Oration in Sports

  

     Sports are truly a sensational way to express one’s emotions. May it be a fun match of cricket after a long day at school or an exhilarating game of football on the weekends, the playground never fails to provide a channel to convey our innermost feelings. The recent festivities of Agneepath serve as the epitome of the fact that sentiment and sports go hand-in-hand. However, can sports also improve one’s speaking skills and ability to communicate? As it turns out, these skills play a crucial role on the field and can be the deciding factor between a win or a loss.

    Oration in sports comes in different forms, differing slightly with a new variation. There’s communication among the players, which can make or break a team sport like basketball. Each player on the court knows their role, yet communication among them can improve the quality of the sport. Even though it appears simple, the ability to quickly set up plays and direct teammates to specific positions while playing simultaneously is a complicated task. 

    Take defense in basketball as an example, where a player at times has blind spots behind him as they face the opposing player. In such a scenario, only swift communication between teammates can assist in upholding the defense of the team. This adroitness cannot be merely taught through words, it’s something that an athlete learns on the field through trial and error. Once grasped, the skill can translate into a masterful talent that aids in conveying one’s thoughts in a swift manner and builds up one’s confidence. 

    Competitive sports are often compared to battlefields with grueling spirits and thrilling enthusiasm. Much like in a war, the troops need to stay motivated and encouraged throughout the ordeal, and the responsibility of it all, falls on the shoulders of the captain. This is where another form of oration enters sports, as the upliftment and guidance provided on the field have a pivotal role in the team’s success. 

    Take the example of football captains. For them, with their shining armband, comes the responsibility of a good orator! For the 90 minutes of their play, they have to ensure that no mishap depletes the morale of the team. Where every successful play receives encouragement and appreciation, if something goes wrong, it becomes the captain’s duty to re-gather the troops and keep them charged. Their electric words set the tempo out there, something that requires loads of energy and a bold voice. 

    Probably one of the most exciting yet controversial forms of oration in sports comes in the form of trash-talking. We’ve all heard it on stump mics and talk shows interviews, how the verbal exchanges can get heated up with increasing intensity of the matches. For those new to the term, simply put, it is heckling your opponent through verbal exchanges. Despite the varying opinions on whether trash-talk is correct or not, one cannot deny that it has a profound impact on the opponent’s mentality. Some of the greatest players including Muhammad Ali, Virat Kohli, and Michael Jordan are examples of how being vocal on the field can give one a psychological edge over one’s competitors. 

    Sledging, however, is one of the toughest forms of oration to implement on the ground as it requires an immense amount of conviction and confidence to back yourself up. It represents the essence of a true orator who is fearless in their actions and ready to put up combat no matter how the odds are stacked against them.

    This was a sneak-peak into the oratory aspect of physical sports, an intangible asset that can change outcomes and decide victors. So, the next time you come across any sport, we hope that it will be fascinating to notice how these forms of oration make a difference in the game and change the spectator’s overall experience! 

Written by- Rohan Gupta