until the age of 52 and called it "a pass to the big world" - to high society. Throughout its centuries-old history, polo has been inextricably linked with aristocratic traditions and lifestyles.

HISTORY OF POLO

In all details, the history of the origin of this game can no longer be restored, apparently. It is generally accepted that polo appeared more than two thousand years ago. As for the etymology of the name, it is possible that it comes from the Tibetan "pulu" ("willow", the first polo balls were made from willow twigs). In the period from the VI century. BC. according to the 1st century AD, one of the prototypes of polo became widespread in Persia (according to other sources, this game was known in Persia as early as the third millennium BC). Initially, the game was used to train cavalrymen, who, using elongated canes, drove a ball of wicker across the field, developing dexterity and accuracy. One team could have up to a hundred players, and the meetings were like small battles.Over time, the game became the entertainment of the nobility, in which men and women took part, and the degree of skill of the rider often determined the right to occupy one or another public office.

Thanks to the Persians, the game spread to the north of India. In the Middle Ages, polo was played throughout Asia, from Constantinople to Japan. In Samarkand, a polo field created during the time of Tamerlane has been preserved. The polo field, built in Ispahan by order of Shah Abbas the Great, has now become a city park. Europe learned about horse polo at the beginning of the second millennium: the Crusaders, who visited Constantinople, brought it to France. However, at that time the game did not arouse much enthusiasm among the Europeans. Polo gained wide popularity only a few centuries later thanks to the officers of the British contingent in India.

In 1859 the polo club "Silchara" was founded. Its creation is associated with the names of the captain of the cavalry Robert Stewart and Lieutenant Joe Scherer, who learned about this game when their unit was quartered in Manipur. The game practiced in Manipur differed significantly from modern polo: seven players from each side rode undersized ponies of the local breed; there was no goal, and the task of the participants in the game was only to send the ball over the edge of the field belonging to the opponents.

The game quickly gained popularity among British officers and tea planters, and in 1863 Calcutta's oldest polo club opened today. The main contribution to the popularization of polo in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe was made by officers who returned home from India. One of them, Captain Edward Hartopp, organized the first game in Great Britain in 1869. In 1872, the first Monmouth polo club in the United Kingdom was founded, and several other clubs soon followed, managed by the Harlingham Association, which formulated the rules of the game in 1874. These rules, with minor changes, have survived to this day. In 1888, the handicap system was introduced in polo. In 1897, on the initiative of the Indian Maharaja Pratap Singh, the first ever international polo competition was held, in which the teams of India and England took part.

Polo was once an Olympic sport Polo was part of the Olympic disciplines in 1900, 1908, 1920, 1924 and 1936. After the Second World War, the popularity of polo declined slightly: the British army was mechanized, and the cavalry, which traditionally supplied talented players, having become an outdated branch of the military, was reduced several times. A huge role in the revival of British polo was played by the third Viscount Cowdray, Sir Whitman Pearson, who is considered by many to be the father of modern English polo. A little over 20 years ago, a new variety of equestrian polo appeared - polo on the snow. It differs from the traditional one in the number of rounds and some other rules. Many years ago, engineers and cattle traders from England and Ireland brought polo to South American countries. Nowadays, athletes from Argentina and Brazil occupy leading positions in professional polo.

The most prestigious tournaments are held in the United Kingdom - the Cartier Cup, the Queen's Cup, the English Open (Gold Cup). All tournaments receive extensive gossip coverage, and Cartier Cup games are usually held under the patronage of the Queen. The English aristocracy still forms the backbone of British polo and can afford to buy horses and equipment, but the situation is beginning to change when it comes to funding professional athletes. With an international team costing between £2-3m a year, the need for new sources of funding from outside the UK is on the rise, with many teams changing ownership and the new owners often not of aristocratic origin. Still, it would be premature to argue that polo is losing its status as a privileged sport. Polo training is still part of the curriculum of a handful of privileged schools, such as Eton, Winchester and Harrow, and only a few will continue to have the opportunity to keep horses.

It is still a tradition in many clubs to this day to roll down the turf after the first two chuckers, with the spectators leaving their seats and strolling across the field. Sometimes the athletes themselves join them, who thus warm up before the next chakker. This tradition is often observed at well-known tournaments, and then the spectators have the opportunity to easily approach the most outstanding athletes and greet them.

Polo has easy acquaintances with eminent persons. The most famous fan of the game in the UK is Prince Charles. Prince Charles' personal handicap is 2 points, indicating a very high level of play. Charles left polo at the age of 57 when an elbow injury sustained in a fall from a horse in 1990 began to cause him serious discomfort. Subsequently, the prince repeatedly fell off his horses at various tournaments, and a fall at a charity game in 2001 ended in a short-term loss of consciousness. The amount of donations for charitable needs, collected at the games with his participation, exceeded 12 million pounds. Many episodes in the prince's personal life are somehow connected with polo: it was on the polo field that Charles met Camilla Parker Bowles, and Princess Diana met one of her lovers, Major James Hewitt, during the game. Diana repeatedly recalled with resentment an episode that occurred shortly after the birth of her son, Prince William: Prince Charles looked at his first child, and, stating that he looked like his relatives from Diana, left to play polo. Princess Diana believed that this episode was the beginning of a fatal turn in her relationship with Prince Charles. Subsequently, James Hewitt gave Princess Diana and Prince William riding lessons, during which Diana and Hewitt began an affair that lasted until the early 1990s.

Subsequently, it became obvious that Prince William nevertheless adopted something from his father: he became the same passionate fan of polo, moreover, he also had several falls from a horse (fortunately, which did not cause any harm to the young prince) . One day, William announced that he intended to become a professional polo player and play for the British national team. Prince Henry also became a no less enthusiastic player. Prince Charles himself inherited an interest in polo from his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip: from a young age, this sport was his favorite pastime, and today he is the president of one of the most famous English polo clubs.

POLO RULES

Winter version of equestrian polo.The game is played by two teams of four riders who are tasked with kicking the ball into the opponents' goal. They play on a field measuring 272 X 182 meters, surrounded by a low barrier, and in the winter months, competitions are often held in a closed "arena" measuring 91 by 45 meters (in the latter case, the number of participants on each side is reduced to three). The width of the gate is 7.3 meters, there are no height restrictions. A white ball with a diameter of 8.9 cm is made of pressed bamboo or plastic. The stick used by the player is a rattan cane 1.2-1.5 meters long with a mallet at the end. The stick can only be held in the right hand. Depending on the direction, four types of blows are distinguished - direct (forehand), sending the ball forward or sideways, reverse (backhand) for passing the ball back to a partner, a blow from under the neck (neckshot), tail shot (tailshot). After each goal, the teams change goals so that no one has an advantage due to weather or ground conditions.

The team consists of two forwards, a midfielder and a defender. It is forbidden to cross the line of movement of another player, but it is allowed to push the opponent back or knock him off course by jumping nearby. The game consists of four rounds (chakkers) lasting 7.5 minutes with one five-minute and two three-minute breaks, during which the players change horses. Compliance with the rules of the game is observed by two referees riding around the field, and the chief referee, who monitors the progress of the game from the side. The main task of the referees is to determine who owns the right of movement, as well as set the direction of the ball.In case of violation of the rules, penalties are awarded.

An indicator of skill level is a handicap. The intermediate level team has a handicap of 15-18, the higher level team has a handicap of 19 or more. This indicator is the sum of the handicaps of all the players on the team. Handicap - 4 can be obtained only after four years of diligent practice, and categories from 2 to 10 are considered professional. When awarding a player a particular category, the National Polo Association is guided by such indicators as knowledge of the basics of technology, riding skills, understanding of game strategy and teamwork.

POLO PONY

“Money is speed and weight,” said Shiraz, rubbing his black silky nose with a melancholy look, “and the basic principles of the game, as far as I know” ... “But we are playing a game, not principles,” - said the Maltese Cat - "and our great advantage is that we know this game ... We play not only with our hooves, but also with our heads." R. Kipling. maltese cat

Against the backdrop of the famous Capitol. Winning the game depends not only on the talent and experience of the player: all efforts will be in vain if his horses are poorly trained. Ponies must move smoothly, have quick reactions and the ability to develop great speed, must be bold and balanced. Despite their name, these horses are not small in size. In 1919, the limit on their height was increased from 147 to 155 cm, and Argentine horse breeders began to cross the Creole horse breed with the thoroughbred Welsh. The result met expectations: polo ponies are energetic, quick-witted, hardy and calm.

In order for horses to be fit to play, these innate qualities must be developed, and training begins at the age of three.Ponies learn to pick up speed, slow down at full gallop, change direction abruptly, then gallop again. On farms, horses are trained to harness and saddle. Training is completed by the age of 5-6, after which the horse is sold to the player or club. But the preparation does not end there: it will be a long time before the polo-ponies begin to participate in the games.

The first three or four years at the club will be filled with training and participation in amateur competitions. Prestigious European clubs have at least two hundred horses for training players. Pony pony manes are sheared, tails are braided so that they do not interfere with the game, legs are wrapped in bandages to avoid injury, and horseshoes are provided with spikes for better grip on the ground.

Each player must have at least four horses, professionals usually have at least five. The same horse is not allowed to compete in two chakkers in a row. In the off-season, polo ponies rest, in February they take part in tournaments that are held indoors, the season begins in May, and most of the competition takes place in the summer.

With an average lifespan of 20 to 25 years, polo ponies reach their peak form at 10 to 12 years of age. At this time, the horse begins to really feel the rider and the game. The official rules of polo use the term "pony goal", which refers to the situation when a polo pony kicks the ball into the opponent's goal with a kick of the hoof. Such a goal is counted and causes the constant delight of the audience.

Conclusion

Great Britain is the birthplace of modern sports, since it was there that golf, rowing, rugby, athletics, football, boxing, badminton originated. It was on the model of England that the governing circles of other states began to recognize that the current sport is not only fun, but also an occupation that is useful in other respects.

The British are one of the most athletic nations in the world.

There are more than 2,000 sports centers in this country, such as there are in every town, large or small. Most of them were built in the 1908s to give residents the conditions for sports. The number of people who go in for sports has increased, but almost everyone goes in for sports once a month. 10% of adults go in for sports more than twice a week. Undoubtedly, playing sports is one of the reasons for the rather long life expectancy in the UK. In comparison with Russia, English women live 8 years longer, and men - 16! - Despite the love of the British for sports, I cannot notice their highest merit in sports. For example, English basketball players took part in the Olympic Games once in 1948, finishing 20th. Although, according to statistics in Britain, 3 million people play basketball. At the Winter Olympics, the UK team ranks below 15, which I can explain by the warm climate of the UK (virtually there is no snow). But even at the Summer Olympics, Great Britain is not in the top 10. I think that the phrase uttered by the Bishop of Pennsylvania, "The main thing is not victory, but participation!", Became prophetic for the British. Yes, they often become winners, but, despite all of the above, everyone goes in for sports, and they represent a healthy, fit nation.

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List of used literature

1. Гайл В.В. Краткая история физической культуры и спорта. – Екатеренбург : ГОУ ВПО УГТУ−УПИ, 2006
2. Кун Л. Всеобщая история физической культуры и спорта. — М.: «Радуга». 1982