Geometry in Sports

     Welcome everyone once again to this blog! In today's post we will address the fascinating connection between the worlds of geometry and sport. I will explain how geometric shapes and rules are not only present in textbooks, but can also be found on the playing fields.

Geometry is present in all aspects of sport, from stadium designs to play strategies. On basketball, football and tennis courts we can observe how geometric figures are specifically designed to ensure a balanced and fair game.

Furthermore, in sports such as football and basketball, players make use of geometry to organise their movements and strategies, for example, triangulated passes in football and curtain plays in basketball are based on geometric principles. Here is a link to a piece of news from the newspaper "El País", in which they explain how geometry changed the way basketball was played, taking into account the corners of the court and the three-point line.

→ https://elpais.com/ciencia/2021-07-23/como-la-geometria-cambio-la-forma-de-jugar-al-baloncesto.html

In addition to all this, the design of sports equipment as well as the necessary resources such as tennis rackets, baseball bats or bicycles, involves geometry and its principles to optimise performance, efficiency and durability.

Integrating geometry with sport in the classroom would help students to access them. To put it into practice, I show you an example of a dynamic and didactic activity; the activity is based on the design of a basketball court, with this, students will apply geometric concepts to design a basketball court on paper.To begin, we will need graph paper, rulers, pencils and coloured pencils. Here are the steps to follow:

        1.We explain to the students the standard dimensions of a basketball court, showing pictures of a basketball court with the dimensions and lines already marked out.

        2. Students then mark the baseline, sidelines, free throw lines and the centre circle using the symmetry on both sides of the graph paper and making good use of proportions.

        3. Students should calculate the area of the three-point area, as well as the distance from the free throw line to the hoop and the diameter of the centre circle.

This activity is appropriate for children in the 6th grade of primary school, as it requires the application of formulas for the area of a figure.

In conclusion, geometry and sport help students understand how geometric principles are applied in the design of various areas of sport, and using their favourite sports can help us to arouse curiosity and motivation in students. Integrating such explanations and activities in the classroom can inspire students to see the world through a geometric perspective!

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I am sure that the next time you watch a basketball game, you will remember how much geometry is behind every play or strategy!!!

See you next time!