The level of organisation that surrounds and influences sport can help to define whether an activity is considered to be categorised as a sport or not. Activities engaged in for the sole purpose of recreation, relaxation and health or overall enjoyment with no direct relationship to the sport, and where the main activity requires physical exertion. These are often termed non-sport but can overlap with sport where a competitive advantage is gained through skill, physical attributes or the use of equipment.

Non-sportive activities can include things such as gardening, riding in a horse-training course, cross country running or walking with a friend, jogging and walking. Sportive activities are those that are competitive, team-orientated and focused upon physical activity, skill, technique, athleticism or fitness. It is often thought that there are two distinct types of sport, but the truth is sport can occur in many different forms that can be utilised in many different situations. Some of the most popular team sport activities are golf, rugby and ice hockey.

In order for sporting activities to be considered as sport there has to be a clear set of rules it can be for competitive or non-competitive purposes, but there needs to be a level of agreed regulation of the activity. The sporting code will ensure that the participants enjoy the activity so that all participants are able to participate to their full capacity. There are various governing bodies that regulate sporting activities across the globe. The UK represents one of the world’s leading jurisdictions for sport law and policy and has developed its own set of laws based on its experience of international and domestic sport and activities.