Readers reply: American football takes for ever. In which other sports do you spend most of your time not playing the game?

"Golf is a good walk spoiled, as more time is spent walking than actually golfing. The leisurely pace often leads to extended periods of inactivity."

"In athletics, especially the jumps and throws, competitors can wait for an hour between their brief performances, which last only seconds."

"Three-day eventing takes three days to complete, yet the actual competition time is only between 12 and 15 minutes, highlighting the extensive downtime."

"Sailing involves significant preparation and post-activity tasks, which can overshadow the actual time spent sailing, making the experience feel longer."

Various sports and activities exhibit considerable downtime compared to active gameplay. Golf is noted for having more time spent walking than playing. School sports often leave non-athletes sidelined. Athletics, particularly jumps and throws, involve long waits between brief performances. Three-day eventing has minimal competition time relative to its duration. Sailing requires extensive preparation and post-activity tasks, overshadowing the actual sailing time. Baseball has introduced timers to address similar issues of downtime, particularly in professional settings.

Read at www.theguardian.com