[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"external-lt-1127":3},{"payload":4,"id":45,"user":46,"level":52,"course":53,"activity":54,"activity_slug":55,"title":6,"topic":56,"tone":57,"stats":58,"created":61,"score":62,"is_favorite":63,"public":64,"is_external":63},{"text":5,"title":6,"answers":7,"questions":38},"On Saturday mornings, the sports centre in my town fills up with people who all claim they are “not really sporty”. They say it while carrying tennis rackets, wearing running shoes, or holding a water bottle that costs more than a decent lunch. Some come for serious training, but most arrive for a weekly league that mixes football, basketball and a few surprising events that change every month.\n\nThe league began as a simple idea: give adults a reason to exercise without making it feel like a punishment. At first, the organisers tried to attract people with posters about health benefits, but nobody paid attention. Then they changed the message. Instead of “Get fit!”, the posters said, “Beat your colleagues.” Suddenly, the sign-up list was full. It turned out that many people weren’t motivated by long-term health goals; they were motivated by the short-term joy of winning.\n\nThe format is designed to keep things fair. Teams are mixed by age and experience, and each month the points system is adjusted so that one brilliant player cannot carry an entire team. For example, if you score too many goals in football, you might be asked to play in defence next week. Some participants complain that this is “anti-competitive”, but the organisers argue that the league is about participation first and performance second. Most people accept the rule once they realise it stops the same team from winning every week.\n\nWhat surprises newcomers is the atmosphere. It is competitive, but not aggressive. People argue with referees, of course, but they also laugh at their own mistakes. A missed penalty is usually followed by a dramatic apology and a promise to “retire immediately”. Nobody actually retires. In fact, the most regular players are often the ones who started out saying they had no talent at all.\n\nThe league also includes a short skills session before matches. This is where the real learning happens. A coach demonstrates a technique—how to pass properly, how to warm up without injury, how to position your feet—and then everyone practises it for ten minutes. The session is simple, but it reduces injuries and, more importantly, reduces embarrassment. When people understand what they are supposed to do, they are less likely to panic and make wild, unnecessary movements.\n\nBy the end of the season, the organisers give out awards. There is a trophy for the winning team, but the most popular prizes are not about results. One award is for “Most Improved”, another for “Best Team Spirit”, and another for “Bravest Attempt”, which usually goes to someone who tried a new sport and failed loudly. These prizes matter because they show the league’s real purpose: to make sport feel welcoming. The organisers know that if people enjoy the experience, they will come back—and if they come back, they will get fitter almost by accident.","The Weekend League",{"1":8,"2":13,"3":18,"4":23,"5":28,"6":33},[9,10,11,12],"They often underestimate their interest in sport despite their equipment.","They only come because sports equipment is fashionable.","They are professional athletes pretending to be beginners.","They never do any exercise outside the sports centre.",[14,15,16,17],"The organisers reduced the price of membership after the posters changed.","People were persuaded mainly by information about long-term health.","The new message appealed to people’s desire to compete with familiar rivals.","The posters offered free sports lessons to everyone who joined.",[19,20,21,22],"To reward the most aggressive style of play.","To prevent one strong player or team from dominating week after week.","To make sure the rules of each sport stay exactly the same.","To prepare teams for professional tournaments.",[24,25,26,27],"It is calm and quiet, with very little emotion.","It is hostile, with frequent fights and serious arguments.","It is boring because nobody cares about winning.","It is competitive but generally friendly and humorous.",[29,30,31,32],"To entertain spectators while teams decide who will play.","To test who should be removed from the league for poor performance.","To teach basic techniques that help people play safely and confidently.","To replace the matches with training because games are too risky.",[34,35,36,37],"It is mainly a way for organisers to make money from expensive equipment.","It shows that winning is the only thing that motivates people to play sport.","It makes sport enjoyable and inclusive, which keeps people returning and improving.","It proves that adults can only exercise if they are forced to compete.",{"1":39,"2":40,"3":41,"4":42,"5":43,"6":44},"What does the writer suggest about the people who say they are “not really sporty”?","Why did more people join the league after the organisers changed the posters?","What is the main reason the points system is adjusted each month?","How does the writer describe the league’s overall atmosphere?","What is the purpose of the short skills session before matches?","What is the writer’s main view of the league as a whole?",1127,{"id":47,"username":48,"first_name":49,"last_name":50,"image":51},24489,"josefina-manterola","Josefina","Manterola","https://api.useofenglish.ai/static/img/users/default-profile-picture.jpg","B2","Reading","Long Text","long-text","Create an exercise about sports.","Standard",{"times_played":59,"num_favorites":60},4,1,"2026-06-10T15:10:24",null,false,true]