Sports Trivia Questions & Answers: Football, Basketball & More

Sports trivia works best when it mixes rules, history and several different games instead of leaning on one league. This set covers football, soccer, basketball, baseball, the Olympics, tennis, golf, hockey and a broader challenge round, with short explanations after every answer.

Keep playing with our general knowledge trivia, trivia questions for adults and the Trivia hub.

How to Play

• Read the full question before anyone answers.
• Award 1 point for each correct answer.
• Use the final round as a tie-breaker if scores are close.
• Share the short explanation after each answer so the quiz teaches as well as tests.

Football & Soccer

Q1. How many points is a touchdown worth in American football before any extra-point attempt?

Answer: 6. Why: A touchdown scores six points.

Q2. How many points is a field goal worth in American football?

Answer: 3. Why: A successful field goal scores three points.

Q3. How many quarters are in a standard NFL game?

Answer: 4. Why: The game is divided into four quarters.

Q4. Which team won the first Super Bowl, played in January 1967?

Answer: The Green Bay Packers. Why: Green Bay defeated the Kansas City Chiefs.

Q5. How many players from one soccer team are normally on the field, including the goalkeeper?

Answer: 11. Why: A team starts with up to eleven players.

Q6. How far is the penalty mark from the goal line in soccer?

Answer: 11 meters. Why: The penalty mark is 11 meters, or 12 yards, from the goal line.

Q7. What is it called when one soccer player scores three goals in a match?

Answer: A hat-trick. Why: The term is widely used for three goals by one player.

Q8. Which country won the first FIFA World Cup in 1930?

Answer: Uruguay. Why: Uruguay hosted and won the inaugural tournament.

Basketball & Baseball

Q9. How many players from one basketball team are on the court at a time?

Answer: 5. Why: Five players per team are on the court in standard basketball.

Q10. How many points is a free throw worth in basketball?

Answer: 1. Why: Each successful free throw scores one point.

Q11. How many quarters are in a standard NBA game?

Answer: 4. Why: NBA games have four 12-minute quarters.

Q12. How high is a regulation basketball hoop?

Answer: 10 feet. Why: The rim is 10 feet above the floor.

Q13. How many strikes make an out in baseball?

Answer: 3. Why: Three strikes result in a strikeout.

Q14. How many balls usually give a batter a walk in baseball?

Answer: 4. Why: Four balls award first base.

Q15. How many innings are in a standard Major League Baseball game?

Answer: 9. Why: A regulation MLB game is scheduled for nine innings.

Q16. How many defensive players are on the field for one baseball team?

Answer: 9. Why: A standard defensive lineup has nine fielders.

Olympics & Track

Q17. In which city were the first modern Olympic Games held in 1896?

Answer: Athens. Why: The first modern Games were held in Athens, Greece.

Q18. How many rings are on the Olympic symbol?

Answer: 5. Why: The Olympic symbol consists of five interlaced rings.

Q19. How often are the Summer Olympic Games normally held?

Answer: Every four years. Why: The Games follow a four-year cycle, barring exceptional disruptions.

Q20. How many events are in a decathlon?

Answer: 10. Why: The name comes from the Greek roots for ten and contest.

Q21. How long is one lap of a standard outdoor running track?

Answer: 400 meters. Why: A standard outdoor track measures 400 meters around lane one.

Q22. How long is the official marathon distance?

Answer: 42.195 kilometers. Why: That equals 26 miles and 385 yards.

Q23. Which Greek runner won the marathon at the first modern Olympics in 1896?

Answer: Spyridon Louis. Why: His victory became one of the iconic moments of the Athens Games.

Q24. What object is passed between runners in a relay race?

Answer: A baton. Why: Relay teammates transfer a baton inside designated exchange zones.

Tennis, Golf, Hockey & More

Q25. What score does ‘love’ mean in tennis?

Answer: Zero. Why: Love is the traditional tennis term for a score of zero.

Q26. How many Grand Slam tennis tournaments are played each year?

Answer: 4. Why: They are the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.

Q27. On what surface is Wimbledon played?

Answer: Grass. Why: Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam played on grass.

Q28. How many holes are in a standard round of golf?

Answer: 18. Why: A full standard round is played over 18 holes.

Q29. What is one stroke under par on a golf hole called?

Answer: A birdie. Why: A birdie is one stroke below par.

Q30. Which golf tournament awards a green jacket to its champion?

Answer: The Masters. Why: The winner receives the famous green jacket.

Q31. How many players from one ice hockey team are normally on the ice at once, including the goalie?

Answer: 6. Why: Standard play has five skaters and one goaltender per team.

Q32. What trophy is awarded to the NHL playoff champion?

Answer: The Stanley Cup. Why: The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy of the NHL.

Sports Challenge Round

Q33. How many players are on court for one volleyball team during play?

Answer: 6. Why: Indoor volleyball uses six players per team on court.

Q34. How many players are on a rugby union team?

Answer: 15. Why: A rugby union side fields fifteen players.

Q35. How many stumps make up a wicket in cricket?

Answer: 3. Why: A wicket consists of three stumps topped by two bails.

Q36. How many weapons are used in modern Olympic fencing?

Answer: 3. Why: Foil, épée and sabre are the three weapons.

Q37. What is the object hit back and forth in badminton called?

Answer: A shuttlecock. Why: It is also commonly called a shuttle or birdie.

Q38. How many stones does each curling team deliver in one end?

Answer: 8. Why: Each team throws eight stones per end.

Q39. How many points does a player normally need to win a table-tennis game, while leading by at least two?

Answer: 11. Why: At 10–10, play continues until one player leads by two.

Q40. What shape is a boxing ring despite its name?

Answer: Square. Why: Modern boxing rings are square platforms bounded by ropes.

Reliable Sources

• The IFAB — Laws of the Game
• NBA — Official Rulebook
• MLB — Official Baseball Rules
• International Olympic Committee — Olympic Games

FAQ

Are these sports trivia questions only about U.S. sports? No. The quiz mixes major U.S. sports with soccer, the Olympics, tennis, golf, hockey, rugby, cricket and more.

How can I use sports trivia for game night? Pick one section for a short round or combine all five sections for a 40-question game.