Sports play a vital role in our lives. Aside from keeping us fit and healthy, playing sports also teaches us to live life in the best way possible – learning good values and ethics. Additionally, sports hold greater importance in improving our skill set. It helps us develop skills that we need such as leadership, teamwork, commitment, and sportsmanship. If you are one of the biggest sports fans, whatever it is, then this athletic sports trivia quiz is for you!
We have compiled 80 challenging trivia questions about sports that will boost your mind and energy level. By answering these questions, your “whys” will turn into “wows” as this quiz will also provide you with interesting facts that you may be still clueless about. Ready, set, go!
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Easy Sports Trivia Questions
What sport is described as “the beautiful game”?
Answer: Association football.
Popularized by the Brazilian football player Pelé, the game of association football was nicknamed “the beautiful game”.
Which sport uses a net, a racket, and a shuttlecock?
Answer: Badminton.
Badminton is a game played on a rectangular court by two or four players, who intend to hit the shuttlecock with a racket over the net.
Who was considered the “Godfather of Snowboarding”?
Answer: Jake Burton.
Regarded as the “Godfather of Snowboarding”, Jake Burton Carpenter is also known as the founder of the iconic Burton Snowboards in 1977.
Which type of football is another term for soccer?
Answer: Association football.
In the United States, association football is commonly referred to as “soccer”.
What sport is best known as the “Sport of Kings”?
Answer: Horse-racing.
Horse-racing, one of the most ancient sports, is an equestrian performance sport believed to be the “Sport of Kings” because aside from the fact that it is a way to show who was superior, it was also a passion of many members of the royalty.
What are the national sports of Canada?
Answer: Ice hockey and Lacrosse.
In Canada, the sport of ice hockey is recognized as the national winter sport. Lacrosse, on the other hand, was declared its national summer sport.
In what year were women allowed to compete in the modern Olympic games?
Answer: 1900.
The 1900 Summer Olympics, also known as Paris 1900, marked the debut of women’s participation in the Olympic games.
What is the only sport to be played on the moon?
Answer: Golf.
On the 6th day of February 1971, an astronaut named Alan Shepard from the Apollo 14 mission was sent to the moon and had two attempts at swinging his makeshift 6-iron on the moon’s surface – missing on the first try and succeeding on the second.
Who has appeared on most Sports Illustrated covers?
Answer: Michael Jordan.
Among all the athletes around the world, Michael Jordan, considered by most people to be the greatest basketball player of all time, has appeared in most Sports Illustrated magazines with a total of 50 covers.
What African country was the first ever to qualify for a World Cup?
Answer: Egypt.
In 1934, Egypt became the first African country to play in the World Cup, which was followed by Morroco 36 years after.
Football Trivia Questions
What color are the goalposts in football?
Answer: Yellow.
Located at the back of each end zone on the end line, the goalposts in football are colored yellow.
What does NFL stand for?
Answer: National Football League.
Consisting of 32 teams, the National Football League or simply known as NFL, is a professional American football league founded on the 17th of September 1920.
Who was the first player drafted in the first NFL draft in 1936?
Answer: Jay Berwanger.
Aside from being the first-ever Heisman Trophy winner, the University of Chicago’s very own Jay Berwanger was also the first player to be taken in an NFL draft – although he never really played in NFL.
In football, how many points does a touchdown hold?
Answer: 6 points.
In football, 6 points are awarded to the team that scores a touchdown, followed by an extra point or two-point conversion attempt.
Who was the first player to rush for 1000 yards in a season?
Answer: Beattie Feathers.
Known for his galloping running style, Beattie Feathers recorded a league-leading 1,004 rushing yards in just 11 games, making his 1934 rookie campaign one of the greatest in NFL history.
In football, how many points does a field goal hold?
Answer: 3 points.
In football, a field goal is a three-point-worthy attempt by the offensive team to kick the ball through the upright goalposts behind the end zone.
What NFL team was originally named the New York Titans?
Answer: New York Jets.
The New York Jets, formerly known as the New York Titans, is a professional American football team that competes in the National Football League.
Which NFL team features a helmet logo on only one side of their helmet?
Answer: Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelmark, or the Steeler’s team logo, pays homage to the team’s city and its rich history of steel-making.
In football, how many points does a safety hold?
Answer: 2 points.
In American football, when an offensive team commits a foul while on their goal line, a player gets tackled while in their endzone, or the ball makes its way out of bounds behind the goal line, the opposing team’s defense scores two points.
Which player holds the NFL record for longest interception return?
Answer: Ed Reed.
With his 107-yard interception return for a touchdown, NFL player Ed Reed sets a record for the longest interception return in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on the 23rd day of November 2008.
Basketball Trivia Questions
Who invented basketball?
Answer: James Naismith.
On the 21st of December 1891, the 30-year-old American-Canadian physical educator, physician, and sports coach, Dr. James Naismith, invented the game of basketball in Springfield, Massachusetts with the intention of “winter distraction”.
What does NBA stand for?
Answer: National Basketball Association.
The National Basketball Association, popularly known as the NBA, is a professional basketball league in North America formed by the merger of two rival organizations namely the National Basketball League and the Basketball Association of America.
When was the NBA founded?
Answer: June 6, 1946.
NBA was founded in New York, United States on June 6, 1946.
Currently, how many teams are there in the NBA?
Answer: 30 .
Today, 30 NBA teams are divided into two conferences, the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference.
What team won the very first NBA game?
Answer: New York Knicks.
On November 1, 1946, the first-ever NBA game took place with the New York Knicks defeating the Toronto Huskies, 68-66.
What NBA player scored 100 points on March 2, 1962?
Answer: Wilt Chamberlain.
The Philadelphia Warriors’ Wilt Chamberlain holds the NBA single-game scoring record, tallying a jaw-dropping 100 points in a 169-147 win against the New York Knicks.
Who was the first player in NBA history to be elected league MVP by a unanimous vote?
Answer: Steph Curry.
In the 2015-2016 NBA season, Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry, arguably the greatest shooter of all time, captured his second MVP trophy by a unanimous vote.
Who made the first three-point basket in NBA history?
Answer: Chris Ford.
On the 12th day of October 1979, Boston Celtics guard Chris Ford made the first counted NBA three-point shot against the Houston Rockets.
What team owns the longest winning streak in NBA history?
Answer: Los Angeles Lakers.
The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers owns the longest winning streak in NBA history, beating their opponents for 33 consecutive games.
Who was the first WNBA player to dunk in a playoff game?
Answer: Brittney Griner.
The WNBA star Britney Griner made it to the records books as she throws down the first-ever dunk in playoffs history, defeating the Los Angeles Sparks in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Hockey Trivia Questions
When was the first ice hockey game played?
Answer: March 3, 1875.
Developed in Canada, the first-ever recorded public indoor ice hockey game took place in Montreal’s Victoria Skating Rink on the 3rd day of March 1875.
What is a hockey puck sometimes called?
Answer: Biscuit.
A hockey puck sometimes referred to as a “biscuit”, is a closed disk having the shape of a short cylinder made of vulcanized rubber, which is used in the sport of ice hockey.
What does NHL stand for?
Answer: National Hockey League.
The National Hockey League or the NFL is a top-ranked professional ice hockey league founded on November 26, 1917, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Who scored the very first goal in NHL history?
Answer: Dave Ritchie.
On December 19, 1917, the Montreal Wanderers defenseman Dave Ritchie made history as he scored the very first NFL goal one minute into the game against the Toronto Arenas.
Who roared to NHL stardom as “the Golden Jet”?
Answer: Bobby Hull.
Bobby Hull is a former Canadian player who earned the name “the Golden Jet” because of his blonde hair, skating speed, end-to-end rushes, and his ability to shoot the puck at a very high velocity.
Who was the fastest player in NHL history to reach 1,000 career points?
Answer: Wayne Gretzky.
The Canadian former ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky took only 424 total games to reach 1,000 career points, making him the fastest player ever to do so.
Who was the first NHL player to score 50 goals in a season?
Answer: Maurice Richard.
In the 1944-45 season, Maurice Richard holds the record for being the first NHL player to score 50 goals in one season, followed by Bernie Geoffrion in the 1960-61 season.
Who is the youngest NHL captain to ever hoist the Stanley Cup?
Answer: Sidney Crosby.
At 21 years, 10 months, and 5 days, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby marked his name on the record books as he became the youngest NHL captain to win the Stanley Cup in 2009.
Who was the first woman to get her name on the Stanley Cup?
Answer: Marguerite Norris.
Aside from being the first woman to have her name engraved on the Stanley Cup, the Red Wings president Marguerite Norris also became the first-ever female executive in NHL history.
Who was the first black player in the National Hockey League?
Answer: Willie O’Ree.
Willie O’ree is a black Canadian hockey player who was called up by the Boston Bruins to play against the Montreal Canadiens on January 18, 1958 – making him the first-ever black player to play in the NHL.
Baseball Trivia Questions
Who invented baseball?
Answer: Abner Doubleday.
According to the best evidence obtainable to date, the Mills Commission determined that the game of baseball was first devised by the Civil War hero Abner Doubleday at Cooperstown, New York in 1839.
What does MLB stand for?
Answer: Major League Baseball.
Major League Baseball or the MLB is considered the oldest major professional sports league in the world, founded in 1876 in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States.
How long was the shortest game in Major League Baseball history?
Answer: 51 minutes.
The game between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Phillies became the shortest recorded MLB game, lasting only 51 minutes on September 28, 1919.
Who was the first Major League player to pitch a ball over 100 mph?
Answer: Nolan Ryan.
On September 7, 1974, California Angels pitcher named Nolan Ryan set the record for becoming the first MLB player to pitch a ball over 100 mph, clocking in at 100.8 mph in a game against the Chicago White Sox.
Who was the first Major League player to have his number retired?
Answer: Lou Gehrig.
On July 4, 1939, Lou Gehrig’s No. 4 became the first MLB jersey to be retired.
What player was nicknamed “Mr. November”?
Answer: Derek Jeter.
In a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the New York Yankees star Derek Jeter earned the nickname “Mr. November” after hitting the first-ever homerun in November in the 2001 World Series.
What player was killed by a pitch from Yankees pitcher Carl Mays?
Answer: Ray Chapman.
On the 16th day of August 1920, one of the most tragic events to ever take place in a baseball diamond happened as Cleveland Indians shortstop Ray Chapman died after being fatally injured by the pitch thrown by the Yankees pitcher Carl Mays.
What MLB player holds the record for most consecutive games with a strikeout?
Answer: Aaron Judge.
The New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge holds the record for most consecutive MLB games with a strikeout, striking out his 37th consecutive game in his rookie season in 2017.
What player holds the record for most hits in a season?
Answer: Ichiro Suzuki.
Amassing a total of 262 hits, the record for most hits in an MLB season was once again claimed by Ichiro Suzuki in 2004.
What player hit the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World”?
Answer: Bobby Thomson.
The game-winning home run known as the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” was hit by the New York Giants outfielder Bobby Thomson in a game against the Brooklyn Dodgers on October 3, 1951.
Volleyball Trivia Questions
Who invented volleyball?
Answer: William G. Morgan.
In 1895, YMCA’s physical director named William G. Morgan invented volleyball in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
What was volleyball originally called?
Answer: Mintonette.
The game of volleyball was originally named “Mintonette” because of its similarity to badminton.
How many total court positions are there in volleyball?
Answer: Six.
There are six total court positions in volleyball namely setter, middle blocker, outside hitter, opposite hitter, libero, and serving specialist.
What is the position of the volleyball player who wears a different-colored jersey?
Answer: Libero.
In volleyball, liberos wear a jersey of a different color, playing in the back row in five out of the six rotations as a defensive specialist.
What do you call the passing and hitting drill done in volleyball without a net?
Answer: Pepper.
In the game of volleyball, a “pepper” is a warm-up drill involving two players who take turns in passing and hitting the ball without a net while trying to keep the rally going.
When was the first volleyball game played?
Answer: July 7, 1896.
On the 7th of July 1896, the first-ever volleyball game was played at Springfield College in Massachusetts.
When was the three-hit rule in volleyball first applied?
Answer: 1920.
The three-hit rule and back-row attacks in volleyball were mandated in 1920.
Where did volleyball make its Olympic debut?
Answer: Tokyo, Japan.
The game of volleyball made its Olympic debut at the 1964 Tokyo Games after being adopted by the International Olympic Committee as a non-Olympic sport in 1949.
When was the first international beach volleyball exhibition held?
Answer: 1986.
Held in Rio de Janeiro in 1986, the first international beach volleyball exhibition took place with 5,000 spectators.
Who was the first U.S. volleyball player to win three Olympic gold medals?
Answer: Karch Kiraly.
The American athlete Karch Kiraly is the first volleyball player to ever win three Olympic gold medals.
Golf Trivia Questions
Where did the game of golf originate?
Answer: Scotland.
In an area close to the royal capital of Edinburgh, the game of golf originated from a game played on the eastern coast of Scotland.
What do you call the American organization of golf professionals founded in 1916?
Answer: PGA of America.
On April 10, 1916, the American organization called the Professional Golfers’ Association of America, or the PGA of America was founded by the American businessman Rodman Wanamaker.
What type of golf clubs are used for long shots from the tee or fairway?
Answer: Woods.
If a golf hole is 450 yards from tee to green, most golfers will use wood to hit off the tee.
Which golf course is considered the oldest in the world?
Answer: St. Andrews, Old Course.
St. Andrews’ old golf course is considered the oldest in the world established in 1552.
What golfer was known as “The Golden Bear”?
Answer: Jack William Nicklaus.
An Australian sportswriter named Don Lawrence gave Jack Nicklaus the nickname “The Golden Bear” because he thought he looked like “a big, cuddly, golden bear”.
What golfer set a PGA Tour record in 1945 by winning 18 tournaments?
Answer: Byron Nelson.
In 1945, Byron Nelson enjoyed a record-setting stretch, winning 18 PGA tournaments out of the 30 he played, including 11 in a row.
When did the first recorded women’s golf tournament take place?
Answer: January 9, 1811.
At Musselburgh Golf Club, Scotland, the first-ever recorded women’s golf tournament was participated by the town fishwives on January 9, 1811.
Who was known as the “Mother of Golf”?
Answer: Mary, Queen of Scots.
Regarded as the “Mother of Golf”, Mary, Queen of Scots was said to be an avid golfer and was given credit for the word “caddie”.
Who struck the longest golf drive?
Answer: Mike Austin.
Driving 515 yards, Mike Austin holds the world record for the longest golf drive in professional play at the Winterwood Golf Course located in Las Vegas Nevada, in 1974.
How many dimples are there in a golf ball?
Answer: 300 to 500 dimples.
A golf ball generally has 300 to 500 dimples on it – although there are no restriction rules about it.
Badminton Trivia Questions
What was badminton originally named?
Answer: Poona.
Badminton was originally called the Poona – named after a town in India where the sport’s first rule was drawn up in 1873.
In what ancient game did badminton originate?
Answer: Battledore and shuttlecock.
Badminton originated from the earlier game of Battledore and Shuttlecock, which was played in ancient Greece, China, and India.
How many feathers are attached to the base of a shuttlecock?
Answer: 16.
A shuttlecock, also known as “bird” or “birdie”, has 16 goose feathers attached to its base.
Which badminton player earned the nickname “Super Dan”?
Answer: Lin Dan.
Lin Dan earned the nickname “Super Dan” after winning the All England Open final in 2004.
What is the international governing body of badminton?
Answer: Badminton World Federation.
Founded in 1934, Badminton World Federation is the international governing body for the game of badminton.
In which year did Badminton become an Olympic sport?
Answer: 1992.
Badminton made its Olympics debut as an official medal sport at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
What was the first official badminton club?
Answer: Bath Badminton Club.
In 1877, the first official badminton club known as the Bath Badminton Club was established.
How long did the shortest recorded badminton match last?
Answer: 6 minutes.
On May 19, 1996, South Korea’s Ra Kyung-min defeated England’s Julia Mann 11-2, 11-1 in six minutes during the 1996 Uber Cup in Hongkong.
What is the oldest badminton tournament in the world?
Answer: All England Open Badminton Championships.
The prestigious All England Open Badminton Championships, or simply All England, is considered the world’s oldest tournament, having the world’s first tournament held in 1898.
Who became the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal?
Answer: Saina Nehwal.
Aside from being the first Indian to win the BWF World Championship, Saina Nehwal also became the first-ever badminton player from India to clinch an Olympic medal.
