Basketball has a short, well-documented history compared with many sports, which makes it easy to explore. The game was invented by James Naismith, a teacher at the YMCA training school in Springfield, Massachusetts, in December 1891, with peach baskets as goals. Key milestones to know Visit or explore the Hall of Fame The Naismith Memorial … Read more
Golf books will not hit balls for you, but the best ones change how you think about practice, strategy and pressure. A few have stayed in print for decades for a reason. Technique and fundamentals Short game The mental game Both pair well with the ideas in our guide to golf psychology. Statistics and strategy … Read more
Soccer already has a global governing body, FIFA. The real debate is whether the current structure is transparent, accountable and balanced between the many interests in the game. The current structure The 2015 corruption scandal In 2015, US authorities charged a number of football officials and sports marketing executives with racketeering, wire fraud and money … Read more
Soccer is the world’s most popular sport and brings together players and fans from every background. That same visibility means racism and other forms of discrimination, in stadiums and online, have a large impact. Governing bodies, clubs, players and fans all have tools to fight it. Action during matches FIFA and UEFA use a three-step … Read more
Without fans, professional soccer would be a very different and much poorer sport. Supporters create atmosphere, fund clubs through tickets and merchandise, and in some places have a direct say in how their club is run. Home advantage Teams have historically won more often at home. When matches were played without spectators during the COVID-19 … Read more
Soccer has never been more popular or richer at the top. But the same forces that drive its growth create tensions that will shape its future. Financial inequality Revenue is concentrated in a few leagues and clubs, especially in Europe. The gap between the richest clubs and the rest affects competitive balance, and many lower-league … Read more
For most of its history, soccer changed slowly. In the last 15 years, technology has transformed officiating, training and analysis, from the professional game down to amateur clubs with tracking apps. Officiating Connected balls Match balls with internal sensors, first used at a men’s World Cup in 2022, record the exact moment the ball is … Read more
Women’s soccer has grown rapidly in the last decade, with professional leagues, record attendances and rising investment. Its future depends on turning that momentum into sustainable structures, from grassroots clubs to top leagues. Where the game stands The FIFA Women’s World Cup was first held in 1991 in China. The 2023 edition in Australia and … Read more
Football is commercially stronger than ever, yet it faces serious questions about player health and about who will play the game in the future. How the sport handles them will shape the next decades. Head injuries and long-term health Research on concussions and on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease found in many … Read more
There are more ways than ever to follow football, from watching on TV to managing a fantasy team, coaching youth players or becoming an official. Getting more involved also makes the game more enjoyable to watch. Watching games In the United States, NFL games are shown on broadcast networks (CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC), on ESPN, … Read more
