Ch. 8 Sociological Ch. 8 Sociological Foundations of PE & SportFoundations of PE & Sport

1. Sport as a Socializing force in 1. Sport as a Socializing force in American Culture…American Culture…

2. What is human nature in and through 2. What is human nature in and through sport?sport?

3. Social Problems Caused by Sports 3. Social Problems Caused by Sports and How They Are Handled?and How They Are Handled?

What Sport Does for PeopleWhat Sport Does for People

Emotional releaseEmotional release

Affirmation of identityAffirmation of identity

Social controlSocial control

SocializationSocialization

Agent for changeAgent for change

Collective consciousCollective conscious

SuccessSuccess

Definition & Scope of Sport SociologyDefinition & Scope of Sport Sociology

Sociology is the study of people, Sociology is the study of people, groups, institutions, and human groups, institutions, and human activities in terms of social behavior activities in terms of social behavior and social order within societyand social order within societyMany sport sociologist have used Many sport sociologist have used critical inquiry to examine and critical inquiry to examine and interpret the issues (expose the interpret the issues (expose the abuses, discriminations, and abuses, discriminations, and injustices of contemporary sport)injustices of contemporary sport)

Sport Sociology QuestionsSport Sociology QuestionsDoes sport build character?Does sport build character?

Does sport help minorities become more Does sport help minorities become more fully integrated into society?fully integrated into society?

How does the mass media affect sport?How does the mass media affect sport?

How does youth sport influence children’s How does youth sport influence children’s lives?lives?

How are politics and sports interrelated?How are politics and sports interrelated?

How does sport influence athletes’ How does sport influence athletes’ academic achievements?academic achievements?

Changing Educational PrioritiesChanging Educational Priorities

7 Cardinal Principles (1918)7 Cardinal Principles (1918) Gross’s Cardinal Principles Gross’s Cardinal Principles (1978)(1978)

1. Health1. Health 1. Personal Competence & 1. Personal Competence & DevelopmentDevelopment

2. Command of Fundamental 2. Command of Fundamental ProcessesProcesses

2. Family Cohesiveness2. Family Cohesiveness

3. Worthy Home Membership3. Worthy Home Membership 3. Skilled Decision Making3. Skilled Decision Making

4. Vocation4. Vocation 4. Moral Responsibility and 4. Moral Responsibility and Moral ActionMoral Action

5. Civic Education5. Civic Education 5. Civic Interest & Participation5. Civic Interest & Participation

6. Worthy Use of Leisure6. Worthy Use of Leisure 6. Respect For the Environment6. Respect For the Environment

7. Ethical Character7. Ethical Character 7. Global Human Concerns7. Global Human Concerns

Other Social Concerns With Other Social Concerns With Sports and SchoolsSports and Schools

Overemphasis on winningOveremphasis on winningRestriction of opportunityRestriction of opportunityDrug abuseDrug abusePay to play $$$Pay to play $$$Quality of leadership?Quality of leadership?Educational Sport vs. “Big Business Sport”Educational Sport vs. “Big Business Sport”Exploitation of athletesExploitation of athletesMedia influenceMedia influenceLifetime injuriesLifetime injuries

Abuses of SportAbuses of Sport– Direct & Indirect Payments to Stud. AthletesDirect & Indirect Payments to Stud. Athletes– Coaches of Questionable MoralsCoaches of Questionable Morals– Steroids & Blood DopingSteroids & Blood Doping

Overemphasis on School Sports FocusOveremphasis on School Sports Focus– Valued for Only Victory & Fame Not the Enjoyment of Valued for Only Victory & Fame Not the Enjoyment of

Activity PlayedActivity Played

Overemphasis on Competitive Sports in PEOveremphasis on Competitive Sports in PE– Promotion of Physical Competition Not Physical Promotion of Physical Competition Not Physical

EducationEducation

Difficult Relationship Between PE & SportDifficult Relationship Between PE & Sport– Sharing Facilities/Equipment/Budgets/FacultySharing Facilities/Equipment/Budgets/Faculty– Each is Affected by the Public Reputation of the OtherEach is Affected by the Public Reputation of the Other

Endless School Budget CrisisEndless School Budget Crisis

Teacher CompetenceTeacher Competence

Time Away From PETime Away From PEDecline in the Breadth of School ProgramsDecline in the Breadth of School Programs

Increased Health ProblemsIncreased Health Problems

Extreme Body ImagesExtreme Body Images– Movies/Magazines – Beyond Normal LimitsMovies/Magazines – Beyond Normal Limits– Eating DisordersEating Disorders– The Age of Artificial EnhancementsThe Age of Artificial Enhancements

Decreased Teaching TimeDecreased Teaching Time– Hard to Reach Educational GoalsHard to Reach Educational Goals– Lifestyle Programming SuffersLifestyle Programming Suffers

Teacher/Coach Role ConflictTeacher/Coach Role Conflict– Athletes are Treated Differently Then StudentsAthletes are Treated Differently Then Students– Leadership Style Differs as wellLeadership Style Differs as well

School ViolenceSchool Violence– Against Students and Teachers AlikeAgainst Students and Teachers Alike– Not Just in Urban Schools AnymoreNot Just in Urban Schools Anymore

Sport Participation in HS Athletes Sport Participation in HS Athletes Before & After Title IX (1972)Before & After Title IX (1972)

YearYear BoysBoys GirlsGirls

19711971 3,666,9173,666,917 294,015294,015

1979-801979-80 3,517,8293,517,829 1,750,2641,750,264

1986-871986-87 3,364,0823,364,082 1,836,3561,836,356

1990-911990-91 3,406,3553,406,355 1,892,3161,892,316

1995-961995-96 3,634,0523,634,052 2,367,9362,367,936

Probabilities of Males Probabilities of Males Advancing in Sports (1994)Advancing in Sports (1994)

# of # of playerplayers in s in high high schoolschool

Players Players advanciadvancing from ng from HS to HS to college college (%)(%)

# of # of playerplayers in s in collegcollegee

Players Players advanciadvancing from ng from college college to pros to pros (%)(%)

# of # of playerplayers in s in pro’spro’s

HS HS to to Pros Pros (%)(%)

Avg. Avg. Pro Pro career career yearsyears

FootballFootball

BasketballBasketball

BaseballBaseball

HockeyHockey

TotalTotal

928 k928 k

530 k530 k

438 k438 k

22 k22 k

1,919 1,919 kk

.06.06

.03.03

.05.05

.16.16

.05.05

51 k51 k

13 k13 k

23 k23 k

4 k4 k

90 k90 k

.03.03

.03.03

.03.03

.18.18

.03.03

1,4001,400

405405

700700

650650

3,1553,155

.002.002

.001.001

.002.002

.030.030

.002.002

4-54-5

4-64-6

4-74-7

4-74-7

4-74-7

Political Economy of Political Economy of American SportAmerican Sport

All Pro sport leagues operate as “Cartels” All Pro sport leagues operate as “Cartels” (groups of firms that organize together to (groups of firms that organize together to control production, sales, and wages)control production, sales, and wages)– Violates the intent of antitrust laws that are Violates the intent of antitrust laws that are

illegal in most businessesillegal in most businesses– Courts have protected sport leagues from Courts have protected sport leagues from

antitrust accusations because its recognized as antitrust accusations because its recognized as a sport not a business!a sport not a business!

Each league can negotiate TV contracts for the entire Each league can negotiate TV contracts for the entire league (i.e. NFL pckg-DirecTV)league (i.e. NFL pckg-DirecTV)““Reserve Clause” – Owners control players job Reserve Clause” – Owners control players job mobility – Courts struck this down in 1976mobility – Courts struck this down in 1976

Pro sports leagues operate as Pro sports leagues operate as “Cartels” in three major ways:“Cartels” in three major ways:1. Restrict interteam competition for 1. Restrict interteam competition for

players by controlling the rights of players by controlling the rights of workers (players)workers (players)

Drafts, Contracts, TradesDrafts, Contracts, Trades

2. Act in concert to admit or deny new 2. Act in concert to admit or deny new teams, and control the location and teams, and control the location and relocation of teamsrelocation of teams

3. They divide local and regional media 3. They divide local and regional media markets, as well as negotiate media feesmarkets, as well as negotiate media fees

-End Here--End Here-

Social Issues with Sport Continued...Social Issues with Sport Continued...

““Most social and economic analyses have Most social and economic analyses have concluded that the prime beneficiaries of sport concluded that the prime beneficiaries of sport facilities are a small group of wealthy individuals facilities are a small group of wealthy individuals and that those who disproportionately bear the and that those who disproportionately bear the costs are low-income citizens...costs are low-income citizens......economists further conclude that major league ...economists further conclude that major league sports frequently have no significant positive sports frequently have no significant positive impact on a city’s economy and even drain funds impact on a city’s economy and even drain funds from other municipal projects”from other municipal projects”

– ““Power & Ideology in American Sport” by George Sage, Power & Ideology in American Sport” by George Sage, 1998, Human Kinetics.1998, Human Kinetics.

See also:See also:– Journal article by George Sage; JOPERD--The Journal of Journal article by George Sage; JOPERD--The Journal of

Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, Vol. 69, 1998 Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, Vol. 69, 1998 “Does Sport Affect Character Development in Athletes?” “Does Sport Affect Character Development in Athletes?”

Social Costs of Private Enterprise in SportSocial Costs of Private Enterprise in Sport

State intervention has shifted a large share State intervention has shifted a large share of the cost of professional sport to the of the cost of professional sport to the taxpayers over the yrs.taxpayers over the yrs.– 75% of stadiums/arenas have been publicly 75% of stadiums/arenas have been publicly

financed at taxpayer expensefinanced at taxpayer expense– Costs range from $125 – 400 millionCosts range from $125 – 400 million

When cities own these facilities pro team When cities own these facilities pro team owners are relieved of the burden of property owners are relieved of the burden of property tax, insurance, and maintenancetax, insurance, and maintenance– Local taxpayers actually wind up subsidizing pro Local taxpayers actually wind up subsidizing pro

team ownersteam owners– Makes it easier for owners to pick up and leave Makes it easier for owners to pick up and leave

towntown

Approximate Values of Selected Approximate Values of Selected Professional Sport FranchisesProfessional Sport Franchises

TeamTeam Value in Value in Millions $Millions $

19911991 19971997

NY YankeesNY Yankees 225225 241241

Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves 7474 199199

LA DodgersLA Dodgers 110110 178178

Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys 180180 320320

SF 49ersSF 49ers 150150 218218

Denver BroncosDenver Broncos 113113 182182

What Else Could You Buy for 300 Million…What Else Could You Buy for 300 Million…

2 high schools, 2 middle, 4 elementary2 high schools, 2 middle, 4 elementary

Computer equip. for 37k studentsComputer equip. for 37k students

Salaries for 4,000 teachers for one yearSalaries for 4,000 teachers for one year

Build a new city hallBuild a new city hall

Paving the worst main road in ArlingtonPaving the worst main road in Arlington

Lightrail w/ 8 train cars through townLightrail w/ 8 train cars through town

42 state park outdoor rec. projects42 state park outdoor rec. projects

75 wildlife protection & education proj.75 wildlife protection & education proj.

90 community park & trail projects90 community park & trail projects

7 Reasons Why Sports Might 7 Reasons Why Sports Might Get a Poor ReputationGet a Poor Reputation

1) Supreme Importance of Victory1) Supreme Importance of Victory– How Much Does Our Culture Value Winning?How Much Does Our Culture Value Winning?– Can Jobs Pivot on a Win/Loss Record?Can Jobs Pivot on a Win/Loss Record?2) Poor Sportsmanship & Violence2) Poor Sportsmanship & Violence– (e.g. Bertuzzi Hit on Moore or Detroit Brawl)(e.g. Bertuzzi Hit on Moore or Detroit Brawl)– How Does This Affect Culture and Society?How Does This Affect Culture and Society?3)“Rolling Out the Ball”3)“Rolling Out the Ball”– Does this Widen the Gap Between the Haves & Does this Widen the Gap Between the Haves &

Have Nots?Have Nots? – What Kinds of Messages are Sent When Treating What Kinds of Messages are Sent When Treating

Education as Less Important than Sport?Education as Less Important than Sport?

4) Focusing on Sport as Money4) Focusing on Sport as Money– Nutcracker Reflex (Abusing Athletes) Nutcracker Reflex (Abusing Athletes) NHL?NHL?– How Does Money Corrupt Sport?How Does Money Corrupt Sport?5) Unethical Coaching5) Unethical Coaching– Name a Few Ways Coaches Might Cheat...Name a Few Ways Coaches Might Cheat...

The Young Athletes’ Bill of RightsThe Young Athletes’ Bill of Rights

Offers Parents & Coaches Guidelines in Structuring a Offers Parents & Coaches Guidelines in Structuring a Sport Experience:Sport Experience:

– 1 Opportunity to participate regardless of 1 Opportunity to participate regardless of abilityability

– 2 Participate at a level commensurate w/ 2 Participate at a level commensurate w/ each child’s developmental leveleach child’s developmental level

– 3 Qualified adult leadership3 Qualified adult leadership– 4 Shared decision-making4 Shared decision-making– 5 Right to play as a child and not as an 5 Right to play as a child and not as an

adultadult– 6 Proper developmental preparation6 Proper developmental preparation– 7 Equal opportunity to strive for success7 Equal opportunity to strive for success– 8 Treatment with dignity8 Treatment with dignity– 9 Have fun and not take sport to seriously9 Have fun and not take sport to seriously