sports essay vocabulary

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This page of sports vocabulary has been carefully created to help you prepare for your IELTS exam. Sport is an important part in many of our lives and is a topic that often comes up in the test.

Whether we play a sport ourselves, are a fan who likes to watch sport either live or on TV, or we have little interest in sport, we all have an opinion on it and the famous athletes that regularly appear in the media.

Sport is a subject that could come up in any part of your test, so learning some sports vocabulary is certainly to be recommended. You might also want to talk about it when answering questions about your hobbies, leisure activities or school days.

Here’s a quick overview of some of the things you could be asked about:

• Your interest in sport
• Your experience of playing a sport
• The popularly of sport in your country
• Sports facilities in your town or city
• Sport in schools
• Sports celebrities as role models
• Money and sport
• The importance of international sporting events

To ensure that you’re well prepared to answer any sport-related question, I've included four things on this page:

• IELTS-style questions on the topic of sport and fitness
• Sample answers
• A list of common sports vocabulary with definitions & sample sentences 
• Links to online reading and listening resources

You’ll find PDF downloads of both the questions and sample answers and the sports vocabulary list at the bottom of the respective sections.

The questions relate to the Speaking test because this part of the exam offers the broadest range of possible questions on the topic of sport. They give the best opportunity for me to demonstrate the vocabulary and for you to practise using it.

I’ve included IELTS-style questions and answers for all three parts of the Speaking test. I've highlighted keywords and phrases in  bold .

You'll find these words and phrases, and many others, in the vocabulary list beneath. The list also includes explanations and sample sentences and there’s an audio to listen to the pronunciation.

The sports vocabulary list contains words and phrases relevant to all parts of the IELTS exam.

Finally, at the bottom of the page I've added links to topical articles, short videos and podcasts that will help you to improve both your sports vocabulary and your reading and listening skills.

IELTS-Style Speaking Test Questions & Answers

Common sports vocabulary is highlighted in  bold .

1) Do you like sport?

I’m a great sports  fan . I sometimes watch on it TV but I prefer actually taking part in  sport .

2) What sports did you do at school?

Sport  was my favourite thing at school. In the autumn and spring terms I played  hockey  and during the summer months we did  athletics . I even enjoyed  cross-country running  which most people hated.

3) How important is keeping fit to you?

Keeping fit  is and very important part of my life. In fact, my friends would say I’m a bit of a  fitness fanatic . It helps to keep me healthy and I also  work out  to be in  good shape  for taking part in my  sport  of  rowing .

4) What do you do to keep fit?

I do several things to  keep fit . I take  weight training  classes, go  jogging ,  train  on the water with my  rowing   crew and  walk  my dog twice a day.

5) Is violence a problem at sporting events in your country?

There used to be a serious problem with  football   fans  getting involved in fights both inside and outside  stadiums  but a lot has been done to stop this happening. It’s much safer to go to  matches  now and they have become family events again.

Describe a sports club you belong to or used to belong to.

You should say:

• what club it is
• when you joined
• why you joined

and explain the benefits of belonging to your club.

I belong to Barnstaple Pilot Gig Club. It’s a  rowing  club but we row a very special type of boat called a pilot gig. They’re traditional wooden boats, about 30 foot long and with six rowers and a cox. In the old days, these gigs would have been used to take a pilot out to sailing ships coming into port and they were also used as lifeboats. Now gig  rowing  has become a  competitive   sport  which is gradually growing in popularity.

I joined the club when it started back in 2010. I’d wanted to row pilot gigs from the age of 12 when my family started taking holidays in the Isles of Scilly where gig races between the islanders took place every Friday evening in the summer. I loved going out on the passenger boats to watch and cheer on the crews. As soon as I heard about a gig club starting in my own town I jumped at the chance to join.

Back when I was young, I never imagined that one day I’d be racing in the Pilot Gig World  Championships  in the Isles of Scilly but I’ve done so with my club several times now. It’s an amazing experience with over 140 boats taking part. …a bit different to all those years ago when I used to watch just seven or eight boats racing while on my holidays.

Although we mostly row on the river, we also   train  on the sea to prepare us for  rowing  in  competitions . We compete in  regattas  all year round but the main  season  is from March to September.

Rowing  is very  strenuous exercise  and you need a high level of  aerobic fitness  as well as strength. We  train hard  both on the water and in the  gym  and I really enjoy  working out  and  training  with the other club members. We’re all close friends and often enjoy social activities together. I’d go as far as to say that the club is my social life as well as my  sport .

I guess that sums up the main benefits of belonging to my club. It contributes so much to both my physical and mental well-being that I can’t imagine it not being a part of my life.

1) Do you think people in your country exercise enough? If not, why?

In my opinion, the majority of adults in the UK definitely don’t get enough  exercise . You only have to look around at the level of obesity to see that this is true. I’d go as far as to say that the majority of people are very  out of condition  and never do any  strenuous exercise .

I really don’t understand why this is the case. There’s more knowledge than ever before about the advantages to both physical and mental health of  keeping fit , and the negative effects of not taking enough  exercise  are well-known.

Every town has a range of  sports facilities  including  fitness centres ,  gyms  and  swimming pool  for people to use. Or they could just  walk  more or maybe  cycle  to work. There really isn’t any excuse not to take at least some  exercise  every day.

Many doctor’s surgeries even run their own  fitness programmes  or will recommend some that you can join to help you  get in shape . I wish more people would take their  fitness  seriously and take advantage of the opportunities to stay healthy.

2) Do you think competitive sport should be part of the school curriculum?

Yes, I definitely think it’s important for children to take part in  competitive   sports  at school. In recent years there’s been a trend of having non-competitive  sports  days so that less sporty kids can take part without always being the loser. I disagree with this.

I was good at  sport  and it was the only thing I really achieve a high level of success in at school. This was extremely important to me, so it works both ways. Life is  competitive  and schools need to help children to cope with this.

I’m not saying that those children who hate  sport  and always fail at it should put through this negative experience. Rather, I think schools need to rethink how  sport  is taught. There is such a huge range of sporting activities to choose from these days that I truly believe there’s something every child can enjoy participating in. Schools need to provide the opportunities.

3) What are the benefits of international sports events?

I think there are several major benefits of international sporting  competitions . Firstly, it helps to build relationships between people of different nationalities and cultures. This is so important in our divided world. While the  competitors  may be rivals during  competitions , there is friendship when the  contest  is over. You can see this and the respect they have for each other when you watch big sporting events on TV.

Secondly, when top international  athletes   compete  together, they motivate and inspire each other. This is why new world  records are often set  at events such as the Olympics and many  athletes  achieve  personal bests .

Finally, international sporting events encourage people to get involved in  sport  themselves, especially the younger generation. The TV coverage of  competitions  for disabled sportspeople in recent years has led to a massive increase in people with disabilities  taking up   sports  which is life-changing for them.

Click this link to get a PDF download of these practise questions & sample answers.

Download PDF Now

* Important

• Do not try and learn this list of sports vocabulary.
• Identify the vocabulary you find useful for answering practise questions about this topic.
• Record these in your vocabulary notebook and practise using them regularly.

I recommend that you create your own answers to the Speaking questions on this page. You will find many other IELTS-style practise questions by searching online. 

For help on how to learn vocabulary, what to learn and how to record it, visit these pages:

How to Learn Vocabulary for IELTS

Top 6 Types of IELTS Vocabulary & Topic Word Lists

Sports Vocabulary – Common Words & Phrases

Sports Vocabulary Set 1: Key definitions

sport – an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another following rules

- Jamie always struggled with his school work but was excellent at sports .

extreme sport – a ​sport that is exciting but also ​dangerous such as skydiving

- Esther became interested in extreme sports when she tried bungee jump on a trip to New Zealand.

fitness – the condition of being physically fit and healthy

- I’m trying to improve my fitness by walking to work each day.

Sports Vocabulary Pronunciation

Sports Vocabulary Set 2: Fitness

to keep fit – to keep the body in good physical condition by exercising regularly

- I do several things to keep fit but dancing is the one I enjoy the most.

fitness fanatic – to be obsessed with keeping fit

- Dylan is a real fitness fanatic and goes to the gym every day.

to exercise – to do an activity requiring physical effort, generally in order to improve health and fitness

- I make sure that I exercise every single day even if it’s only taking the dog for a walk.

strenuous exercise – exercise that needs a lot of physical effort.

- I used to hate strenuous exercise until I took up running to lose weight and now really enjoy it.

to get into shape – to become fit

- Jae Hwa was so determined to get into shape that she started cycling to work.

to take up (a sport) – to start playing a sport.

- I have always wanted to take up archery and am going to join the new club that has just started in my area.

to warm up – to prepare for strenuous activity by doing gentle exercise first

- We always warm up before we start our workout session in the gym.

to cool down – to end a session of strenuous activity with gentle exercises to allow the heart rate to come down and the body return to a near resting state.

- It’s important to cool down after exercising hard as this helps to prevent injury.

to be out of condition – to be not physical fit (unfit)

- My friend is so out of condition that she gets out of breath walking up the stairs.

training – to work hard at physical exercise and skills in order to be fitter and better at a sport

- I often don’t feel like training but I know I have to if I want to win more races.

to train hard –  to train with a lot of effort and passion

- The team trained hard before the match and beat the other team easily.

fitness programme –  a  planned timetable of activities to help someone improve their health and physical condition

- Following a fitness programme at my local gym helped me to stay motivated as I got back into shape after having a baby.

aerobic fitness – having strong heart and lungs and being able to carry out sustained exercise such as jogging, swimming or cycling

- In order to be a competitive rower, you need a high level of aerobic fitness .

to work out – to exercise, usually in a gym.

- Dhruv worked out at the gym three evenings a week.

a workout   – a session of exercises, usually in a gym.

- Cressida found that a workout at the gym helped her de-stress after a hard day at work.

to bulk up – to make your body bigger and heavier, especially by gaining more muscle  

- He felt so much stronger since he started working out with weights and his body was really beginning to bulk up .

boot camp – a short, intensive, and rigorous course of training

- William couldn’t believe he’d agreed to go along to the boot camp with his friend. He didn’t even like exercising.

Set 3: Sports facilities

sports facilities – places and buildings used for sporting activities such as swimming pools and running tracks

- There are excellent sports facilities at my university which is one reason I chose it.

stadium – a large building, with tiers of seats for spectators, where people watch sports events such as football matches or athletics

- The stadium was buzzing with excitement as the two teams came out onto the pitch for the start of the match.

fitness centre – a place where people go to do physical exercise; usually has a gym, weights equipment and rooms for exercise classes

- I can’t wait for the new fitness centre to open as they’re advertising some great exercise classes.

sports centre – a building where people can do a range of different sports

- We have a great sports centre in our town which offers everything from martial arts training to indoor bowls.

gym – a large hall or room with special equipment for doing physical exercises

- If it’s raining when I want to go running, I run on the treadmill in the gym instead.

an athletics track – a sporting facility with a track for running and areas for other sports such high jump, long jump and javelin throwing

- Each summer we have a big competition for all the schools in our area down at the local athletics track .

pitch – a surface on which a particular sport is played, such as a football pitch or baseball pitch, that is marked out with lines

- Victor felt nervous as he waited with his team to go out onto the pitch for the first big match of the season.

court – a surface where you play sports such as tennis, badminton and squash

- Shelley was playing an excellent opponent who made her run from one side of the tennis court to the other throughout the match.

swimming pool – an area of water, often in a building, created for swimming in

- My mum took me to the swimming pool every Saturday morning when I was a child.

changing room – a room in a sports building or school where ​people can ​change ​their ​clothes before exercise

- The changing room smelt awful with all the sweaty bodies in there after the football match.

locker room – a changing room where people can leave their clothes in a small lockable cupboards

- Matilda put in a complaint as many of the lockers in the locker room were broken.

Set 4: People in sport

athlete – a person who is very good at sports or physical exercise, especially one who competes in organised events

- Kofi trained hard for many years to become one of the top athletes in his country.

coach – an expert who trains someone learning or improving a skill

- The coach made them focus on their tackling skills as this was a weakness in their game.

trainer – similar to a coach but often relates more to the fitness side of training

- Janine has been concerned about working with the new trainer but her performance improved considerably after just one month.

personal trainer – a coach or trainer who works with someone on a one-to-one basis

- If you find it hard to stay motivated when working out on your own, I recommend hiring a personal trainer .

competitor – someone who takes part in a sports competition

- There were nearly 100 competitors in the cycle race, so Megan was delighted to come tenth.

referee – a person who is in charge of a sports game and who makes certain that the rules are followed

- It’s hard being a referee as not everyone agrees with your decisions.

umpire – a referee in sports such as tennis and cricket

- The umpire ruled that the ball was out of court.

goalkeeper – the player whose job it is to stop the ball going into the goal in games such as soccer and hockey

- Our goalkeeper was the star of the match after saving two goals in the penalty shootout.

Set 5: Sporting achievements

a personal best –  to get a better score or achieve a faster time in your sport than you’ve ever done before

- Although Hicham didn’t win the 400m, he achieved a personal best of 45.38 seconds so was delighted with his performance.

to set a record – to achieve the best result in a particular sport

- I knew my jump was a good one but I couldn’t believe it when I learnt I’d set a new long jump record for my college.

to break a record – to do something that is better, faster, etc. than anything that has been done before

- The crowd in the stadium went wild when Usain Bolt broke the 200m record yet again.

prize – a reward that you get for being successful in a sports competition

- Fahmi didn’t compete for the prize money but because she loved playing tennis.

Set 6: Sports & fitness activities

athletics – the sport of competing in track and field events, including running races and various competitions in jumping and throwing

Athletics sport:

Ball sports:

Racket sports:

Water sports:

Winter sports:

Other sports & fitness activities:

aerobics  – vigorous exercise that strengthens the heart & lungs

gymnastics  –   exercises on bars, beam, floor, rings & vaulting horse

martial arts  – fighting sports that make both your body and mind stronger such as karate

Set 7: Other sports vocabulary

equipment – the items necessary to work out or do a sport

- My gym is going to install some new equipment as some of it is old and worn out.

kit – special clothing and equipment that you use when you take part in a particular activity, especially a sport

- Mandy was furious when her son decided to give up playing football just after she’d bought him some new kit .

membership – the state of belonging to a group, a club or organisation

- Like many people, I take out a gym membership every New Year but have usually stopped going by February.

a home game – a sports match played in the teams own stadium

- I’m so glad my team has a home game this week as my car has broken down.

an away game – a sports match played in the opposing team’s stadium

- I don’t enjoy playing away games as much as home games as fewer of our own supporters are there.

supporter – someone who  admires a sports team and watches them play regularly

- I’ve been a Manchester United supporter all my life and watch live games wherever I can.

a fan – someone who  admires a specific person, sport or a sports team

- I’m a huge rugby fan and especially enjoy watching the international matches on TV.

a competition – an event or contest in which individual people or teams take part in order to establish who is best

- The coach was pleased with the way the new team was playing and entered them in the under 12’s competition .

contest – a competition, often involving two people

- Tosin was very nervous before the contest as he was up against a very good boxer from Cuba.

match – a sports competition in which two people or teams compete against each other

- They were really disappointed to have lost the match after being ahead in the first half.

championship – a large and important competition

- She was overjoyed to be selected to run for her country in the world championships .

tournament – a competition for teams or single players in which a series of games is played, and the winners of each game play against each other until only one winner is left

- The school team arrived home with a large trophy after winning the regional hockey tournament .

regatta – a sporting event involving boats

- Gregor has only been learning to sail for six months when he took part in his first regatta .

versus/v  – against, used to denote competing teams or players in a sports contest

- The final of the men’s tennis championship was Nadal  versus  Federer.

to compete  – to take part in a competition or sports event

- Jolene was so excited about  competing  in her first professional golf competition.

competitive  – involving competition; wanting very much to win or be more successful than other people

- Danny was very  competitive  and trained harder than anyone else in the effort to be the best hurdler at his county.

league  – a group of sports teams who take part in competitions between each other over a period of time

- If they won the next game, they would end the season top of the  league .

to score  – to get a point or goal in a game or sport

- Baz  scored  in the last minute of the match and won the game for his team.

the score  – how many points an individual or team has

- The final  score  was 3-1 to the home side so there was much celebration in the town that evening.

a draw  – when two competitors or teams get the same score

- When the final whistle blew the score was 34-34 so the basketball match was a  draw .

reserve  – an ​extra ​player who is ​ready to ​play if ​needed

- Narong was pleased to be selected as a  reserve  but really hoped he’d have a chance to play.

to drop out   – to not do something that you were going to do, or to stop doing something before you have finished

- She was leading the race until she pulled a muscle and had to  drop out  in the third lap.

to pull out  – to withdraw before an event or competition

- The crew had to  pull out  of the regatta after they all fell ill with a stomach bug.

injury  – when part of the body is damaged or hurt

- Lena was favourite to win the golf tournament until she picked up a shoulder  injury .

season  – a period of the year when a particular sport is played

- I love it when the cricket  season  comes round each year as it means that summer has finally arrived.

a season ticket  – an entry ticket for all of a team’s home games during a specific season

- For my thirtieth birthday, my family bought me a  season ticket  to watch my favourite soccer team play.

amateur  –  a person who engages in a pursuit, especially a sport, on an unpaid basis

- Although he only played rugby in an  amateur  team, it was his dream to turn professional one day.

professional  –  a person is paid for playing a sport

- Professional racing drivers get paid vast sums of money.

Set 8: Sports idioms

blow away the competition – to easily beat the opposing competitor or team

- I thought it was going to be a challenging race but he blew away the competition .

neck and neck – when two competitors are level with each other and have an equal chance of winning

- Coming down the home straight, the two front-runners were neck and neck until Yoshi edged ahead as they reached the finish line.

front-runner –   the person or team considered most likely to win

- There were some excellent gymnasts in the competition but Nadia was definitely the front-runner and the one to beat.

to get second wind – to experience renewed energy after a period of fatigue

- He began to struggle in the final stages of the marathon but hearing the crowd cheer him on, he got second wind and finished in the top twenty.

underdog – a competitor thought to have little chance of doing well or winning

- The British skiing team were definitely the underdogs in the competition so everyone was shocked when they got third place.

Click this link to get a PDF download of this list of sports vocabulary.

Other Useful Sports Vocabulary

Whilst this list of sports vocabulary includes the most common sports, there are also others you might know about or take part in. In your country, you may even have sports that are unique to your culture. Add any that you are likely to want to talk about to your list.

It’s also a good idea to create your own list of sports vocabulary related to sporting or fitness activities you currently do or have done in the past so that you are ready to talk about them if asked.

Most sports and fitness activities have their own set of vocabulary – equipment, kit, specialist terms, etc. Include the most important words.

You’ll also find more sports vocabulary and fitness words on the  Health Vocabulary  page.

Ways to Improve Your Sports Vocabulary

One of the best ways to improve your vocabulary is through reading. Watching topic related YouTube videos and listening to podcasts is also hugely beneficial.

Here are some online resources I recommend.

Sports Articles 

BBC Sports   (also videos)

The Guardian

TED Talks are short videos with a powerful message and are generally very interesting. They’re ideal for improving your vocabulary and give valuable listening skills practise.

Search  TED Talks - Sport  to help you improve your sports vocabulary.

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IELTS Sport Vocabulary Advanced : Useful Phrases & Expressions in IELTS Speaking

Updated On Jan 03, 2024

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Sports is an interesting topic in IELTS Speaking, and the frequency of facing the topic in the IELTS speaking test is really high. Hence, it is important to be knowledgeable about the different vocabulary for sports when preparing for IELTS.

When answering questions related to sports, the use of sports vocabulary can significantly improve the quality of your answers in IELTS. One way you can do that is to use some useful collocations & phrases to sound more natural and native. In this post, I will share with you some useful vocabulary about Sports which I believe can help you to impress the examiners & gain a 7 or higher in IELTS Speaking .

To commence with, I would like to give you some ideas about the Pros and Cons of Sports that help you not only in speaking test but also in writing test.

• Feel a sense of enjoyment Example: Whenever I play football with my friends, I feel a sense of enjoyment although I sweat a lot.
• Have an opportunity to socialize Example: Participating in sports allows you to socialize, which means you can meet and make new friends
• Face the risk of injury Example: You should be careful when playing sports otherwise you will face the risk of injury.
• Need large investment of time Example: Playing a sport will need a large investment of time.

Collocations and Phrases for IELTS Speaking Test – Topic: Sports

1. To take up exercise: to start doing exercise

Example: I say I’m going to take up exercise all the time, but I always find an excuse to delay.

2. To train hard: to train with a lot of effort

Example: An athletic has to train hard to achieve their goal.

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3. To do judo: 

Example: My friend is physically very strong. She does judo every day.

4. To play tennis/football:

Example: At the weekends I like to play football with friends, and sometimes I just do judo to kill my times.

5. A strong swimmer: a good swimmer

Example: My father who is a strong swimmer teaches me how to swim.

6. To get into shape: to become fit

Example: My brother does many exercises, which help him to get into shape.

7. To keep fit: to stay in a good physical condition

Example: I try to keep fit by consuming healthy food and doing exercise regularly

8. To go jogging: to run around the street

Example: I usually go jogging with my mother in the park which is near my house in the early morning or the afternoon.

9. To set a record: to achieve the best result in a sports

Example: All athletics always want to set a record or get personal bests.

10. Sports facilities: the equipment and services needed to do a sports

Example: My university spends a lot of money on upgrading the sports facilities.

11. A personal best: to achieve the best result so far in the sports

Example: Sara trains hard to achieve her personal bests.

12. Brisk walk: a fast walk

Example: Doing a brisk walk is one of the best ways to maintain our health.

13. A big/huge/massive fan of: supporter or admirer who really like something

Example: I am a huge fan of football, and my favourite club is Real Marid.

14. To be out of condition: to be not physical fit

Example: Lacking of doing exercise and playing sports can lead to being out of condition.

15. An athletics meeting: an event where various athletics sports are held

Example: It has been my dream to go to an athletics meeting with my family to watch sports, especially football matches.

16. A football match: a game of football

Example: I have never missed a football match of my favourite club.

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IELTS Speaking Part 1

1. Do you do any sports?

Absolutely yes, I am fond of playing football with my friends after school, because we are big fans of football,  and whenever playing it, we have a lot of fun with that and feel a sense of enjoyment.

2. Do you watch sports on TV?

Football is my favourite sport to watch on TV. Since I a huge football fan , I have barely missed football matches  of my favourite team including away games and home games.  I prefer to spend my Sunday night staying at home to see a match with my father.

3. What is the most popular sports in your country?

In my opinion, I believe football is the most common sport in my country. This is because it is not too hard to take up sports. In terms of watching a football match , this can bring so much fun to the viewer, not to mention that the sports does not cost much money to play and watch, which allow people to find it easy to approach.

IELTS Speaking Part 2

Band 8.0 Sample Answer 

Since I was a little boy, I began to fall for football, and until now I have ever stopped loving sports. At the very beginning, I first came to know football when my father took me to watch a football match in which our local team played against their biggest competitor.  Although our team lose that match , I knew that they had trained hard to prepare for the big match , also during the match, they showed their determination to win that game. All of this made me love our team and to start to fall in love with the interesting sports. After that, I always followed our local team and asked my father to buy season tickets , then I would never miss any games of my favourite team.

Apart from watching football, I am also into playing it. Thus, whenever I have spare time, I prefer to spend on playing football with my friends, which is not only easy for us to take up but also give us a sense of enjoyment . Though it makes me sweat a lot anytime I play with the ball, I love the fact that I always have a great time with my buddy. In addition, I was proud that by playing football regularly I can get into shape , then my relatives compliment on my fit body each time we meet.

Finally, I believe that does not matter that how busy I will be in the future, I will constantly spend a part of my time on football, and my love for football will never be faded.

IELTS Speaking Part 3

1. Should people be encouraged more to take up a sport?

Definitely yes, the most important reason is that playing sports can be regarded as a recreational activity . Indeed, while in the modern world individuals have to suffer from a high level of stress at work or school , so this activity can allow people to reduce stress significantly and feel comfortable. Another reason is anticipating that sports will allow people to socialize , which means they can meet and make new friends.

2. Which sports do you think is best for people who aren’t used to physical activity?

In my point of view, this kind of people won’t prefer strenuous exercise , so brisk walking can be a great choice because sports do not require a high level of fitness . Also, going on a brisk walk regularly help people to keep fit and have a good effect on their health . People who aren’t used to physical activity can also choose swimming, which is easy to take up and after go swimming, they can feel a sense of freshness.

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53 Sports Vocabulary Terms in English

Sports are a part of everyday life, and many people absolutely love them.

You might prefer to watch sports on TV or listen to live games on the radio .

Perhaps you play sports as a fun way to stay healthy, or you could even compete as a serious athlete.

No matter your relationship to sports, you’ll need to know some key sports-related words to participate at any level.

Read on to learn 53 must-know sports vocabulary terms in English !

4. Athletic

5. athletics, 9. cheer on, 11. compete, 15. defense, 21. half-time, 24. opponent, 25. overtime, 27. personal best, 28. physique, 30. pitcher, 31. practice, 32. professional, 34. referee ( ref ), 41. skilled, 42. spectator, 43. sportsmanship, 45. tactics, 47. teammate, 48. teamwork, 49. tournament, 50. trainer, 52. victory, 53. whistle, and one more thing....

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Noun: Another word for arena that you’re probably more familiar with is stadium . It’s a flat area that hosts (holds) sporting events like the Olympic Games, soccer and rugby games. It is circular (like a circle) in shape and surrounded by seats for fans to sit.

The arena was packed full of excited fans to watch the final of the Champion’s League.

Noun/Adjective: An amateur is a person who is not a professional or does not get paid for what they do.

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He’s an amateur soccer player, but one day he hopes to play for his favorite team in the UK: Manchester United.

She started off as an amateur before being recognized for her talent.

Noun:  A person who practices and competes in any sport.

Joan’s brother is a professional athlete and plays tennis for a living (for money).

Adjective:  A person who is athletic and is good at sports.

I’ve never been very athletic and I don’t think my gym teacher liked me very much at school because I couldn’t even catch a ball.

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Noun:  Athletics is the category for any track and field events, such as running (long and short distance), throwing the javelin, long jump etc.

My favorite events to watch during the Olympics are the athletics events. I love the running. I can’t believe how fast some people can run!

Verb: To be awarded something means to be given a prize.

The best three athletes at the Olympic Games are awarded medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

Noun: Any kind of prize, like a certificate, medal or a trophy.

She won the  award for “Best Female Junior Snowboarder” in the city!

Verb:  To win against or defeat another player or team.

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Carlos Alcaraz beat all the other players and won the Wimbledon tennis tournament.

Noun:  The captain is the team leader.

The captain of the team called the players over to talk at half-time.

Phrasal Verb: To shout words of encouragement to your favorite team or player.

In the final five minutes of the game, the fans cheered on their teams, hoping for a win.

Noun: A person who is responsible for teaching and training the athletes to improve their skills.

My basketball coach  told me I’m getting better at my free throws.

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Verb: To train.

He’s been coaching the local team since August.

Verb: To take part in a competition.

20 teams are competing to win the University Cup.

Noun: The rectangle area where games like tennis, basketball and badminton are played.

When I play tennis, I prefer to play on a grass court because doctors have told me it’s better for my knees.

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Noun: An area of land that is used for long running events like marathons, car racing and golf.

Before he gets married next week, he’s going to go to the golf course to play a few rounds with the boys.

Verb : To try and stop the other team from scoring points or goals.

The coach wants us to play our best to  defend  against a goal.

Noun: When someone is defending.

Manchester City has a strong defense and it’s very difficult to score a goal against them.

Note that in British English, this word is spelled defence.

Noun: When two teams finish a game with the same number of points or goals (also called a tie ).

It was a very boring game to watch and it ended up in a draw . The score was 2-2.

Noun: A supporter of a player, team or sport.

He’s a huge  fan of the All Blacks and he watches every game they play.

Noun: An area of grass that is used to play sports such as field hockey, rugby or soccer.

The team ran onto the field at the beginning of the game and the fans cheered loudly.

Noun: The last round of something (e.g., a match, a championship, etc). This can be written as the “final” or “finals.”

The diver was ecstatic after reaching the finals .

Adjective: The last one.

The runner passed the finish line for the final time in his career before retiring.

Noun: The place where you can go and exercise on machines or the inside area where sports lessons are done at school.

She’s trying to lose a few kilos and has started exercising at the gym twice a week.

Noun: The short break between the first and second half of the game.

The team gathered in the changing rooms at half-time while the coach explained the strategy for the second half.

Noun: A group of sports clubs from one area that play against each other for the season to try and win the championship.

Doncaster Rovers were at the top of their league last year, but this year they have been performing badly and are now positioned fifth on the table.

Noun: A small circle piece of metal that can be gold for 1st place, silver for 2nd place and bronze for 3rd place.

Michael Phelps, the American swimmer, broke the record when he won 6 gold medals at the Olympics.

Noun: The person that you compete with or play against in a competition.

Andy Murray’s biggest opponent at Wimbledon was Roger Federer, but he managed to beat him.

Noun: Extra time that can be added to the original allocated time for a sports event.

Since neither team had been able to score during the 90 minutes, the game went to overtime .

Verb: To kick or throw the ball to another player on your team. To go ahead of someone.

He passed the ball to his teammate who then went on to score the winning goal.

He passed his competitors and won the race.

Noun: When someone kicks or throws something to another person.

It was a bad pass and the other team managed to get the ball.

Noun: A record, the best results set by the athlete.

The runner set a new personal best during the 800m sprint.

Noun: The strength or shape of a person’s body.

She’s very small and slim. She’s got the perfect physique to be a gymnast.

Verb: To throw the ball to the person batting in softball or baseball.

He pitched the ball so fast that the person batting was unable to hit the ball.

Noun:  In baseball, the player who throws the ball from the pitcher’s mound to the batter.

The  pitcher was very talented; he pitched a perfect inning!

Verb: To continue training to improve the skill.

Our college basketball team practices  three times a week.

Noun: Training.

We usually have practice twice a week.

Noun/Adjective: To be paid money for the sport you do. Your sport is your job.

His dream to become a professional came true last year when he was asked to join the team. 

Many little boys dream of becoming professional sportspeople when they’re younger, but only a few can achieve their dreams.

Noun: The best performance of goals, medals, speed etc. that has ever been measured in a country or the world.

Usain Bolt holds the world record for the fastest man in the world.

Noun: The person who makes the decisions during a game. A referee runs up and down the field/court (soccer) with the players, but an umpire makes the decisions from one position (e.g., tennis).

The referee signaled for the players to stop and he gave the player a yellow card for kicking another player.

Noun: The laws of the game.

When you break the rules in any game, the referee punishes the player.

Noun: The points that each team has during the game.

The final score was 1-0; it was a really close game.

Verb: To throw the ball up and hit it at the start of play (e.g., tennis and volleyball).

Venus Williams is known for her strong serve in tennis and it’s often difficult for less experienced players to return the ball.

Verb: To hit, throw or kick the ball to try and score a goal or point (e.g., soccer and basketball).

The soccer player was far from the goal, but his team called for him to shoot as there were only ten seconds left and they needed to win the match.

Noun:  When someone shoots to score.

Michael Jordan is famous for scoring long-distance shots and taking three points for the team.

Noun: A talent.

One of the most important skills for success in any sport is coordination.

Adjective: To be able to do something well, to have talent.

He’s a skilled rugby player and if he keeps training, he might make it to the national team.

Noun: The viewer or person who watches a sporting event.

The spectators at Wimbledon are usually very calm compared to the shouting ones at a rugby match.

Noun: To have good or bad sportsmanship is your attitude and your respect for the other team or player when you win or lose a game.

Not shaking a player’s hand after losing is an example of bad sportsmanship .

Verb: To try and take the ball of the other team.

He tried to tackle Messi, but Messi was too fast and continued to run with the ball.

Noun: The plan, the strategy.

The tennis player had to change his tactics  after seeing how strong the other player was.

Noun: A group that works together.

The swimming team represented their country at the Olympic Games.

Noun: A member of your team.

After the match, Amy and her teammates go down to the bar for a drink.

Noun: Working with your teammates to try and win.

Cristiano Ronaldo is often criticized for his lack of teamwork . He prefers to do things alone.

Noun: A number of games and competitions between a certain number of teams or players to win the championship.

The Champions League tournament in Europe is probably the most famous European soccer tournament that is held every year.

Noun: Another word for a coach.

The trainer stood watching nervously as the boxer entered the ring.

Verb: To practice.

Most winter sports teams train through the summer months so they can build their skills and fitness.

Noun: Winning a competition.

The team celebrated their victory with a parade in their home city.

Noun: The small tool that makes a sound that the referee or umpire blows during a game (phrase: to blow the whistle).

The referee blew his whistle and moved his hand to show the start of the match.

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Sports and athletics

Below is a detailed list of vocabulary related to "Sports and athletics" suitable for IELTS band 6.5-8.0:

• Definition: A person who participates in sports or athletic activities.
• Definition: A person who trains and guides athletes to improve their skills and performance.
• Definition: A group of players who work together to compete against other teams.

Competition :

• Definition: A contest or tournament where athletes or teams compete against each other.

Championship :

• Definition: The final and most important competition in a sports season, determining the overall winner.

Tournament :

• Definition: A series of games or matches where players or teams compete to win a title or prize.
• Definition: A single game or contest between two individuals or teams.
• Definition: The process of practicing and preparing to improve athletic skills and performance.
• Definition: The overall physical condition and health of an athlete.
• Definition: Gentle exercises performed before a sports event to prepare the body for physical activity.

Cool-down :

• Definition: Gentle exercises performed after a sports event to help the body recover and reduce muscle soreness.

Athleticism :

• Definition: The combination of physical abilities, skill, and agility of an athlete.

Endurance :

• Definition: The ability to sustain physical effort for an extended period.
• Definition: The physical power and ability to exert force.
• Definition: The rate at which an athlete can move or perform an action.
• Definition: The ability to move quickly and with ease.

Flexibility :

• Definition: The range of motion in an athlete's joints and muscles.

Technique :

• Definition: The specific way an athlete performs a skill or movement.
• Definition: The highest achievement or best result in a particular sports event.
• Definition: An award given to athletes who finish in the top positions in a competition.
• Definition: The raised platform where medalists stand during a victory ceremony.
• Definition: The official who enforces the rules of a sports event and makes decisions during the game.
• Definition: A violation in team sports where an athlete is positioned in an unauthorized area.
• Definition: A violation of the rules in sports, often resulting in a penalty.
• Definition: A punishment given to an athlete or team for a rule violation.

Fair Play :

• Definition: Sportsmanship and ethical behavior in competition, showing respect for opponents and abiding by the rules.
• Definition: The use of banned substances or methods to enhance athletic performance.

Sportsmanship :

• Definition: The behavior of an athlete showing respect, fairness, and integrity towards opponents and officials.
• Definition: A devoted supporter of a sports team or athlete.
• Definition: Shouting or showing enthusiastic support for a team or athlete during a sports event.

Home Advantage :

• Definition: The benefits a team or athlete gains from playing on their home field or turf.
• Definition: An extra period added to a sports game to break a tie if the score is equal after the regular playing time.
• Definition: The reviewing of a play or decision by officials using video technology.
• Definition: Physical harm or damage to an athlete's body during sports or competition.
• Definition: The act of making a recovery or return after falling behind in a sports event.

Challenger :

• Definition: An athlete or team that competes against the reigning champion to win a title or title shot.

Performance :

• Definition: The manner in which an athlete plays or competes in a sports event.
• Definition: The ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort.

Triathlon :

• Definition: A multisport event that includes swimming, cycling, and running.

Paralympics :

• Definition: A sports competition for athletes with physical disabilities.

By incorporating these vocabulary words into your studies and practice, you can enhance your language proficiency and be better prepared for the IELTS exam. Best of luck!

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If you encounter the topic of Sport in the IELTS test, how would you describe your favorite sport? How do you train daily? Let’s explore high-quality vocabulary with Essay King to help you apply words most accurately!

Table of Contents

2 . Sports Facilities Vocabulary

4 . Collocations

Break /set the world record Commit a foul Promote team spirit To win the championship To reach/ be at fever pitch Rapturous/ thunderous applause Fierce/ intense competition The most outstanding athlete title Enhance my state of health

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20+ Sports Vocabulary For IELTS

• Updated on  
• Jun 12, 2023

Sports Vocabulary for IELTS is part of the IELTS Speaking test . Under this section, the test consists of various sports words, their meaning and their use in sentences. We are all familiar with words related to sports. From an early age, we have played one or the other sport or physical activity in school, college or university.

The IELTS Speaking test measures your ability to understand the definitions of words , their meaning and how well you can use them in sentences. This section often includes sports vocabulary , where words and phrases are given and candidates are asked to explain their meaning and their uses. This article guides you through Sports Vocabulary for IELTS.

Sports Vocabulary IELTS 

Sports Vocabulary IELTS consist of various words and phrases related to the term ‘Sports’. Everybody considers sports an interesting topic. The IELTS Speaking section frequently includes sports vocabulary. Candidates preparing for their next IELTS test must be knowledgeable about sports vocabulary, as it is high scoring. The table below highlights 20+ sports vocabulary for IELTS.

Also Read: 50+ IELTS Speaking Words To Use

Sports Idioms and Phrases for IELTS

A lot of times the IELTS Vocabulary consists of Idioms and Phrases , where candidates are required to use them appropriately in a sentence. While answering Sports Idioms and Phrases, candidates should check the quality of their answers, as it will determine their scores. Here is a table which highlights idioms and phrases related to sports for IELTS Vocabulary and their use in sentences.

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Sports Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking

In the Speaking section of IELTS you will have to talk to the examiner for about 15 minutes.

During all this time, you must show that you know a lot of English words and phrases. You’d better avoid repetitions and use synonyms and advanced vocabulary.

In this article, IELTS Game will look at some useful words and expressions related to one of the topics that you are quite likely to get at the Speaking test: Sports.

Everybody has a relationship with sport: you can play some kind of sport, or just watch it and be a fan of a football team.

You may even do your best to avoid sport in your life.

Anyway, if you are asked about this topic, you should be able to discuss it.

Look at the examples below where IELTS candidates answer the examiner’s questions about sport.

While reading, pay attention to underlined words and expression.

Sports vocabulary in Speaking Part 1

Examiner : What kind of sport do you prefer?

Candidate : I can’t say I like some particular kind of sport, but I’m really fond of working out in the gym. It keeps my body in a good shape. I usually train with a sport coach. It is really convenient as he always tells me what to do, and he developed for me special fitness programme.

Examiner : Do you do any kind of sports during weekends?

Candidate : Yes, sometimes. For example, when it is summer and the weather is good, I go cycling with my friends. Also, we often go to the countryside with my family. In the village, we enjoy playing badminton or volleyball.

Examiner : Tell me about your hobbies. Is there anything you like to do in your leisure time?

Candidate : I used to do yoga as a hobby. Unfortunately, my yoga coach has moved to another city, and I cannot find somebody as good as he is. That’s why, I decided to take up tennis. The great advantage for me is that there is a nice tennis court near my house.

Read Also: 

• Vocabulary for IELTS about Globalization, Technology, Health
• 20 common topics in IELTS Speaking part one with sample answers

Part 2 Example

Describe a place that you visit to keep fit. you should say:.

• What is it;
• When do you go there;
• What do you do there;
• and say why do you like it.

I would like to talk about the local gym I go to twice a week. This  sports centre  is not new, I remember it being in the city since my childhood.

However, all the  fitness equipment  in this gym is new and up-to-date.

It seems there is everything a person needs to  keep fit :  dumbbells , treadmills  and  exercisers  for different  muscle  groups.

I usually go to the sports centre two times per week: on Tuesdays and Fridays.

I prefer to train in the morning as there are not many people and almost all exercisers are not occupied.

I have a personal sport coach who helps me with exercises. We usually start training with  jogging  on the treadmill for 10 or 15 minutes, then I do several  lifting exercises  and work out on different  exercise machines .

At the end of the session, I do  stretching .

I enjoy visiting this sports centre because it offers  sports facilities  for every taste.

Beside gym trainings, it offers a wide range of other classes, such as dancing, yoga, swimming, gymnastics, and so on.

• [2020] Describe an outdoor sport you like to do in the future
• IELTS Cue Card: Describe a sport that you have learned
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Using Sports Vocabulary in Part 3

Examiner : Should people be encouraged more to take up sport?

Candidate : There’s no doubt that doing sport should be encouraged, especially among children and young people. Nowadays, all schools around the world have Physical Education classes .

However, in my opinion, attending PE classes is not enough for getting into sport . One more way of encouragement is watching live sport events, such as athletic meetings or football matches .

Examiner : Why do some people enjoy participating in sport more than others?

Candidate : That’s an interesting question. Let me think… Maybe, there are people who care about their health more than others. They can’t live without  physical activities  and  exercises .

Also, there are  sportsmen , whose life is devoted to sport. Their life goal is to  set records  or become  Olympic champions .

Examiner : Which sports do you think are best for people who aren’t used to physical activity?

Candidate : In my opinion, people who only start doing sport should avoid  strenuous exercise .

They’d better commence sport activity with light trainings, like jogging or swimming .

When their muscles and body get used to exercises, they can do any other kind of sport.

NOTE:   Pay attention that these answers are given as an example. You will never get all these questions together at the exam. Topics for discussion in Part 1 and Parts 2 & 3 are always different.

Describe a time when you were stuck in a traffic jam

Describe an art or craft activity that you had (at school), describe a time you got up early ielts cue card, describe a difficult thing you did ielts cue card 2022, sports vocabulary.

There are a lot of useful expressions about sport in the above example of the IELTS Speaking section.

If you don’t know any of these words and expressions, write them down in your notebook and learn by heart.

Below, there is the list of vocabulary that you can also use when talking about sport.

• an athletics track  – a running track;
• an away game  – a football match played in the opposing team’s stadium;
• a brisk walk  – a fast walk;
• a fitness programme  – a plan to help someone improve their health and physical condition;
• a football pitch  – the surface on which you play football (as opposed to a stadium, which is the building);
• a football season  – a period in the year when football is played;
• to get into shape  – to become fit;
• to go jogging  – running at a slow regular pace usually over a long distance as part of an exercise routine;
• a home game  – a football match played in the teams own stadium;
• to keep fit  – to stay in good physical condition;
• to be out of condition  – to not be physically fit;
• a personal best  – to achieve the best personal result so far in a sport;
• a personal trainer  – a sports coach that helps you on a one-to-one basis;
• to run the marathon  – to run a distance of about 42 kilometres;
• a tennis/badminton court  – the surface where you play these sports;
• to take up exercise  – to start doing exercise;
• to train hard  – to train with a lot of effort;
• active rest  – a leisure time during which you exercise;
• barbell  – a long bar with adjustable weights on either side that people lift to strengthen their arm and shoulder muscles;
• blow the competition away  – win easily the competition;
• to build muscle  – to gain muscle mass;
• to warm up  – to perform light exercises to prepare for a hard workout;
• to work out  – to exercise in gym;
• a treadmill  – an exercise machine that consists of a moving strip or two step-like parts on which you walk without moving forward.

Now you know vocabulary on the topic Sport.

So, you can move to training exercises. Answer the question below using new words and phrases.

All the questions relate to the topic Sport in some way.

However, do not forget that you will not have all the tasks in Speaking on the same topic at the real test.

You can practise answering these questions alone or with your tutor.

If you train by yourself, I recommend to record yourself so that you can listen to your speech later and check it for mistakes.

IELTS Speaking Part 1

• What sports do you like? (Why?)
• What sports are most popular in your country?
• Are boys and girls good at the same sports?
• What sports do children prefer?
• Do you like to do daily exercise? (Why?/Why not?)
• What are the advantages of doing regular exercise?
• Where do people in your country usually exercise?

Part 2 Cue Card

Talk about a sport you did when you were a child.

You should include in your answer:

• How often you did it;
• Where you did it;
• If you were good at it;
• And say if you would like to do that sport again or not, and why.

Read Also:  Expected Cue Cards for Jan-Apr 2020

Part 3 Follow up questions

• Should young people participate in dangerous activities such as mountain climbing?
• Why are there some people who like joining dangerous activities?
• Is it harmful to spend too much time on a hobby?
• Do you think it’s important for people to have hobbies?
• Can hobbies have any negative effects?

Master Lexical resources in IELTS Writing exam

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