PE 6 PE 6 Comparing America and Comparing America and BritainBritain

IntroductionIntroduction

• In many ways In many ways America is the America is the world leader: the world leader: the way its athletes are way its athletes are treated, the treated, the resources available resources available and the way the and the way the major sports are major sports are funded.funded.

The geography of America and The geography of America and its effect on sportits effect on sport• America’s size is of great benefit to its America’s size is of great benefit to its

people economically and in terms of people economically and in terms of leisure.leisure.

• America is made up of many different America is made up of many different lanscapes and climates that affect what lanscapes and climates that affect what Americans can do.Americans can do.

• Generally the warm climate and the whole Generally the warm climate and the whole variety available mean that Americans variety available mean that Americans have a broad choice of things to do.have a broad choice of things to do.

• It is not surprising It is not surprising therefore that many of therefore that many of the the activities/lifestyles, activities/lifestyles, jobs and life skills are jobs and life skills are centred on hunting, centred on hunting, fishing and horse fishing and horse riding.riding.

• The idea of the ‘gun The idea of the ‘gun lobby’, which agrees lobby’, which agrees that keeping guns is that keeping guns is an important part of an important part of self defence, dates self defence, dates back to the days of back to the days of the pioneers, when a the pioneers, when a man needed to defend man needed to defend himself against all.himself against all.

GeographyGeography• Population - 250 million (Britain 60 Population - 250 million (Britain 60

million)million)

• ¾ live in cities, so population is dense in ¾ live in cities, so population is dense in the cities by very sparse in other areas.the cities by very sparse in other areas.

• Climate – all types – Very cold (high Climate – all types – Very cold (high plateau. Alberquerque - practice area plateau. Alberquerque - practice area for the Olympic Games.); Semi-tropical for the Olympic Games.); Semi-tropical (Gulf region); Rainy (central plateau) (Gulf region); Rainy (central plateau) and wilderness.and wilderness.

• Size - 3.5 million square miles.Size - 3.5 million square miles.

GeographyGeography

• 51 states.51 states.

• Each state is about the same size as Each state is about the same size as a European country but with less a European country but with less population.population.

• America has 3 geographical areas:America has 3 geographical areas:

1.1. Highland (Appalachians to the east)Highland (Appalachians to the east)

2.2. Plateaus (Mid-America)Plateaus (Mid-America)

3.3. Mountains (Rockies to the west)Mountains (Rockies to the west)

TransportTransport

• Planes and inter-Planes and inter-state buses - The state buses - The Greyhounds.Greyhounds.

• Inter-state trains.Inter-state trains.

• Great use of cars –Great use of cars –long distances to long distances to traveltravel

American SportAmerican Sport• American sport is American sport is

the most technically the most technically advanced sport in advanced sport in the world.the world.

• Its stars are the Its stars are the wealthiest in the wealthiest in the world.world.

• They are world They are world champions in many champions in many sports.sports.

The development of The development of AmericanAmerican sportsport

AmerAmericanican Sport Sport

• The American people have an The American people have an obsession with sport – sport has a obsession with sport – sport has a strong influence on all social and strong influence on all social and cultural aspects.cultural aspects.

• Millions play and pay to watch sport Millions play and pay to watch sport ‘live’ and on television.‘live’ and on television.

• Billions are spent on leisure and sport.Billions are spent on leisure and sport.

• Most sports performers earn millions, Most sports performers earn millions, and clubs are run as commercial and clubs are run as commercial companies. companies.

AmerAmericanican Sport Sport

• The interesting thing about sport in The interesting thing about sport in America is the fact that the sports America is the fact that the sports are not played anywhere else in the are not played anywhere else in the world – this is a good example of how world – this is a good example of how sport reflects the country’s culture.sport reflects the country’s culture.

• America’s history and self-belief have America’s history and self-belief have underlain sport where ‘world underlain sport where ‘world championships’ are held in American championships’ are held in American football, ice hockey, baseball and football, ice hockey, baseball and basketball that are open to America basketball that are open to America only!!only!!

AmerAmericanican Sport Sport

• Like many ‘New World’ countries, Like many ‘New World’ countries, America has colonial links.America has colonial links.

• But these were early in the country’s But these were early in the country’s historical development, and for years historical development, and for years America developed separately from America developed separately from all, especially Europe.all, especially Europe.

• During this time, many sports During this time, many sports developed from European games so developed from European games so that they suited America’s new that they suited America’s new appearance.appearance.

AmerAmericanican Sport Sport• Ancient gamesAncient games

- Baggataway/Lacrosse- Baggataway/Lacrosse

• European appearanceEuropean appearance

- - BaseballBaseball

• Rationalising periodRationalising period

- American football- American football

• Independence and separatismIndependence and separatism

- Basketball- Basketball

AmerAmericanican Sport Sport

• TaskTask

• What are the main differences What are the main differences between baseball and rounders? between baseball and rounders?

AmerAmericanican Sport Sport• In sports like hockey and football, a In sports like hockey and football, a

harder, more attractive game was harder, more attractive game was developed (American football and ice developed (American football and ice hockey).hockey).

•Games like these are now associated Games like these are now associated with America.with America.

•These were developed to reflect These were developed to reflect American society and because of this American society and because of this they have not developed away from they have not developed away from America.America.

TaskTask

• Compare football in Britain with Compare football in Britain with American football.American football.

• Compare the historical and cultural Compare the historical and cultural differences that have led to 2 differences that have led to 2 completely different games. completely different games.

AmerAmericanican Sport Sport

• American sports tend to be games American sports tend to be games full of incidents to increase the full of incidents to increase the entertainment. American sports entertainment. American sports reflect their culture, winning is reflect their culture, winning is important.important.

• ‘‘The winning principle’ or ‘Lombardi’s The winning principle’ or ‘Lombardi’s Principle’Principle’

AmerAmericanican Sport Sport

Lombardi’s Principle:Lombardi’s Principle:• Named after the successful Named after the successful

coach of the Green Bay coach of the Green Bay Packers in the 50s- Vince Packers in the 50s- Vince Lombardi.Lombardi.

• He developed the idea that He developed the idea that winning was all-important.winning was all-important.

• This was completely This was completely contrary to the idea of contrary to the idea of sportsmanship.sportsmanship.

"There's only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give it

everything. I do, and I demand that my players do."

"If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you'll be fired with enthusiasm."

"Mental toughness is essential to success."

"You never win a game unless you beat the guy in front of you. The score

on the board doesn't mean a thing. That's for the fans. You've got to win the war with the man in front of you.

You've got to get your man."

Success demands singleness of purpose."Success demands singleness of purpose."

"Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will be "Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will be judged by only one thing - the result."judged by only one thing - the result."

"Winning is not a sometime thing: it's an all the time thing. You don't "Winning is not a sometime thing: it's an all the time thing. You don't win once in a while; you don't do the right thing once in a while; you do win once in a while; you don't do the right thing once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing."them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing."

"Winning isn't everything - but wanting to win is.""Winning isn't everything - but wanting to win is."

"It's easy to have faith in yourself and have discipline when you're a "It's easy to have faith in yourself and have discipline when you're a winner, when you're number one. What you've got to have is faith and winner, when you're number one. What you've got to have is faith and

discipline when you're not yet a winner."discipline when you're not yet a winner."

"I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfilment of "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfilment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."

AmerAmericanican Sport Sport

• It is this idea which encourages every It is this idea which encourages every American and promotes the idea of American and promotes the idea of the American dreamthe American dream

• The idea of ‘rags to riches’ where The idea of ‘rags to riches’ where everybody can eventually become a everybody can eventually become a herohero

• The best example of this is the film The best example of this is the film RockyRocky

AmerAmericanican Sport Sport • The industrial aspect of American sport The industrial aspect of American sport

makes it unique.makes it unique.

• At all levels, from professional national At all levels, from professional national teams to the high school American teams to the high school American football team, they are run as football team, they are run as businsesses.businsesses.

• The influence of television is so The influence of television is so important and many sports depend on important and many sports depend on the money produced by the television the money produced by the television companies and advertising.companies and advertising.

AmerAmericanican Sport Sport

• American sport heroes are American sport heroes are millionaires.millionaires.

• Indeed many players are on multi-Indeed many players are on multi-million dollar contracts.million dollar contracts.

• Many players, like Michael Jordan, Many players, like Michael Jordan, make even more money by being make even more money by being sponsored.sponsored.

AmerAmericanican Sport Sport• In spite of all the money, there is In spite of all the money, there is

another side:another side:

• Sport in America is elitist.Sport in America is elitist.

• e.g. in athletics, there is not one e.g. in athletics, there is not one amateur club where individuals can amateur club where individuals can train and compete.train and compete.

• Clubs are based in educational Clubs are based in educational institutions like schools and colleges or institutions like schools and colleges or professional institutions.professional institutions.

AmerAmericanican Sport Sport

• To most To most Americans, sport is Americans, sport is something to something to watch on watch on television, and television, and something you something you don’t do after don’t do after leaving school.leaving school.

AmerAmericanican Sport Sport• Television affects the rules Television affects the rules

of a game, e.g. American of a game, e.g. American football has developed into football has developed into a ‘staccato- stop go’ game.a ‘staccato- stop go’ game.

• The reason for this is to The reason for this is to enable companies to enable companies to advertise their products advertise their products every 5 minutes.every 5 minutes.

• Many of these aspects are Many of these aspects are now starting to permeate now starting to permeate British sport.British sport.

• And we are finding it And we are finding it difficult to stop our sport difficult to stop our sport being Americanised.being Americanised.

TaskTask

• What effect have the factors noted What effect have the factors noted on the sheet ‘Comparing Britain and on the sheet ‘Comparing Britain and America’ had on the sports system in America’ had on the sports system in the USA?the USA?