English for athletes, coaches and fitness trainers
Sports & Fitness Vocabulary: 100 Key English Terms
Athletes, coaches and fitness trainers work more and more in English: at international competitions, with foreign clients in the gym, in training apps and in sports science research. This glossary covers the words you need for workouts and equipment, exercises and muscles, injuries and recovery, competition and scoring, coaching, sports science and nutrition, each explained with examples from real training sessions and matches.
100 terms
10 topics
63 core terms
209 example sentences
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Training & Workouts
workout
noun
Meaning
A session of physical exercise done to improve fitness, strength or skill, such as a run, a gym session or a class.
Where you use it
Used constantly by trainers, gym members and fitness apps. You do, finish, skip or log a workout, and people describe it as hard, quick, full-body or upper-body. Coaches of professional teams more often say training session.
Examples
I'm going to do a quick 30-minute workout before work.
Today's workout focuses on the legs, so we'll start with squats.
My watch logged the workout automatically.
Usage note
Workout (noun) is one word; work out (verb) is two words: "I work out every day" but "a great workout".
Common phrases
do a workout · full-body workout · skip a workout · workout routine · home workout
To do physical exercise, especially in a gym or as a regular habit, in order to get fitter or stronger.
Where you use it
Very common in everyday conversation. People ask "How often do you work out?" and say they work out at home, at the gym or with a trainer. It usually suggests training for fitness, not playing a particular sport.
Examples
I work out four times a week, mostly in the evenings.
She has been working out with a personal trainer since January.
Do you prefer to work out alone or in a group class?
Usage note
Work out also means to solve or calculate ("work out the answer") and to end well ("Things worked out"). The context tells you which meaning is meant.
Common phrases
work out at the gym · work out at home · work out regularly · work out with a trainer
Light exercise done before training or competition to raise body temperature and heart rate and prepare the muscles and joints for harder work.
Where you use it
Part of almost every session in clubs, gyms and PE lessons. Coaches say "Let's start with a ten-minute warm-up", and teams do a dynamic warm-up on the pitch before kick-off. The verb is two words: warm up.
Examples
Don't skip the warm-up; we're doing heavy lifts today.
The players came out for their warm-up forty minutes before the match.
Common phrases
dynamic warm-up · do a warm-up · warm-up routine · warm-up exercises · pre-match warm-up
A period of easy exercise and stretching at the end of a session that helps the body return gradually to a resting state.
Where you use it
Heard at the end of classes, runs and team sessions: an easy jog, walking or stretching. Instructors announce "Time for the cool-down", and training plans list it after the main set. The verb is cool down.
Examples
We finished the class with a five-minute cool-down and some light stretching.
After the intervals, jog slowly for ten minutes as a cool-down.
Common phrases
cool-down jog · do a cool-down · cool-down stretches · warm-up and cool-down
Short for repetition: one complete performance of an exercise, such as lifting and lowering a weight once or doing one push-up.
Where you use it
One of the most used words in any gym. Programmes are written as sets and reps (3 x 10 means three sets of ten reps), and trainers count reps out loud or shout "Two more reps!" One-rep max (1RM) is the heaviest weight someone can lift for a single rep.
Examples
Do three sets of twelve reps with a weight you can control.
Come on, last two reps, keep your back straight!
His one-rep max on the squat is 180 kilos.
Common phrases
sets and reps · do ten reps · one-rep max · rep range · last rep
A group of repetitions of an exercise done one after another without stopping, followed by a short rest.
Where you use it
Used in every strength and conditioning programme. You do, finish or add a set; trainers talk about warm-up sets, working sets and the rest between sets. In tennis and volleyball, set also means a part of a match.
Examples
Rest for ninety seconds between sets.
I managed four sets on the bench press today.
She won the first set 6–3 but lost the match.
Common phrases
three sets of ten · between sets · warm-up set · working set · drop set
Short for cardiovascular exercise: activities like running, cycling or rowing that keep your heart rate raised for a sustained period.
Where you use it
Informal but used by trainers, gym staff and members. You do cardio, and gyms have a cardio area with treadmills, bikes and cross-trainers. People often contrast cardio with weights or strength training.
Examples
I do twenty minutes of cardio after my weights session.
The cardio area is on the first floor, next to the studios.
Common phrases
do cardio · cardio session · cardio machine · low-intensity cardio · cardio area
Exercise in which muscles work against resistance, such as weights, machines, bands or body weight, in order to become stronger.
Where you use it
Used by coaches, trainers and researchers; also called resistance training or weight training. Programmes combine strength training with cardio, and sports teams employ strength and conditioning (S&C) coaches.
Examples
Strength training twice a week has really helped my running.
The strength training block starts in pre-season.
Common phrases
strength training programme · do strength training · strength and conditioning · strength training session
A day in a training plan with no hard exercise, planned so that the body can recover and adapt.
Where you use it
Used by athletes, trainers and fitness apps. People take or have a rest day; on an active rest day they may walk, swim or stretch lightly. Training plans usually mark it clearly, often after a weekend race or match.
Examples
Sunday is my rest day, so I just go for a walk with the family.
You've trained six days in a row; take a rest day tomorrow.
Common phrases
take a rest day · active rest day · rest days per week · scheduled rest day
Short for high-intensity interval training: short bursts of very hard exercise alternating with brief recovery periods.
Where you use it
Pronounced like hit. Gyms run HIIT classes, apps offer HIIT workouts, and coaches use it to build fitness in less time. A common format is 30 seconds hard and 30 seconds easy, repeated several times.
Examples
The lunchtime HIIT class is only 25 minutes long.
We replaced one long run with a HIIT session on the bike.
Common phrases
HIIT class · HIIT workout · HIIT session · do HIIT
The principle of gradually increasing the demands on the body, such as weight, reps or volume, so that it keeps adapting and improving.
Where you use it
A core idea in strength and conditioning, used by coaches, trainers and textbooks. Programmes apply progressive overload by adding weight, sets or reps over the weeks; without it, progress tends to stall.
Examples
The plan is based on progressive overload: we add 2.5 kilos to the bar each week.
Progressive overload doesn't always mean more weight; you can also add reps.
A stage when progress stops for a while, for example when your weight, strength or race times stay the same despite training.
Where you use it
Common among trainers and gym members. You hit, reach or break through a plateau; it is also a verb ("My bench press has plateaued"). Coaches change the programme to get past a plateau.
Examples
After six months I hit a plateau and stopped getting stronger.
Changing the rep ranges helped her break through the plateau.
Common phrases
hit a plateau · break through a plateau · weight-loss plateau · strength plateau
A planned series of workouts over weeks or months that sets out the exercises, sets, reps, intensity and rest needed to reach a goal.
Where you use it
Coaches and personal trainers write or design training programs for athletes and clients, who follow, start or stick to them. Programs are often divided into blocks or phases, such as pre-season or a 12-week marathon program.
Examples
My coach updates my training program every four weeks.
She's following a 16-week training programme for her first marathon.
Usage note
British English spells it programme; American English uses program. Both are pronounced the same.
Common phrases
follow a training program · design a training program · 12-week training program · stick to a training program
A workout in which you move quickly from one exercise or station to the next with little rest, usually repeating the whole series several times.
Where you use it
Popular in group classes, schools and team conditioning. A circuit has several stations (squats, push-ups, skipping), and people do a circuit or complete three rounds of the circuit.
Examples
Today's circuit training has eight stations, 40 seconds each.
We use circuit training in pre-season to build general fitness.
Common phrases
circuit training class · do a circuit · circuit station · bodyweight circuit
An informal way of saying to go to the gym to exercise, often used to show energy or determination.
Where you use it
Very common in conversation, on social media and in fitness ads. People hit the gym after work, first thing in the morning or hard. Similar informal phrases include hit the pool and hit the track.
Examples
I'm going to hit the gym after work. Want to come?
She hits the gym at six every morning before her shift.
Usage note
Hit here has nothing to do with striking; it simply means go to. Avoid it in formal writing.
Common phrases
hit the gym after work · hit the gym hard · hit the gym early
A building or room with equipment for physical exercise, such as weights, machines and treadmills; also called a fitness centre or health club.
Where you use it
Short for gymnasium. People go to the gym, join a gym and pay for a gym membership. In American schools, gym also means PE lessons (gym class). In British English, fitness centre and leisure centre are also common.
Examples
I go to the gym before work because it's quieter in the morning.
The gym has a free-weights area, a cardio zone and two studios.
Usage note
Turkish "jimnastik" is gymnastics in English, a separate sport. A gym is the place where you exercise.
Common phrases
go to the gym · join a gym · gym membership · gym instructor · home gym
A short bar with a weight at each end, held in one hand; used singly or in pairs for exercises such as curls, presses and rows.
Where you use it
Found in every gym, usually on a rack ordered by weight. Trainers ask clients to pick up, grab or rack the dumbbells, and programmes name exercises like dumbbell curl, dumbbell row and dumbbell bench press.
Examples
Grab a pair of 10-kilo dumbbells and meet me at the bench.
Please put the dumbbells back on the rack when you're done.
Usage note
Dumbbell is pronounced /ˈdʌmbel/: the b in dumb is silent.
A long metal bar with weight plates added at each end, held with both hands for exercises such as squats, deadlifts and bench presses.
Where you use it
The main tool of strength training and weightlifting. You load the barbell with plates, secure them with collars, and unrack and rack the bar. Lifters often just say the bar: "How much is on the bar?" A standard men's Olympic bar weighs 20 kg.
Examples
Load the barbell with two 20-kilo plates and check that the collars are tight.
An exercise machine with a moving belt on which you walk or run on the spot, with controls for speed and incline.
Where you use it
The most common cardio machine in gyms and hotels. You get on, run on or walk on the treadmill and set the speed (in km/h or mph) and the incline. Runners often compare treadmill runs with running outdoors.
Examples
It was raining, so I did my run on the treadmill.
Set the treadmill to an incline of five percent and walk for twenty minutes.
Common phrases
run on the treadmill · treadmill speed · treadmill incline · treadmill test
A round cast-iron weight with a handle on top, used for swinging, lifting and carrying exercises.
Where you use it
Popular in functional training and group classes. The best-known exercise is the kettlebell swing; others include the goblet squat and the Turkish get-up. Kettlebells are usually labelled in kilograms.
Examples
Grab a 16-kilo kettlebell for the swings.
The class mixes kettlebell work with rowing intervals.
Common phrases
kettlebell swing · kettlebell class · kettlebell workout · heavy kettlebell
A stretchy elastic band used to add resistance to exercises or to assist movements, made in different strengths.
Where you use it
Used in gyms, home workouts, warm-ups and physio. Bands come in colours that show the resistance level (light, medium, heavy). Mini bands go around the legs; long loop bands help with pull-ups.
Examples
Put the resistance band just above your knees for the side steps.
The physio gave me a resistance band to use at home.
Common phrases
light resistance band · loop band · mini band · resistance band exercises
To stand next to someone who is lifting a heavy weight, ready to help if they cannot finish the lift safely.
Where you use it
Gym language, used especially for the bench press and squat. You ask "Can you spot me?"; the person who helps is the spotter. Asking for a spot before a heavy set is part of normal gym etiquette.
Examples
Could you spot me on this last set? It's a heavy one.
The spotter helped him rack the bar on the final rep.
Common phrases
spot someone · ask for a spot · act as a spotter · spot me on the bench
Weights that are not attached to a machine, such as dumbbells, barbells and kettlebells, so the user has to control and balance them.
Where you use it
Used in gyms in contrast to machines. Gyms have a free-weights area or section, and trainers compare free weights and machines when planning for beginners and athletes.
Examples
The free weights area is busiest between six and eight in the evening.
Machines are easier to learn, but free weights also train balance and stability.
Common phrases
free-weights area · train with free weights · free weights and machines · free weights section
A room at a gym, pool or stadium where people change clothes, shower and keep their things in lockers.
Where you use it
Common in American English; British English usually says changing room. In team sports the locker room is also the team's private space, and "the locker room" can refer to team spirit and the relationships between players.
Examples
The locker rooms are downstairs, next to the pool.
The coach gave a short speech in the locker room before the final.
Usage note
Turkish "soyunma odası" is changing room in UK English and locker room in US English; in football, dressing room is also very common.
Common phrases
in the locker room · locker room atmosphere · women's locker room · lose the locker room
A firm foam cylinder that you lie or roll on to put pressure on your muscles, used in warm-ups and recovery.
Where you use it
Found in most gyms and physio rooms. People use a foam roller on their calves, quads or upper back; the activity is called foam rolling. It is a form of self-massage, sometimes described as self-myofascial release.
Examples
Spend a couple of minutes on the foam roller before you start.
Foam rolling my calves after long runs makes them feel less tight.
Common phrases
use a foam roller · foam rolling · foam roller exercises · foam roll your calves
An exercise in which you bend your knees and hips to lower your body as if sitting down, then stand up again; done with body weight or a load.
Where you use it
A basic movement in strength training and one of the three powerlifting lifts. Trainers coach depth, knee position and posture. Squat is both a noun ("back squat", "front squat") and a verb ("She squats 100 kilos").
Examples
Push your hips back as you lower into the squat.
He can squat twice his body weight.
Today we're doing front squats instead of back squats.
Common phrases
back squat · front squat · goblet squat · squat rack · squat depth
A body-weight exercise in which you face the floor, keep your body straight and push yourself up and down with your arms.
Where you use it
Used in fitness tests, PE, military training and home workouts. You do push-ups; variations include knee push-ups and wide push-ups. British English often uses press-up for the same exercise.
Examples
How many push-ups can you do in one minute?
If full push-ups are too hard, start with your knees on the floor.
Usage note
Turkish uses the verb "çekmek" (to pull) with şınav, but in English you do push-ups, never pull them. A pull-up is a different exercise on a bar.
Common phrases
do push-ups · knee push-ups · push-up position · wide push-ups · decline push-ups
To lengthen a muscle by moving part of the body and holding the position, to improve flexibility or to relax after exercise.
Where you use it
Common in classes, team sessions and physio work. You stretch your hamstrings or calves; the noun is a stretch ("Hold the stretch for 30 seconds"). Trainers distinguish static stretching (holding a position) from dynamic stretching (moving).
Examples
Stretch your calves against the wall after the run.
We stretched for ten minutes at the end of the session.
Common phrases
stretch your hamstrings · static stretching · dynamic stretching · hold the stretch · stretching routine
A lift in which you pick up a loaded barbell from the floor until you are standing upright, mainly working the back, glutes and hamstrings.
Where you use it
One of the three powerlifting lifts, with the squat and the bench press. Variations include the conventional, sumo and Romanian deadlift. Deadlift is also a verb: "He deadlifts 220 kilos."
Examples
Keep the bar close to your legs throughout the deadlift.
She set a new personal best in the deadlift at the weekend.
Common phrases
conventional deadlift · Romanian deadlift · sumo deadlift · deadlift form
An exercise in which you lie on a flat bench and push a barbell or dumbbells up from your chest until your arms are straight.
Where you use it
A classic upper-body exercise for the chest, shoulders and triceps. People bench press or simply bench ("How much do you bench?"). Variations include the incline and decline bench press. Lifters use a spotter for heavy sets.
Examples
Can you spot me on the bench press? I'm going for 100 kilos.
We'll do incline bench press after the flat bench.
A core exercise in which you hold your body in a straight line, supported on your forearms or hands and your toes, without moving.
Where you use it
Very common in classes and home workouts. You hold a plank for a set time; variations include the side plank and plank shoulder taps. Instructors remind people: "Don't let your hips sag."
Examples
Hold the plank for forty seconds, then rest for twenty.
Side planks are harder than they look.
Common phrases
hold a plank · side plank · forearm plank · plank position
An exercise in which you take a long step forward or backward and bend both knees to lower your body, then push back up to standing.
Where you use it
A standard leg exercise in gyms, classes and team warm-ups. Variations include walking lunges, reverse lunges and side lunges, done with body weight or dumbbells. As a verb, lunge also means to move forward suddenly, for example a goalkeeper lunging for the ball.
Examples
Do twelve walking lunges on each leg with the dumbbells.
The keeper lunged to his left and saved the penalty.
Common phrases
walking lunges · reverse lunge · side lunge · lunge position
An exercise in which you hang from a bar with your palms facing away and pull your body up until your chin is above the bar.
Where you use it
A key upper-body exercise for the back and arms, used in gyms, fitness tests and calisthenics. With palms facing you it is usually called a chin-up. Beginners often use bands or an assisted pull-up machine.
Examples
She can do fifteen pull-ups in a row.
Use a resistance band until you can do a full pull-up on your own.
Common phrases
do pull-ups · pull-up bar · assisted pull-up · weighted pull-up
The way an exercise or movement is performed; good form means correct, safe and efficient technique.
Where you use it
Used constantly by trainers and lifters: "Watch your form", "Your form breaks down on the last reps." In a second sense, form means recent performance: a team in good form is winning regularly.
Examples
Drop the weight a little; your form is getting sloppy.
The team is in great form, with six wins in a row.
Usage note
False friend: Turkish "forma" (a team shirt) is kit or jersey in English. Turkish "formda olmak" is usually in shape, or in good form when you talk about results.
Common phrases
good form · proper form · form check · in good form · lose form
A soft body tissue that can contract and relax to move parts of the body; skeletal muscles are attached to bones by tendons.
Where you use it
Used everywhere in sport: you build, work, stretch, pull or tear a muscle. Trainers name muscle groups (chest, back, legs) and say an exercise works or targets a muscle. Muscle mass and muscle strength are common terms in sports science.
Examples
This exercise mainly works the muscles of the upper back.
He pulled a muscle in his calf during the sprint.
Building muscle takes time and consistent training.
Usage note
The c is silent: /ˈmʌsəl/. Muscle (kas) and mussel (midye) sound exactly the same.
Common phrases
build muscle · pull a muscle · muscle group · muscle mass · muscle cramp
One of the three muscles at the back of the thigh that bend the knee and extend the hip; the group is usually called the hamstrings.
Where you use it
Very common in football, sprinting and gym talk, often in the plural. Players pull, tear or strain a hamstring, and programmes include hamstring curls and stretches.
Examples
He felt his hamstring tighten during the sprint and came off.
Romanian deadlifts are a great exercise for the hamstrings.
The large group of four muscles at the front of the thigh that straighten the knee; often shortened to quads.
Where you use it
Used in anatomy, physio and gym talk. Squats, lunges and leg presses work the quadriceps, and athletes may pick up a quad strain. In everyday gym language people almost always say quads.
Examples
The leg press mainly targets the quadriceps.
She strained her quadriceps while kicking a long ball.
Common phrases
work the quadriceps · quad strain · quadriceps muscle · strong quads
The muscles around the middle of the body, including the abdominals, lower back, obliques and hips, that keep the trunk stable during movement.
Where you use it
Used in gyms, Pilates and yoga classes and physio. Trainers say "Brace your core" or "Keep your core tight", and plans include core work, core strength and core stability exercises.
Examples
Keep your core tight so your lower back doesn't arch.
We finish every session with ten minutes of core work.
Common phrases
core strength · core stability · core work · brace your core · engage your core
Short for abdominals: the muscles at the front of the stomach, especially the rectus abdominis, which gives the "six-pack" shape.
Where you use it
Informal, used in gyms, classes and fitness media. People work their abs, do ab exercises and talk about visible abs or a six-pack. Physios and coaches more often say core or abdominal muscles.
Examples
This class is thirty minutes of abs and core.
Crunches work your abs, but planks train the whole core.
Usage note
Before another noun the singular ab is used ("ab roller", "ab exercises"); on its own the word is plural: abs.
Common phrases
work your abs · ab exercises · six-pack abs · lower abs · abs workout
Short for gluteal muscles: the muscles of the buttocks, mainly the gluteus maximus, medius and minimus, which move and stabilise the hips.
Where you use it
Informal but standard in gyms, physio and coaching. Trainers say an exercise "targets the glutes" and tell clients to "squeeze your glutes" at the top of a movement. Glute is used before other nouns: glute bridge, glute activation.
Examples
Squeeze your glutes at the top of each hip thrust.
We start with glute activation exercises before the sprints.
The ability of muscles and joints to move through a wide range of motion, for example touching your toes or doing the splits.
Where you use it
Used in gymnastics, dance, yoga, martial arts and physio. You improve or lack flexibility, and fitness tests often measure it with the sit-and-reach test. It is often discussed together with mobility.
Examples
Gymnasts need great flexibility in their hips and shoulders.
Her flexibility has improved since she started yoga.
Common phrases
improve flexibility · hamstring flexibility · flexibility test · lack of flexibility
The ability to move a joint actively and with control through its full range of motion; it depends on strength and joint health as well as flexibility.
Where you use it
A key word in modern coaching and physio. Trainers add mobility work, mobility drills and hip or ankle mobility exercises to a programme, often during the warm-up. Limited mobility can restrict how deep someone can squat.
Examples
We spend ten minutes on hip mobility before every lower-body session.
Poor ankle mobility makes it hard for him to squat deep.
Usage note
Flexibility is how far a muscle can lengthen, often passively; mobility is how well you can move a joint through that range yourself.
Common phrases
hip mobility · ankle mobility · mobility work · mobility drills · improve mobility
A tough band of tissue that connects a muscle to a bone, such as the Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle.
Where you use it
Used in anatomy, physio and sports medicine. Common phrases include the Achilles tendon, the patellar tendon and tendon injury. Tendinopathy and tendinitis describe painful tendon problems, often linked to overuse.
Examples
The Achilles tendon is the thickest and strongest tendon in the body.
He has been sidelined with a tendon problem in his knee.
Usage note
A tendon joins muscle to bone; a ligament joins bone to bone.
A strong band of tissue that connects two bones at a joint and keeps the joint stable, for example in the knee or ankle.
Where you use it
Used in injury reports and physio. Ligaments can be sprained, torn or ruptured; well-known examples are the ACL and the MCL in the knee. Ligament damage often means a long recovery.
Examples
Scans confirmed damage to the ankle ligaments.
She's out for six weeks with a knee ligament injury.
Physical damage to the body, such as a torn muscle, a sprained ankle or a broken bone, especially one that stops an athlete from training or playing.
Where you use it
Heard daily in sports news and team meetings. Athletes suffer, pick up or recover from an injury, and clubs publish injury updates. Injury prevention is a major part of coaching and sports science. In UK sports talk, a minor injury is often called a knock.
Examples
Our captain picked up a knee injury in training and will miss Saturday's game.
She is back in full training after a long injury.
Usage note
In sport, Turkish "sakatlık" means injury. Disability is a different word, used for a long-term physical or mental condition.
Common phrases
pick up an injury · suffer an injury · recover from an injury · knee injury · injury prevention
The process of the body returning to normal after training, competition or injury, helped by rest, sleep and nutrition.
Where you use it
A key word in modern training. Coaches plan recovery days and recovery sessions; teams use methods such as ice baths, massage and sleep monitoring. After an injury, people speak of the recovery time or a full recovery.
Examples
Tomorrow is a recovery session: light cycling and stretching only.
His recovery from the knee operation is going well.
Common phrases
recovery session · recovery time · active recovery · make a full recovery · post-match recovery
An injury in which a muscle or tendon is overstretched or partly torn, often in the hamstring, calf or groin.
Where you use it
Very common in sports news and medical reports: a hamstring strain, a calf strain, a groin strain. Informally, people say they pulled a muscle. Strains are often graded from 1 to 3 by severity.
Examples
The winger is out for three weeks with a hamstring strain.
It's only a minor calf strain, but we won't risk him on Sunday.
Short for delayed onset muscle soreness: the stiffness and pain felt in muscles a day or two after hard or unfamiliar exercise.
Where you use it
Used by trainers, athletes and sports scientists, and pronounced as one word ("doms"). People say they have DOMS or terrible DOMS after leg day. It usually peaks one to three days after exercise.
Examples
I've still got DOMS from Monday's leg workout.
DOMS is normal when you start a new programme.
Usage note
DOMS is not caused by lactic acid, which is cleared from the muscles within about an hour after exercise. It is linked to microscopic damage to muscle fibres, especially from lowering (eccentric) movements.
Common phrases
have DOMS · bad DOMS · DOMS after leg day · reduce DOMS
Short for anterior cruciate ligament: a key ligament inside the knee that connects the thigh bone to the shin bone and keeps the knee stable.
Where you use it
Heard often in football, basketball, skiing and handball news because ACL tears are serious injuries. Players tear or rupture an ACL, and ACL reconstruction surgery is usually followed by many months of rehab. Pronounced letter by letter: A-C-L.
Examples
The striker tore his ACL and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
She is nine months into her ACL rehab and back in team training.
Informal for physiotherapist or physiotherapy: the health professional who assesses and treats injuries with exercise, hands-on therapy and other methods.
Where you use it
Very common in UK and Australian sport: the club physio, see a physio, physio sessions. American English usually says physical therapist (PT) and physical therapy. In a match, the physio runs on to treat injured players.
Examples
The physio ran on to check his ankle.
I've got physio twice a week until my knee is stronger.
Usage note
In US English, PT can mean either physical therapist or personal trainer; the context tells you which.
Common phrases
club physio · see a physio · physio session · physio room
Unable to play or compete for a period of time, usually because of an injury or illness.
Where you use it
Very common in sports journalism and club announcements: a player is sidelined with or by an injury, sidelined for six weeks or sidelined until next season. The verb sideline is mostly used in the passive.
Examples
The goalkeeper will be sidelined for a month with a broken finger.
She was sidelined by a knee injury for most of last season.
Usage note
The sideline (US) or touchline (UK) is the line along the long side of a pitch or court; coaches stand on the sidelines.
Common phrases
sidelined with an injury · sidelined for six weeks · sidelined until next season · sidelined by illness
A brain injury caused by a blow to the head or a violent shake of the body, which can cause headache, dizziness, confusion or loss of consciousness.
Where you use it
A major topic in rugby, American football, boxing and football. Players are assessed for concussion and must follow concussion protocols; rugby uses a head injury assessment (HIA). Several leagues now allow concussion substitutes.
Examples
He was taken off with a suspected concussion after the clash of heads.
She has to pass the concussion protocol before she can play again.
A sports competition between two players or teams, such as a game of football, tennis or boxing, that ends with a result.
Where you use it
Common in British English for football, tennis, rugby, cricket and combat sports. You play, win, lose or draw a match; there are home matches, away matches and friendly matches.
Examples
We have an away match on Saturday, so the bus leaves at eight.
She won the match in straight sets.
Usage note
In US English people usually say game for basketball, baseball and American football ("a basketball game"), but match is used for tennis and boxing in both varieties.
Common phrases
win a match · home match · away match · friendly match · match report
To win a point, goal or run in a game; as a noun, the number of points each side has, as in "The score is 2–1".
Where you use it
Used in commentary, match reports and team talk. Players score goals, points, tries or baskets; the scorer is the player who scores. As a noun: keep the score, the final score, level the score.
Examples
He scored twice in the second half.
What's the score? — We're winning 3–1.
She scored 28 points in the final.
Common phrases
score a goal · score points · final score · level the score · top scorer
A competition in which many players or teams take part in a series of matches or rounds, often ending with a final and a winner.
Where you use it
Used for tennis, chess, golf, youth football and international events. Teams enter, qualify for, host or win a tournament; formats include group stages and knockout rounds.
Examples
Our under-14 team is playing in a tournament in İzmir this weekend.
She was knocked out of the tournament in the second round.
Common phrases
win a tournament · enter a tournament · knockout tournament · host a tournament
The official who controls a match, makes sure the rules are followed and makes decisions such as fouls, penalties and cards.
Where you use it
Used in football, rugby, basketball, boxing and many other sports; informally the ref. The referee blows the whistle, awards a free kick or sends a player off. Players and coaches often argue with the referee's decisions.
Examples
The referee stopped the game to check on the injured player.
He was booked for arguing with the referee.
Usage note
Tennis, cricket and baseball use umpire for the same role. Referee is stressed on the last syllable: /ˌrefəˈri/.
Common phrases
referee's decision · assistant referee · the referee blows the whistle · video assistant referee
A result in which both teams or players finish with the same score, so neither wins; also the event that decides who plays whom.
Where you use it
British English uses draw for an equal result ("The match ended in a draw"); American English prefers tie. Draw is also a verb: "We drew 1–1." The tournament draw decides the groups or pairings.
Examples
The derby ended in a goalless draw.
We'll find out our opponents at the draw on Friday.
A draw away from home is a decent result.
Usage note
Both Turkish "beraberlik" and "kura" are draw in English; the context makes the meaning clear.
Common phrases
end in a draw · goalless draw · score draw · the draw for the next round
A group of teams or players who compete against each other over a season, earning points for results and ranked in a table.
Where you use it
Used in football, basketball, volleyball and amateur sport. Teams win the league, finish top or bottom of the league, and are promoted or relegated. The league table shows points, wins, draws and losses.
Examples
We're third in the league with five games to go.
The club was promoted to the top league last season.
Common phrases
league table · win the league · top of the league · league match · amateur league
The best time, distance, weight or score an athlete has ever achieved in a particular event or exercise; often shortened to PB or PR.
Where you use it
Used in running, swimming, athletics and weightlifting. Athletes set, break or equal a personal best. British English uses PB; American English often says PR (personal record).
Examples
She ran a personal best of 3:28 at the Istanbul Marathon.
Two of our swimmers set personal bests at the national championships.
Common phrases
set a personal best · break your personal best · season's best · new PB
The person or team you are playing or competing against in a match, race or contest.
Where you use it
Used by coaches, players and commentators. Teams study, respect, beat or underestimate an opponent, and coaches prepare a game plan for each one. Rival suggests a long-standing competition, while opponent is neutral.
Examples
We watched videos of our opponents' last three matches.
Never underestimate an opponent, even one at the bottom of the league.
Common phrases
tough opponent · face an opponent · underestimate an opponent · next opponent
To defeat a person or team in a game or competition; also to do better than a time or a record.
Where you use it
One of the most common verbs in sport. You beat a team, an opponent or a record ("beat the world record"). The past forms are beat and beaten: "We beat them last year", "They have never been beaten at home."
Examples
We beat them 3–0 in the semi-final.
He beat his previous best by four seconds.
Usage note
You win a match, a game or a prize, but you beat a team or a person. "We won them" is a common mistake; say "We beat them."
Common phrases
beat a team · beat the record · narrowly beat · beat someone easily
To earn a place in a competition or in its next stage by winning, finishing high enough or reaching a required standard.
Where you use it
Used for tournaments, the Olympics and leagues. Teams qualify for the World Cup or the knockout stage; athletes qualify by meeting a qualifying time or standard. The noun is qualification, and the qualifying matches are called qualifiers.
Examples
We only need a draw to qualify for the next round.
She qualified for the Olympics at the European Championships.
Usage note
Turkish "kalifiye" means skilled or qualified for a job ("kalifiye eleman"); in sport, qualify means to earn a place.
Common phrases
qualify for the final · qualifying round · qualifying time · fail to qualify
The use of banned substances or methods to improve sports performance, which breaks anti-doping rules and can lead to bans.
Where you use it
Used in the news, sports law and athlete education. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) publishes the Prohibited List every year. Athletes are drug-tested, may fail a test or test positive, and can be banned or suspended.
Examples
The cyclist received a four-year ban for doping.
All our athletes attend an anti-doping workshop at the start of the season.
Common phrases
doping test · anti-doping rules · doping scandal · doping ban · fail a doping test
The part of the year when there are no official competitions in a sport, used for rest, recovery, transfers and building fitness for the next season.
Where you use it
Used by players, coaches and journalists. Athletes rest or train in the off-season, and clubs make changes to the squad. Pre-season is the training period just before competitions start; in-season is when they are being played.
Examples
He used the off-season to work on his upper-body strength.
Our off-season programme starts two weeks after the last match.
Common phrases
during the off-season · off-season training · off-season programme · pre-season and off-season
A sport in which players play together as a team against another team, such as football, basketball, volleyball or handball.
Where you use it
Used in PE, sports science and everyday talk, often in contrast to individual sports such as tennis, swimming or athletics. Coaches speak of team sport athletes and the physical demands of team sports.
Examples
Team sports like basketball need both speed and endurance.
He switched from tennis to a team sport because he wanted to play with friends.
Common phrases
play a team sport · team sports and individual sports · team sport athletes · indoor team sport
A long-distance running race of 42.195 kilometres (26.2 miles), usually held on roads; the word is also used for any very long event.
Where you use it
Used by runners, coaches and organisers. People run, train for, finish or complete a marathon; a half marathon is 21.1 km. Runners talk about their finishing time, their splits and hitting the wall.
Examples
She's training for her first marathon in November.
He finished the Istanbul Marathon in under three hours.
Common phrases
run a marathon · half marathon · marathon runner · marathon training · finish a marathon
An endurance race in which athletes swim, cycle and then run, one straight after the other, over set distances.
Where you use it
Popular with endurance athletes and amateur age-group racers. The Olympic (standard) distance is a 1.5 km swim, a 40 km ride and a 10 km run; athletes change between disciplines in the transition area. A competitor is a triathlete.
Examples
He did his first sprint triathlon last summer.
Triathlon training means fitting three sports into every week.
Usage note
Triathlon has three syllables, /traɪˈæθlɑn/; a common mistake is adding an extra vowel: "tri-ath-a-lon".
Common phrases
sprint triathlon · Olympic-distance triathlon · triathlon training · compete in a triathlon
Traditional systems of fighting and self-defence, such as karate, judo, taekwondo and kung fu, practised as sport, exercise or discipline.
Where you use it
Used for Asian and other fighting traditions; mixed martial arts (MMA) combines several of them. People practise or do martial arts, train at a dojo or club and earn coloured belts.
Examples
Our club offers martial arts classes for children from the age of six.
She has practised martial arts since she was a teenager and has a black belt in judo.
Common phrases
practise martial arts · mixed martial arts · martial arts class · martial arts instructor
The group of sports that includes running races, jumping and throwing events, held on a running track and the field inside it.
Where you use it
The American English term; British English usually says athletics. Track events are races such as the 100 metres and the 1500 metres; field events include the long jump, high jump, shot put and javelin.
Examples
She was a track and field star in high school before she switched to soccer.
The track and field events start on the second day of the games.
Usage note
Turkish "atletizm" is athletics in UK English and track and field in US English. In American English, athletics usually means sport in general, as in a university athletics department.
Common phrases
track and field athlete · track and field events · track and field team · indoor track and field
A swimming event in which any stroke may be used, in practice almost always front crawl; the word also names styles in wrestling, skiing and other sports.
Where you use it
Used by swimmers, coaches and commentators: the 100m freestyle, the freestyle relay. Many swimmers simply use freestyle to mean front crawl. In wrestling, freestyle is one of the two Olympic styles, alongside Greco-Roman.
Examples
She won gold in the 200 metres freestyle.
We'll do ten lengths of freestyle to warm up.
Common phrases
100m freestyle · freestyle relay · freestyle wrestling · swim freestyle
To start a point in tennis, volleyball, badminton or table tennis by hitting the ball or shuttlecock to the opponent; as a noun, the shot itself.
Where you use it
Used by players, coaches and commentators. Players serve first, serve an ace or hold serve; in tennis, breaking serve means winning a game on the opponent's serve. A serve that does not land in the correct area is a fault.
Examples
She served three aces in the first game.
Our team serves well but struggles to receive.
He broke serve twice in the second set.
Common phrases
serve an ace · hold serve · break serve · first serve · serve and volley
A person who trains athletes or a team, plans their practice, teaches technique and tactics and often makes decisions during competition.
Where you use it
Used across all sports. A team has a head coach and assistant coaches; there are also goalkeeping, fitness and swimming coaches. Coach is also a verb: "She coaches the under-16 team."
Examples
Our coach wants everyone at the training ground by six.
She has coached the national swimming team for eight years.
Usage note
In British football the person in charge of the team is usually called the manager; in most other sports and in the US, it is the head coach.
Common phrases
head coach · assistant coach · fitness coach · coaching staff · coach a team
A fitness professional who designs exercise programmes for individual clients and supervises their sessions one to one.
Where you use it
Used in gyms and the fitness business; often shortened to PT. Clients hire or book a personal trainer and buy PT sessions or packages. Trainers usually hold a certification and may work freelance or for a gym.
Examples
I've booked ten sessions with a personal trainer to learn the basic lifts.
As a personal trainer, I see most clients early in the morning or after work.
Common phrases
hire a personal trainer · personal training session · certified personal trainer · PT package
A person who trains for and takes part in sport, especially at a competitive level; in British English it can also mean a track and field competitor.
Where you use it
Used for professionals and serious amateurs in any sport: elite athletes, student athletes, endurance athletes. In the US, athlete covers footballers, swimmers and gymnasts alike; in the UK it more often suggests running, jumping and throwing.
Examples
We work with athletes from twelve different sports at the performance centre.
Elite athletes often train twice a day.
Usage note
False friend: Turkish "atlet" usually means a track athlete or a sleeveless undershirt (a vest or tank top). English athlete means any sportsperson. Say it with two syllables, /ˈæθlit/, not "ath-a-lete".
A person who plays or competes in the same team as you, sharing training, matches and the team's results.
Where you use it
Used by players, coaches and journalists. People talk about a former teammate, an experienced teammate or supporting your teammates; in interviews athletes often praise or thank their teammates.
Examples
I couldn't have scored without my teammates' support.
They were teammates at youth level before they both turned professional.
Common phrases
former teammate · national team teammate · support your teammates · teammate and friend
A player who starts a match on the bench and can come on to replace a teammate during the game.
Where you use it
Used in football, basketball, rugby and other team sports; informally a sub. A substitute comes on or is brought on, and the coach makes a substitution. As a verb: "He was substituted in the 70th minute."
Examples
She came on as a substitute and scored the winner.
The coach used all five substitutes in the second half.
Common phrases
come on as a substitute · substitutes' bench · make a substitution · late substitute
A short practice exercise, repeated many times, that trains one particular skill or movement, such as passing, footwork or a set play.
Where you use it
Used by coaches in every sport and in PE. Coaches run, set up or demonstrate drills; players do passing drills, shooting drills or agility drills. Drill is also a verb: "We drilled the corner routine all week."
Examples
We'll start with a passing drill in groups of four.
This footwork drill is really useful for tennis players.
Common phrases
passing drill · agility drill · run a drill · shooting drill · warm-up drill
The plans and methods a team or player uses during a game to beat an opponent, such as how to attack, defend or use space.
Where you use it
Used by coaches, analysts and commentators. Teams change tactics at half-time, discuss tactics in meetings and work on them in training. The adjective is tactical (tactical change, tactical foul); strategy usually refers to longer-term planning.
Examples
We changed our tactics at half-time and pressed higher up the pitch.
The coach spent an hour on tactics before the derby.
Usage note
Tactics is usually plural in sport ("Our tactics were wrong"), even though Turkish "taktik" is singular.
The strategy a coach or team prepares for a particular match, including how to play and how to deal with the opponent's strengths.
Where you use it
Used by coaches and players in team and individual sports, and as an idiom in business. Teams stick to, follow or change the game plan, and players talk about executing the game plan.
Examples
We stuck to the game plan and kept the ball for long spells.
Her game plan was to attack her opponent's weak backhand.
Common phrases
stick to the game plan · execute the game plan · change the game plan · game plan for the match
The player chosen to lead a team on the field, who often speaks to the referee, takes part in the coin toss and motivates teammates.
Where you use it
Used in all team sports. A player is named, appointed or made captain; in football the captain wears the armband, and in the UK the captain is informally called the skipper. The deputy is the vice-captain.
Examples
She was named captain of the national volleyball team at just 22.
The captain called everyone together after the second goal.
Common phrases
team captain · club captain · named captain · captain's armband · vice-captain
A short, encouraging speech given to make people feel more confident and motivated, especially before or during a game.
Where you use it
Informal, used in sport, at work and in everyday life. A coach or captain gives the team a pep talk, often in the locker room or in a huddle on the pitch.
Examples
The coach gave us a quick pep talk at half-time and we came back to win.
Before the final, the captain's pep talk really fired everyone up.
Common phrases
give a pep talk · half-time pep talk · quick pep talk · need a pep talk
The ability to keep up physical effort for a long time without tiring, important in sports like running, cycling, swimming and rowing.
Where you use it
Used in coaching and sports science. Coaches build or improve endurance; endurance sports and endurance athletes form a whole category. Muscular endurance means a muscle's ability to repeat an effort many times.
Examples
We do long, easy rides in winter to build endurance.
Marathon runners need a lot of endurance.
Usage note
Stamina is a more everyday word with a similar meaning; endurance is the usual term in training plans and research.
The number of times your heart beats per minute (bpm), used to measure how hard the body is working during exercise and at rest.
Where you use it
Common in endurance coaching, fitness tests and wearable devices. People talk about resting heart rate, maximum heart rate and training in heart rate zones. You measure, monitor or track your heart rate with a chest strap or a watch.
Examples
Keep your heart rate in zone 2 for the whole run.
Her resting heart rate has dropped since she started cycling.
Common phrases
resting heart rate · maximum heart rate · heart rate zones · heart rate monitor · raise your heart rate
The maximum amount of oxygen your body can take in and use during intense exercise, a key measure of aerobic fitness.
Where you use it
Used in sports science labs, endurance coaching and fitness watches. It is measured in millilitres of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute (ml/kg/min). People test, estimate or improve their VO2 max.
Examples
We'll measure your VO2 max on the treadmill with a gas analyser.
My watch estimates my VO2 max at 52.
Common phrases
VO2 max test · improve VO2 max · estimated VO2 max · high VO2 max
Describes exercise or energy production that uses oxygen, usually steady activity you can keep up for a long time, like jogging or cycling.
Where you use it
Used in sports science, coaching and fitness. People speak of aerobic exercise, aerobic capacity, the aerobic system and an aerobic base. Aerobics (with -s) is a type of group exercise class done to music.
Examples
Most of a marathon runner's training is aerobic.
We spend the first month building an aerobic base.
Describes short, very intense exercise in which the body produces energy mainly without oxygen, such as sprinting or heavy lifting.
Where you use it
Used in sports science and coaching, usually as the opposite of aerobic. Coaches talk about anaerobic capacity, anaerobic power and the anaerobic threshold. Efforts lasting from a few seconds to about two minutes rely heavily on anaerobic energy.
Examples
A 400-metre race is extremely demanding on the anaerobic system.
These short sprints are designed to build anaerobic power.
The proportions of fat, muscle, bone and water that make up the body, often expressed as body fat percentage and lean mass.
Where you use it
Used in sports science, nutrition and gyms. It is measured with skinfold callipers, bioelectrical impedance (BIA) scales or DEXA scans. Coaches look at changes in body composition rather than body weight alone.
Examples
We test body composition at the start and end of pre-season.
Her weight hasn't changed, but her body composition has improved.
Common phrases
body composition test · body composition analysis · improve body composition · body fat percentage
Doing more training than the body can recover from over a long period, which can lead to falling performance, fatigue, poor sleep and injury.
Where you use it
Used by coaches and sports scientists. Severe cases are called overtraining syndrome; short-term tiredness after a hard training block is called overreaching. Teams monitor heart rate, sleep and mood to spot early signs.
Examples
Her times got slower for weeks, a classic sign of overtraining.
We plan easier weeks to avoid overtraining.
Common phrases
overtraining syndrome · signs of overtraining · avoid overtraining · risk of overtraining
To reduce training volume in the days or weeks before a major competition so that the athlete arrives rested and at peak performance.
Where you use it
Common in running, swimming, cycling and triathlon. Athletes taper or start their taper; the period itself is called the taper or the tapering phase. Intensity is often kept while volume drops.
Examples
We'll taper for two weeks before the national championships.
During the taper my weekly mileage drops by about half.
Common phrases
taper for a race · start the taper · two-week taper · tapering phase
A nutrient found in foods such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy and pulses that the body uses to build and repair tissues, including muscle.
Where you use it
One of the three macronutrients, discussed by athletes, trainers and nutritionists. People talk about protein intake, protein sources and protein shakes; amounts are usually given in grams per day or grams per kilogram of body weight.
Examples
Our nutritionist tracks each player's protein intake during pre-season.
Lentils and chickpeas are good plant sources of protein.
Usage note
The stress is on the first syllable: /ˈproʊtin/ (PRO-teen), not pro-TE-in.
Common phrases
protein intake · protein shake · source of protein · whey protein · high-protein diet
Keeping enough water in the body; in sport, drinking before, during and after exercise to replace the fluid lost through sweat.
Where you use it
Used by coaches, nutritionists and sports scientists. Teams create a hydration plan or strategy, monitor hydration status and offer drinks during breaks. The opposite is dehydration. The adjective is hydrated: stay hydrated.
Examples
In this heat, the referee will allow a hydration break in each half.
The sports scientist checks each player's hydration before training.
A nutrient found in foods such as bread, rice, pasta, fruit and potatoes that is the body's main source of energy during intense exercise.
Where you use it
One of the three macronutrients, often used in the plural and shortened to carbs in everyday speech. Athletes talk about carb intake, carbohydrate loading before endurance races and taking in carbohydrate during long events.
Examples
Marathon runners eat more carbohydrates in the days before the race.
Each of our energy gels contains about 25 grams of carbohydrate.
A product such as a powder, pill or drink taken in addition to normal food to add nutrients, for example protein, creatine or vitamins.
Where you use it
Common in gyms, sports nutrition and anti-doping education. Athletes take supplements, and clubs check them carefully because some products may contain banned substances. Informally: supps.
Examples
All supplements must be approved by the team doctor.
The shop sells sports supplements like protein powder and electrolyte tablets.
A natural compound stored in muscles that helps produce energy for short, intense efforts; also a popular sports supplement, usually creatine monohydrate.
Where you use it
One of the most researched sports supplements, often discussed by athletes, trainers and nutritionists. The body makes some creatine itself, and it is also found in meat and fish. It is not a banned substance in sport.
Examples
Creatine is popular with sprinters and strength athletes.
Our nutritionist explained what creatine does before anyone started taking it.
Usage note
Creatine is often confused with creatinine, a waste product measured in blood tests.
A state in which you take in fewer calories from food and drink than your body uses, which leads to weight loss over time.
Where you use it
Used by trainers, nutritionists and fitness apps. People are in, create or maintain a calorie deficit; the opposite is a calorie surplus. Athletes in weight-class sports such as boxing, judo and wrestling discuss it when they need to make weight.
Examples
She's in a small calorie deficit to move down to the lower weight class.
A calorie deficit that is too large can hurt the quality of your training.
Common phrases
be in a calorie deficit · create a calorie deficit · calorie surplus · daily calorie deficit
Short for macronutrients: protein, carbohydrate and fat, the nutrients the body needs in large amounts and that provide energy.
Where you use it
Informal gym and nutrition language. People count or track their macros, hit their macros (reach their daily targets) and log them in apps. Nutritionists more often say macronutrients.
Examples
I track my macros on an app during the cutting phase.
Your macros for today are 160 grams of protein, 250 of carbohydrate and 70 of fat.
Common phrases
count macros · track your macros · hit your macros · macro split
A supplement, usually a powder mixed with water, taken before training to increase energy and focus; it often contains caffeine.
Where you use it
Gym slang, used as a noun ("Have you taken your pre-workout?") and as an adjective (pre-workout meal, pre-workout snack). As an adjective it simply means before training; the opposite is post-workout.
Examples
Some pre-workout products contain as much caffeine as several cups of coffee.
Minerals such as sodium, potassium and magnesium that carry an electrical charge in body fluids and help muscles and nerves work; some are lost in sweat.
Where you use it
Used in sports nutrition and endurance events. Athletes replace electrolytes with sports drinks, tablets or salty food, especially in the heat or during long races. Labels mention electrolyte drinks and electrolyte balance.
Examples
On hot days the team adds electrolytes to the players' water bottles.
To gain body weight and muscle size on purpose, usually by eating more calories than you burn while doing heavy strength training.
Where you use it
Gym and bodybuilding language. People bulk up for a sport or a role; a bulk or bulking phase is often followed by a cut (cutting phase) to lose fat. Coaches may ask a rugby player to bulk up in the off-season.
Examples
He bulked up by eight kilos over the summer.
Many young players want to bulk up too quickly.
Common phrases
bulk up for the season · bulking phase · bulk and cut · clean bulk
Ten questions from this glossary. Pick the right meaning for each term and see your score.
How to learn sports & fitness vocabulary
Learn verbs together with nouns: do three sets of ten reps, pull a muscle, pick up an injury, beat an opponent, hit a plateau.
Read real texts from the field in English, such as training plans, equipment labels, match reports, athlete interviews and sports science articles, and notice how each term is used.
Study exercise names together with the muscles they work (squat: quadriceps and glutes; deadlift: hamstrings and back) so that gym words and anatomy words support each other.
Practise saying numbers out loud: sets and reps (3 x 10), weights in kilos and pounds, race times (2:45:30) and scores (2–1, 6–4).
Watch out for false friends: athlete is not just "atlet", form is not "forma", and athletics means "atletizm" in British English but sport in general in American English.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a rep and a set?
A rep (repetition) is one complete movement, such as one squat. A set is a group of reps done without stopping. "Three sets of ten reps" (3 x 10) means ten squats, a rest, ten more, another rest and a final ten.
Do I say play, do or go with sports?
Use play for ball games and games against an opponent (play football, play tennis), do for activities without a ball and for martial arts (do yoga, do karate, do gymnastics), and go for activities ending in -ing (go swimming, go running, go cycling). For sport in general, British English says "do sport" and American English says "play sports".
What is the difference between a coach, a trainer and a manager?
A coach teaches skills and tactics and prepares athletes or a team for competition. A personal trainer works one to one with gym clients on their fitness. In British football, the manager runs the team and picks the players; in most other sports this person is the head coach. In the US, an athletic trainer is a health professional who deals with injuries.
Is it a strain or a sprain?
A sprain is an injury to a ligament, the tissue that joins bone to bone, usually at the ankle or knee. A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon, such as a hamstring strain. In everyday English people also say "I pulled a muscle" (a strain) or "I twisted my ankle" (often a sprain).
Why do Turkish gyms use English words like squat, cardio and bench press?
Modern fitness training, certification courses, equipment and apps come largely from English-speaking countries, so exercise names are often used as they are. Knowing the English terms and how to pronounce them helps you follow international programmes, talk to foreign clients and read research.
