If you, like myself, are a sports n00b (a term that in itself is outdated/a bit naff), it can feel like the amount of things that you need to learn in order to prep for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games is insurmountable. It’s too many things, this is too much like school, I’m feeling very whelmed.
We can kinda bluff our way through the major sports – Basketball, Athletics, Swimming, even Rhythmic Gymnastics – thanks to our complete inability to block out certain high school PDHPE faux pas (imagine that episode of Please Like Me where Josh Thomas does semaphore without the flags and turns in a circle as his gymnastics routine – but worse).
But what about the lesser-known sports? Your Badminton, your Hockey, your Squash… *head explodes* How on God’s green earth do we get around all o’ that?
Well, it’s okay, young Padawans. We are here to get you up on the lesser-known sports lingo, so that you can blend right in with the superfans, slinging sportin’ slang like a pro.
BADMINTON
Image: GC2018
Net shot: shot that just clears the net, then drops sharply. Players often spin/slice the shuttle to create a higher level of difficulty for the opponent.
Shuttlecock: the thing-that-is-not-a-ball that the players hit – it’s made of a cork base with a crown of 16 Goose feathers shaped like a cone.
Smash: a powerful overhand shot straight to the floor of the opposing court. Smashes of over 400km/h have been recorded in competitions.
Drop shot: Overhead shot that just clears the net and lands in the front court.
Overhead clear: High shot from the rear court to the opponent’s rear court.
BOXING
Image: GC2018
Clinch: when two boxers are holding or leaning on one another, not throwing punches.
Feint: faking a punch in hopes opponent will open up into a vulnerable position.
Hook: short power punch in which boxer swings from the shoulder.
Jab: quick, straight punch thrown with the lead hand.
Uppercut: powerful, upward punch that comes up underneath their opponent’s chin.
HOCKEY
Image: GC2018
The D: slang for the shooting circle – a D-shaped area/14.63-metre semicircle line joining the back line.
Drag flick: a move used to take a lifted shot on goal during a penalty corner.
Hit: when the ball is struck by swinging the stick towards the ball.
Scooping: raising the ball off the ground using the head of the stick.
Watered-down: the condition of soaked artificial turf – wet turf holds the ball to the ground better.
LAWN BOWLS
Image: GC2018
Bias: the shape of the bowl – the bowl will curve in its path to the side of the bowl’s bias.
Heavy: when a bowl goes beyond the target.
Jack: the small white or yellow unbiased ball which is the target of the game.
Jack high: the bowl has reached a position where it is level with the jack.
Toucher: a bowl that touches the jack and remains in play.
SHOOTING
Image: GC2018
Bore: the interior diameter of a gun barrel.
Crossfire: a shot accidentally fired on another competitor’s target.
Double trap: comp in which two clay targets are launched at the same time in front of and moving away from the shooter.
Sighters: practice shots fired at the start to check sight adjustments, windage etc.
String: a series of shots – usually five or 10.
SQUASH
Image: GC2018
Get: a successful hit back after a difficult shot from your opponent.
Hot ball: when the ball is super warm from being struck.
Kill: a shot that ends a point definitively.
Nick: A ball that hits the crack between the floor and a wall after it bounces off the front wall.
The tin: a barrier across the lower part of the front wall.
TABLE TENNIS
Image: GC2018
Attacker: type of player who stays close to the table and plays an aggressive smashing style.
Blade: the face of the paddle that hits the ball.
Chopper: player who keeps the ball in play and waits for their opponent to make a mistake.
Looper: type of player who stays back from the table and plays an aggressive topspin style.
Topspin: the combo of speed and rotation that influences the ball’s motion.
WEIGHTLIFTING
Image: GC2018
Bomb-out: three misses in either the snatch or the clean and jerk.
Clean and jerk: the lifter moves the barbell from the ground to their chest, then above their head, and stands straight.
No lift: when a lift is deemed invalid by two of three refs.
Press out: continuing the extension of the arms after the athlete has reached the lowest point of his / her position in the squat or split for both the Snatch and the Jerk.
Snatch: the lifter moves the barbell from the ground overhead in a single, fluid motion.
WRESTLING
Image: GC2018
Bridge: a wrestler facing belly-up avoids being pinned by supporting themselves on their head and feet, thus keeping their body off the mat.
Cradle: a move where a wrestler places one arm around their opponent’s neck, and the other around the back of their opponent’s knee, drawing their knee towards their face.
Fireman’s carry: a takedown in which a wrestler puts their opponent over their shoulders.
Half nelson: when a wrestler passes their arm under their opponent’s armpit from behind, placing the palm of their hand against the back of their opponent’s head.
Takedown: when a wrestler takes their opponent from standing down to the mat.
Don’t have your tickets to catch these lesser-known sports yet? What the bloody hell are ya waiting for? Treat yourself to GC2018 tickets HERE sooner rather than later.
But it’s not all sports, my friends. The Main Stage bill will be an absolute highlight. Think The Cat Empire and the Electric Lady showcase (Nina Las Vegas, Meg Mac, Jack River and more) as well as neat displays, installations and all-round fun and immersive experiences. See everything that’s on offer at the Main Stage of Festival 2018 HERE.
