Wild card (sports)

Wildcards (alternative spelling wild card ) are used at sporting events to allow athletes or teams to participate, even though they do not meet the qualification rules.

Are usual wildcards hand at tennis, basketball, bodybuilding, with golf, snooker, handball, tennis in the ring, in motorcycling and cycling, as well as, more recently, in hockey ( Champions Trophy ), in snowboarding and surfing area. Using a wildcard eg local youth players can participate in an international tournament. However, there are a number of reasons for the grant of a wildcard. Especially for young athletes is a wildcard a particularly important distinction.

In American team sports such as baseball, American football, and hockey teams receive, who did not win their division, but have the best record of non - division winner, an entitlement to participate in the play-offs.