Spanish Snapshots - Sports Trivia Quiz

In most Spanish-speaking countries, soccer/football is called "el fútbol," but in some places like the United States and the Philippines, where the word "football" refers to a different sport, people may say "el soccer" informally to avoid confusion.

Soccer/football is played on a large field ("campo") with goals at each end. Players wear cleats ("tacos" or "botines") for better grip, and games are played using a round ball ("balón") made for fast movement. A match is divided into two halves ("mitades") and is usually played in a stadium ("estadio") or on a pitch ("cancha"). Teams try to score goals ("goles") while following the rules set by the referee ("árbitro").

Skiing is a sport where people glide over snow ("nieve") using long skis ("esquís") attached to their ski boots ("botas de esquí"). It takes place on a ski slope ("pista de esquí") at a ski resort ("estación de esquí"). Skiers use poles ("bastones") to help balance and steer while moving downhill. For safety, many wear a helmet ("casco") and goggles ("gafas de esquí") to protect their eyes from wind and glare.

Basketball is most commonly called "el baloncesto," but in many Latin American countries, it's also widely known as "el básquetbol" or simply "el básquet."

It is played on a rectangular court ("cancha") with two hoops ("aros" or "canastas") at either end. Players use a round ball ("balón") and try to score points by making baskets ("canastas") from different distances. The game is fast-paced and requires dribbling ("driblar" or "botar el balón"), passing ("pasar"), and teamwork. Players wear jerseys ("camisetas"), shorts ("pantalones cortos"), and high-top shoes ("zapatillas deportivas").

Swimming is a water-based sport done in a pool ("piscina" or "alberca," depending on the country) and includes various strokes ("estilos de nado"). Swimmers wear swimsuits ("trajes de baño"), goggles ("gafas de natación"), and sometimes swim caps ("gorras de natación") to reduce drag in the water. Competitive swimming is timed using stopwatches ("cronómetros") or electronic systems, and races are divided by lanes ("carriles") marked with floating dividers.

Gymnastics can take place on various types of equipment ("aparatos"), such as the balance beam ("viga de equilibrio"), parallel bars ("barras paralelas"), vault ("salto"), and floor exercise area ("suelo"). Gymnasts wear special leotards ("maillots") and perform routines that are judged based on technique ("técnica"), difficulty ("dificultad"), and execution ("ejecución").

The sport is practiced in a gymnasium ("gimnasio") and can be done individually or as part of a team.

Volleyball is a team sport played on a court ("cancha") divided by a net ("red"). Players use their hands and arms to hit a ball ("pelota") over the net and try to score points by landing it on the opposing side. Each team can touch the ball up to three times before sending it back.

The game includes actions like serving ("sacar"), spiking ("rematar"), and blocking ("bloquear"). It can be played indoors or outdoors, such as when playing beach volleyball ("vóley de playa").

In Spanish, judo is officially called "el yudo," which follows Spanish spelling rules, but many people still use the original Japanese spelling, "el judo," especially in sports settings.

Judo is a martial art ("arte marcial") and Olympic sport ("deporte olímpico") that focuses on throws and grappling techniques instead of strikes. It is practiced on a padded mat ("tatami") inside a dojo ("dojo"), which is the training hall. Athletes wear a special uniform called a judogi ("judogi") and try to use skill and balance to unbalance or pin their opponent. Matches are scored based on throws ("proyecciones") and holds ("inmovilizaciones").

Tennis is played on a court ("cancha") with three main types: a clay court ("cancha de arcilla"), a grass court ("cancha de césped"), and a hard court ("cancha dura"). Players use a racket ("raqueta") to hit a ball ("pelota") and try to score points ("puntos") by making shots the opponent cannot return. Matches can be played in singles ("individuales") or doubles ("dobles") at major tennis tournaments ("torneos").

Cycling involves riding a bicycle ("bicicleta") over different types of terrain, such as roads ("carreteras"), mountain trails ("senderos de montaña"), or tracks ("pistas"). Cyclists wear specialized helmets ("cascos"), gloves ("guantes"), and cycling jerseys ("maillots de ciclismo") for safety and comfort.

In competitions, they often race in stages ("etapas") and must follow routes ("rutas") marked by organizers.

Climbing is a sport that involves scaling rock faces ("paredes de roca"), artificial walls ("muros artificiales"), or boulders ("bloques") using strength, technique, and focus. Climbers use special equipment such as ropes ("cuerdas"), harnesses ("arneses"), carabiners ("mosquetones"), and climbing shoes ("pies de gato", literally "cat feet"!) to stay safe and maintain grip.

It can be done indoors at a climbing gym ("gimnasio de escalada") or outdoors in natural environments ("entornos naturales").

Golf is played on a large outdoor course ("campo") that includes holes ("hoyos"), fairways ("calles"), and greens ("greens", a loanword). Players use a set of clubs ("palos de golf") to hit a small ball ("bola") toward each hole, aiming to finish each one in as few strokes ("golpes") as possible. Golfers often carry their equipment in a golf bag ("bolsa de golf") and may ride in a golf cart ("carrito de golf") to move around the course.

Baseball is played on a field ("campo") with four bases ("bases") arranged in a diamond shape. Players use a bat ("bate") to hit a ball ("pelota") thrown by a pitcher ("lanzador") and try to score runs ("carreras") by reaching home plate ("el home"). Fielders wear baseball gloves ("guantes") to catch the ball, and catchers ("receptores") wear protective gear ("equipo de protección").

The game is played in innings ("entradas").