Introduction to Social Issues in SportPHED 1007January 14, 2015

Overview

• Provide an introduction to several concepts within the field• Explore an overview of the field of sociology of

sport

Introduction• Question - How do you feel when you play sports? Physically?

Emotionally? Cognitively?

• While we are all interested in sports, for our purpose, we want to look at the “deeper game”.

• Question – How have sports become part of our social and cultural world in Canada? (Think hockey). What about other countries?

Sports, for most of us, are more than games and meets. They are an important part of our social lives. Sports have meaning and influence beyond scores and performance statistics.

Sociology

• Is helpful to us when studying sports as a social phenomenon• Sociology is the study of social life, including all

forms of interactions and relationships

Sociology of Sport

Objectives of sociology of sport:1. See how sports fits into social life and culture

2. Understand broader social issues through interactions and issues seen in sports

Important Terms: Culture and Society• Culture: Ways of life people create as they participate in

a group or society• Does culture change over time?• Example: Basketball- invented by Dr. Naismith as an

exercise for men who did not want to play football- WHAT ABOUT TODAY?• Is it the same for everybody?• Example: Martial arts/capoeira/sumo wrestling in Asia

and Brazil VERSUS boxing and wrestling in Canada

Important Terms: Culture and Society

• Society: Collection of people living in a defined geographical territory and united by a political system and a shared sense of identification• Examples: Canada, Kenya, Ecuador, Netherlands- They

all have different cultures and different forms of social, political and economic organization

Definition of Sports

• How do you define “sports”?

• Are the following sports?• Jogging Auto Racing• Skipping Professional Wrestling• Weight lifting Darts• Hunting Pool• Scuba diving X-Games• Ballroom dancing Skateboarding• Skateboarding• Paintball• Chess

Traditional Definition of Sports

• Rigorous physical exertion• Competitive• Institutionalized• Relatively complex physical skills• Motivated by internal and external rewards

Sports vs. Play or Dramatic Spectacle• Play: Expressive activity done for its own sakeE.g.,:

• Dramatic Spectacle: Performance intended to entertain an audience

E.g.,

An “Alternative” Approach to Defining Sports• Definitions may vary based on:• Time period• History of basketball

• Between societies• Unusual "sports"

• Even within societies

Relevant Questions • Should money from a local youth sports budget be given to a

program in which young girls are taught skipping?

• Should skateboarding and hacky sack be supported through a university intramural sport program?

• Should synchronized swimming events be covered in the sports section or in the lifestyle section of the newspaper?

• Should wrestler “Edge” be nominated for a “sports person of the year” award?

Sport Sociology vs. Sport Psychology• When studying the sociology of sport, we see sport form the

“outside and around individuals”. • When studying sport psychology, we see sport that “exist

inside individuals”.• Example: Burnout of adolescent athletes• Psychology- look at factors within athlete• Sociology – study burnout in connection with social reality i.e.

parental involvement, organization of that sport

Why should we use Sport Sociology?• 1. Think critically about sports• 2. Look beyond physical performance• 3. Learn things about sports so you can make informed

choices about participation• 4. Transformation of sport in schools and communities so that

no one is disadvantaged i.e. KidSport/ Jump Start

Why Study Sports in Society?

1. Important parts of social life• Family• Economy• Politics• Education• Religion

• E.g.,

Why Study Sports in Society?

2. Sports tied to important ideas and beliefs in many cultures• Can study sport as a “window” to a culture• Gender Ideologies?• Racial Ideologies?• Class Ideologies?

3. Sports give special meaning in people’s lives.

In this Class…• Social Theories• History of Sport• Socialization• Children• Deviance in Sport• Violence in Sport• Gender

• Race/Ethnicity• Social Class• Economy• Media• Politics• High

School/University• Future

Conclusion

• Overview of sociology of sport• Exploration of relevant terms/definitions• Importance of sociology of sport