GK Riyaz

Topics / Sports

Sports static facts: 25 questions with answers

Sports questions in static GK usually ask about rules and measurements: players per side, field dimensions, event formats. This set takes them from the governing bodies' own rulebooks: the IFAB Laws of the Game, the FIDE Laws of Chess and the World Athletics Book of Rules, plus an NCERT physical education textbook for team games.

Results, records and award winners change every season, so they are left out on purpose.

Practise sports as a quiz

All sports questions

Options are listed alphabetically. Open "Show answer" to see the answer, our explanation and the source we checked it against.

  1. spo-001Under the Laws of the Game, what is the maximum number of players a football team may have on the field, including the goalkeeper?

    1. Eleven
    2. Nine
    3. Ten
    4. Twelve
    Show answer

    Answer: Eleven

    Law 3 says a match is played by two teams, each with a maximum of eleven players, one of whom must be the goalkeeper.

    Source: The IFAB, Laws of the Game, Law 3: The Players (Law 3.1). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  2. spo-002A football match may not start or continue if either team has fewer than how many players?

    1. Eight
    2. Nine
    3. Seven
    4. Six
    Show answer

    Answer: Seven

    Law 3.1 says a match may not start or continue if either team has fewer than seven players.

    Source: The IFAB, Laws of the Game, Law 3: The Players (Law 3.1). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  3. spo-003How long is each half of a standard football match under Law 7?

    1. 35 minutes
    2. 40 minutes
    3. 45 minutes
    4. 50 minutes
    Show answer

    Answer: 45 minutes

    Law 7.1 says a match lasts for two equal halves of 45 minutes, which may be reduced only by agreement before the start and in line with competition rules.

    Source: The IFAB, Laws of the Game, Law 7: The Duration of the Match (Law 7.1). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  4. spo-004What circumference must a football have at the start of a match?

    1. Between 60 cm and 62 cm
    2. Between 68 cm and 70 cm
    3. Between 72 cm and 75 cm
    4. Exactly 65 cm
    Show answer

    Answer: Between 68 cm and 70 cm

    Law 2 requires a spherical ball with a circumference between 68 cm (27 in) and 70 cm (28 in), weighing 410-450 g at the start of the match.

    Source: The IFAB, Laws of the Game, Law 2: The Ball (Law 2). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  5. spo-005What is the distance between the inside of the two goalposts in football?

    1. 6.40 m
    2. 7.00 m
    3. 7.32 m
    4. 8.00 m
    Show answer

    Answer: 7.32 m

    Law 1 sets the distance between the inside of the posts at 7.32 m (8 yds) and the lower edge of the crossbar at 2.44 m (8 ft) above the ground.

    Source: The IFAB, Laws of the Game, Law 1: The Field of Play (Law 1.10 (Goals)). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  6. spo-006How far is the penalty mark from the midpoint between the goalposts?

    1. 11 m (12 yards)
    2. 16.5 m (18 yards)
    3. 5.5 m (6 yards)
    4. 9.15 m (10 yards)
    Show answer

    Answer: 11 m (12 yards)

    Law 1 places the penalty mark 11 m (12 yds) from the midpoint between the goalposts, inside each penalty area.

    Source: The IFAB, Laws of the Game, Law 1: The Field of Play (Law 1). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  7. spo-007At a penalty kick, players other than the kicker and goalkeeper must be at least how far from the penalty mark?

    1. 11 m
    2. 5 m
    3. 7.32 m
    4. 9.15 m
    Show answer

    Answer: 9.15 m

    Law 14 requires the other players to be at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the penalty mark, behind it, inside the field of play and outside the penalty area.

    Source: The IFAB, Laws of the Game, Law 14: The Penalty Kick (Law 14.1 (Procedure)). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  8. spo-008How many squares are there on a chessboard?

    1. 100
    2. 49
    3. 64
    4. 72
    Show answer

    Answer: 64

    The FIDE Laws of Chess say the chessboard is an 8 x 8 grid of 64 equal squares, alternately light and dark.

    Source: FIDE, Laws of Chess (FIDE Handbook E.01) (Article 2.1). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  9. spo-009Under the FIDE Laws of Chess, which player makes the first move?

    1. The higher-rated player
    2. The player who wins a coin toss each game
    3. The player with the dark-coloured pieces (Black)
    4. The player with the light-coloured pieces (White)
    Show answer

    Answer: The player with the light-coloured pieces (White)

    Article 1.2 says the player with the light-coloured pieces (White) makes the first move, and then the players move alternately.

    Source: FIDE, Laws of Chess (FIDE Handbook E.01) (Article 1.2). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  10. spo-010How many pieces does each player have at the beginning of a chess game?

    1. 12
    2. 14
    3. 16
    4. 18
    Show answer

    Answer: 16

    Article 2.2 says White starts with 16 light-coloured pieces and Black with 16 dark-coloured pieces.

    Source: FIDE, Laws of Chess (FIDE Handbook E.01) (Article 2.2). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  11. spo-011What is the result when the player to move has no legal move and their king is not in check?

    1. The game is drawn (stalemate)
    2. The game is replayed
    3. The player to move loses
    4. The player to move wins
    Show answer

    Answer: The game is drawn (stalemate)

    Article 5.2.1 says the game is drawn in this position, which is called stalemate, and the game ends immediately.

    Source: FIDE, Laws of Chess (FIDE Handbook E.01) (Article 5.2.1). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  12. spo-012A pawn reaching the rank furthest from its starting position can be exchanged for which pieces?

    1. A queen, rook, bishop or knight of the same colour
    2. Any captured piece, including a king
    3. Only a piece that was captured earlier
    4. Only a queen
    Show answer

    Answer: A queen, rook, bishop or knight of the same colour

    Article 3.7.3.3 allows promotion to a new queen, rook, bishop or knight of the same colour, and the choice is not limited to pieces captured earlier.

    Source: FIDE, Laws of Chess (FIDE Handbook E.01) (Article 3.7.3). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  13. spo-013Castling is a single move involving which two pieces?

    1. The king and a bishop
    2. The king and a rook of the same colour
    3. The queen and a rook
    4. Two rooks
    Show answer

    Answer: The king and a rook of the same colour

    Article 3.8 describes castling as a move of the king and either rook of the same colour along the player's first rank, counting as a single move of the king.

    Source: FIDE, Laws of Chess (FIDE Handbook E.01) (Article 3.8.2). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  14. spo-014Under Article 9.6, the game is drawn automatically when the same position has appeared at least how many times?

    1. Five
    2. Four
    3. Ten
    4. Three
    Show answer

    Answer: Five

    Article 9.6.1 draws the game when the same position has appeared at least five times. A player may claim a draw earlier, when the same position occurs three times (Article 9.2).

    Source: FIDE, Laws of Chess (FIDE Handbook E.01) (Article 9.6.1). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  15. spo-015Under the World Athletics rules, what is the standard distance of the marathon?

    1. 40.000 km
    2. 42.000 km
    3. 42.195 km
    4. 44.195 km
    Show answer

    Answer: 42.195 km

    The road race rules list the Marathon (42.195 km) among the standard distances, alongside the half marathon, 10 km and others.

    Source: World Athletics, Book of Rules, C1.1 and C2.1 Competition and Technical Rules (Technical Rules, road races). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  16. spo-016What is the nominal length of a standard outdoor athletics track?

    1. 200 m
    2. 300 m
    3. 400 m
    4. 500 m
    Show answer

    Answer: 400 m

    The Technical Rules set the nominal length of a standard track at 400 m, with two parallel straights and two bends of equal radii.

    Source: World Athletics, Book of Rules, C1.1 and C2.1 Competition and Technical Rules (Technical Rules, track measurements). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  17. spo-017How many events make up the men's decathlon?

    1. Eight
    2. Five
    3. Seven
    4. Ten
    Show answer

    Answer: Ten

    The rules say the men's decathlon has ten events held over two consecutive 24-hour periods, starting with the 100 m, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400 m.

    Source: World Athletics, Book of Rules, C1.1 and C2.1 Competition and Technical Rules (Technical Rules, combined events). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  18. spo-018How many events make up the heptathlon?

    1. Five
    2. Seven
    3. Six
    4. Ten
    Show answer

    Answer: Seven

    The rules say the heptathlon has seven events over two consecutive 24-hour periods, starting with the 100 m hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200 m.

    Source: World Athletics, Book of Rules, C1.1 and C2.1 Competition and Technical Rules (Technical Rules, combined events). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  19. spo-019In the 3000 m steeplechase, how many hurdle jumps and water jumps are there?

    1. 20 hurdle jumps and 10 water jumps
    2. 28 hurdle jumps and 7 water jumps
    3. 30 hurdle jumps and 3 water jumps
    4. 35 hurdle jumps and 5 water jumps
    Show answer

    Answer: 28 hurdle jumps and 7 water jumps

    The rules give 2000 m and 3000 m as standard steeplechase distances; the 3000 m event has 28 hurdle jumps and 7 water jumps.

    Source: World Athletics, Book of Rules, C1.1 and C2.1 Competition and Technical Rules (Technical Rules, steeplechase). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  20. spo-020What is the standard distance of the short hurdle race for women?

    1. 100 m
    2. 110 m
    3. 200 m
    4. 80 m
    Show answer

    Answer: 100 m

    The rules set the standard hurdle distances as 110 m, 300 m and 400 m for men, and 100 m, 300 m and 400 m for women.

    Source: World Athletics, Book of Rules, C1.1 and C2.1 Competition and Technical Rules (Technical Rules, hurdle races). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  21. spo-021How many players does each basketball team have on court?

    1. Eleven
    2. Five
    3. Seven
    4. Six
    Show answer

    Answer: Five

    NCERT's team games chapter describes basketball as played between two teams of five players each on a court.

    Source: NCERT, Class XI physical education textbook, Chapter 5: Team Games (PDF page 1). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  22. spo-022In kabaddi, how many players from each team play on court at a time?

    1. Eleven
    2. Five
    3. Nine
    4. Seven
    Show answer

    Answer: Seven

    NCERT's kabaddi rules say each team has a minimum of 10 and maximum of 12 players, with seven on court at a time and the rest as substitutes.

    Source: NCERT, Class XI physical education textbook, Chapter 5: Team Games (PDF page 53). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  23. spo-023What is the length of a cricket pitch?

    1. 20 yards (18.29 m)
    2. 22 yards (20.12 m)
    3. 24 yards (21.95 m)
    4. 25 yards (22.86 m)
    Show answer

    Answer: 22 yards (20.12 m)

    NCERT gives the length of the pitch as 22 yds, or 20.12 m, or 66 feet, with a width of 3.05 m (10 feet).

    Source: NCERT, Class XI physical education textbook, Chapter 5: Team Games (PDF page 17). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  24. spo-024In volleyball, how many players are in a team's starting line-up on court?

    1. Five
    2. Nine
    3. Seven
    4. Six
    Show answer

    Answer: Six

    NCERT notes that before each set the coach presents the starting line-up of six players, whose order fixes the team's rotation.

    Source: NCERT, Class XI physical education textbook, Chapter 5: Team Games (PDF page 68). Checked 26 October 2026.

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  25. spo-025"Sports, entertainments and amusements" appear in which list of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution?

    1. List I, the Union List
    2. List II, the State List
    3. List III, the Concurrent List
    4. None; sport is not mentioned
    Show answer

    Answer: List II, the State List

    Entry 33 of the State List covers theatres and dramatic performances, cinemas (subject to the Union List) and sports, entertainments and amusements.

    Source: Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2024), pocket diglot edition (Seventh Schedule, List II, entry 33). Checked 26 October 2026.

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Sources used on this page

Each source was opened and read on 26 October 2026.