Wonder of the Day #389
Previous wonder Next wonder
Print 28 Comments
— Entertainment
Have You Ever Wondered...
- What is a hat trick?
- Why is it called a hat trick?
- Can you score a hat trick in any sport?
Tags:
See All Tags
- goal,
- hat trick,
- hockey,
- score,
- soccer,
- sports,
- Sports,
- Language,
- Magician,
- Hat,
- Magic,
- Term,
- Three,
- Game,
- England,
- Cricket,
- Hh Stephenson,
- Wicket,
- Ball,
- Achievement,
- Passing The Hat,
- Donation,
- Athletic,
- Cash,
- Luck,
- Water Polo,
- Accomplishment,
- Point,
- Natural,
- Flawless,
- Perfect,
- Golden,
- Goal,
- Hat Trick,
- Hockey,
- Score,
- Soccer,
- Sports,
- Language,
- Magician,
- Hat,
- Magic,
- Term,
- Three,
- Game,
- England,
- Cricket,
- Hh Stephenson,
- Wicket,
- Ball,
- Achievement,
- Passing The Hat,
- Donation,
- Athletic,
- Cash,
- Luck,
- Water Polo,
- Accomplishment,
- Point,
- Natural,
- Flawless,
- Perfect,
- Golden
Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Blake. Blake Wonders, “What is a hat trick.” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Blake!
Many young soccer players around the world have the same dream: scoring three goals in a game. They want to join the ranks of Lionel Messi, Carli Lloyd, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Megan Rapinoe. With enough practice, they, too, just might score their first hat trick!
What is a hat trick? It means an athlete has accomplished a particular feat three times during a game. In soccer and ice hockey, it means scoring three goals.
Where did this term come from? It can be traced back to England and the sport of cricket. In 1858, HH Stephenson took three wickets in three balls. This doesn’t happen very often in cricket. According to legend, a collection was taken to honor Stephenson’s achievement. He was presented with a hat bought with the proceeds.
Others believe that the term may have developed from another practice. People used to “pass the hat” around to collect donations to reward a spectacular athletic feat. The person performing the act would then be given the cash from the hat.
But what about the “trick” part? In the mid-1800s, magicians were performing new tricks. Many started pulling rabbits or other small animals or objects out of hats. Incredible athletic feats can seem a bit magical. They also might require a bit of luck. Some think the term may have become popular because of its association with these popular magicians’ tricks.
Today, the term is used in many sports, including soccer, water polo, and hockey. Of course, any sport may use it to recognize a special accomplishment involving the number three.
The term can also apply to feats other than simply scoring goals or points. Players can have a hat trick of assists (helping another player score a goal) or even strikeouts in baseball. If the move is done in threes, it can—and often will be—called a hat trick.
Is there anything better than a hat trick? Of course! Athletes are always striving to be better.
In soccer, players can score a “natural” or “flawless” hat trick. That means their goals were consecutive and not interrupted byany other player scoring. There’s also the “perfect” or “golden” hat trick. This happens when a player scores with the left foot, the right foot, and the head.
Have you ever accomplished a hat trick? It’s a very difficult feat in any sport. If you dream of one day scoring a hat trick in front of cheering fans, keep practicing! You may one day achieve your goal.
Standards: CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.SL.1, CCRA.W.3, CCRA.W.7, CCRA.L.1, CCRA.L.2
Wonder What's Next?
Look carefully! Tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day may be gone in a flash.
Try It Out
Are you ready to score a hat trick? Be sure to explore the following activities with a friend or family member:
- Have you ever scored a hat trick in any sport that you've played? If not, that's OK. They're hard to accomplish. That's why they're considered so special. Have you ever noticed that, in most team sports, there are many players, but very few end up actually scoring? That's because it takes an entire team to play a game.A team cannot play well unless it plays together as a team. Team activities areabout making friendships and having fun.Write a short story about a time when you enjoyed being part of a group or team. Share your experience with a friend or family member.
- Doing your best—and showing good sportsmanship while you play—are important aspects of sports that often don't get the attention they deserve. Even if you never score a hat trick, you can still have a fun and successful experience with sports by giving it your all and representing your team by playing fair. Why do you believe sportsmanship is important? Think of some examples when you've seen displays of poor sportsmanship. How should athletes in those situations have acted instead? Discuss sportsmanship with a friend or family member and try to think of some ways you can encourage good sportsmanship among your friends.
- Do you have a favorite sport? What are the most incredible, possibly-unbreakable records in that sport? If necessary, use the Internet to research your favorite sport, including the records associated with that sport. Which records have lasted the longest? Why are those records so hard to beat? If you could break any record, which one would you choose? Why?
Wonder Sources
- http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/hat-trick.html (accessed 10 Aug. 2020)
- https://www.reference.com/sports-active-lifestyle/hat-trick-called-hat-trick-85197131e2b69f34 (accessed 10 Aug. 2020)
- http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/06/25/the-origins-of-hat-tricks/ (accessed 10 Aug. 2020)
- http://www.dictionary.com/browse/hat--trick (accessed 10 Aug. 2020)
Did you get it?
Test your knowledge
Wonder Contributors
We’d like to thank:
Jakub, Anna, Prithvi, kayla and Arindam
for contributing questions about today’s Wonder topic!
Keep WONDERing with us!
What are you wondering?
Wonder Words
- accomplished
- feat
- wickets
- proceeds
- spectacular
- term
- athletic
- collection
- achievement
Take the Wonder Word Challenge
