What is meant by the term balance?

Answer

A simplistic example would be to support a pencil with one finger in order for gravity to pull equally on both sides of the support. While the support remains at the "center or balance" the pencil will remain under control. When more weight moves to one side or the other, the pencil falls - off balane.
In sports, depending on the activity, balance refers to one's ability to maintain an upright or stationary in a controlled body position or to maintain of our movement while moving in any number of ways.
In sports balance is one of the most important traits of successful athletes. Balance enables an athlete to move in and out of varying postures or positions while running and jumping. The football player who can weave in and out of defensive linemen would need a tremendous sense of balance.
Activities where balance is the key component are the tightrope or high wire walking; in gymnastics the women's balance beam, men's still rings and parallel bars are the most balance oriented. There are many other sports where balance is a key ingredient in success. Some more than others.
In everyday life balance is something most people take for granted. We don't realize that even walking forward is actually a matter of falling off-balance and then moving our feet forward in order to maintain our "balance" and not fall over. We are constantly off-balance, but remain in control because of our sense of balance.
Us humans stabilize our bodies with feedback received via the vestibular system found in the inner ear. Increasing one's sense of balance requires practice and very specific types of exercises aimed at stimulating the vestibular system in coordination with other systems such as the muscular and skeletal systems.

First answer by JohnBoyW. Last edit by JohnBoyW. Contributor trust: 58 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 13 [recommend question]