Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL - Athletics

Here you will learn some English words about athletics, such as "league", "pitch", "ring", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.

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Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL

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

Ex: He switched his focus from soccer to athletics after discovering a talent for the javelin .

a series of sporting games in which teams or players compete against different rivals in different rounds until only one remains and that is the winner

Ex: The annual tennis tournament attracts top players from around the world .
league [noun]

a group of sports clubs or players who compete against each other and are put together based on the points they have gained through the season

Ex: The team won the championship in their league last year .
arena [noun]

a large open-air constructed area that is used for playing sports

pitch [noun]

a flat ground prepared and marked for playing particular sports, such as soccer

Ex: The coach instructed the team to gather near the center of the pitch .

a competition in which the best player or team is chosen

Ex: Fans are eagerly awaiting the championship game to see who will take home the trophy .

a person who watches sport competitions closely

Ex: The stadium was filled with spectators , all eagerly awaiting the start of the championship game .

any type of sports that include fighting which are especially originated in the Far East, such as judo, kung fu, etc.

Ex: The dojo offers classes in a wide range of martial arts , including taekwondo , kung fu , and judo .
ring [noun]

a platform surrounded with ropes on which boxing and wrestling competitions take place

referee [noun]

an official who is in charge of a game, making sure the rules are obeyed by the players

Ex: As a former player , she decided to become a referee to stay involved in the sport she loved .
stroke [noun]

an act of hitting or striking a ball with a bat, racket, club, cue, or hand

Ex:
strike [noun]

(baseball) a pitch that the batter swings at and misses, or that the umpire calls within the strike zone

Ex: He took a strike on the outside part of the plate .

to try to take the ball from the players of the other team, usually by forcing them down, in sports such as American football or rugby

Ex: The player hesitated and was tackled just short of the goal line .
offense [noun]

(in sports) the players of a team who are trying to score against the rival team

Ex: The coach shuffled the offense to create better scoring opportunities .
defense [noun]

the team, players, or tactics whose primary role is to prevent the opposing side from scoring or gaining advantage in a game or match

Ex: Our club reorganized its defense after injuries to two starting defenders .

to enforce the rules by presiding over a match or contest in sports such as baseball, cricket, and tennis

Ex: He was called in to umpire the arbitration hearing between the companies .
to tie [verb]

(of two players or teams) to finish a game or competition with even scores

Ex: Despite their best efforts , the tennis players tied with six games apiece , leading to a tiebreaker .
draw [noun]

when neither player is able to win the game, typically because there are no more legal moves available or because both players agree to a draw

foul [noun]

an act in a sport that is against the rules and is not allowed

Ex: A yellow card was issued for a dangerous foul in soccer .
versus [preposition]

(in sport or law) used to show that two sides or teams are against each other

Ex: The case of Brown versus Board of Education was a landmark decision in the history of civil rights .

a sporting contest typically consisting of swimming, cycling, and running taking place in three different events

away from the roads and tracks and across the countryside

gymnast [noun]

an athlete who is trained to perform gymnastics, especially in a competition

Ex: The crowd cheered as the gymnast nailed his dismount from the rings .

(in wrestling and boxing) a weight in the heaviest category which is above 91kg

(in boxing) a weight usually between 59 and 61.2 kilograms

sprint [noun]

a type of running in which one runs full speed in a short distance

trophy [noun]

an object that is awarded to the winner of a competition

Ex: She won a golden trophy for her excellent performance .
doping [noun]

the use of drugs by an athlete or racehorse in a competition in order to improve their performance

victory [noun]

the success that is achieved in a competition, game, war, etc.

marathon [noun]

a running race of 26 miles or 42 kilometers

Ex: A sudden injury forced her to withdraw from the marathon .

a sport that involves various athletic events, including running, jumping, and throwing competitions, that are held on a running track

Ex: The team ’s track and field coach emphasized strength and agility .
club [noun]

a group of sports players, their manager, and staff such as a soccer or baseball club

Ex: The club 's manager praised the players for their hard work and dedication .