Sociology of physical education and sport

 

Sport pervades society to such an extent that it has been described by many experts as a microcosm of society. In other words, sport mirrors the values, structure, and dynamics of our society. As such, sport reflects the characteristics of society. Eitzen and Sage point out that among the characteristics that sport and our society have in common are a spirit of competitiveness, a large concern about materialistic things, the presence of bureaucracy that dominates individuals, and an inequitable distribution of power. The pervasiveness of sport and its institutional nature have led to the study of sport from sociological perspective.

As a medium that permeates nearly every important aspect of life, sport has led some physical educators and sociologists to believe that it should receive intensive study, particularly as it affects the behavior of human beings and institutions as they form the total and cultural context of society. Sport sociology focuses on examining the relationship between sport and society.

As an area of study, the sociology of sport has grown considerably over the past 30 years. As a field of study, sociology of sport will likely continue to grow, expanding both in depth and breadth. However, many challenges face the field. There is a need for further research leading to the development of theories about sport and its relationship to society and social life.

Sport sociologists use sociological research strategies to study the behavior of individuals and groups within the sport milieu. They are concerned with understanding the influence of social relationships, past social experiences, and the social setting of sport activities on the behavior of individuals and groups within sport. Some questions sport sociologists might address are:

 

· Does participation in sport build character?

Does it prepare individuals for life

· Does sport help minorities, including women, become more fully integrated into society? How does participation in sport affect the social and economic status of minorities?

· How does the mass media affect sport?

· What are the effects of youth sport programs on the lives of participants? the participants’ families?

· How are politics and sport related? religion and sport? the economic status of the community or the country and sport?

· How does interscholastic and intercollegiate sport influence the academic achievement of its participants?

· How do coaches influence the lives of their athletes?

· What will be the nature of the sport experience in the twenty-first century?

 

To address these and other questions, sport sociologists may examine historical circumstances, social conditions, economic factors, political climate, and relationships among the people involved.

 

2.1. Listen to the text “Sociological Foundations of Physical Education and

Sport”. Answer the questions you have met in the text.

 

2.2. Find the English equivalents for the words and phrases.

 

Умова, засоби масової інформації, меншості, довкілля, змагатися, дух суперництва, як такий, бути повністю інтегрованим, стратегія соціологічних досліджень, стикатися з проблемами, призвести до розуміння, охоплювати/розповсюджуватися, пристрасний/несправедливий, у загальному та культурному контексті суспільства, наповнювати собою/ пронизувати, поєднано, бюрократизм, обставини, вірогідно, розподіл влади, розповсюдження, вказувати, агент/посередник/провідник, його слід інтенсивно вивчати, поведінка людських істот

2.3. Match the terms in the box with their description.

 

Collective conscience; Socialization; Emotional release; Success; Affirmation of identity; Change agent; Social control

 

WHAT SPORT DOES FOR PEOPLE

 

1. Sport is a way to express emotions and relieve tensions; it acts as a safety valve and a catharsis to relieve aggressive tendencies.

2. Sport offers opportunities to be recognized and to express one’s individual qualities.

3. Sport provides a means of control over people in a society where deviance is prevalent.

4. Sport serves as a means of socializing those individuals who identify with it.

5. Sport results in social change, new behavior patterns, and is a factor that changes the course of history. For example, it allows for interaction of all kinds of people and for upward mobility based on ability.

6. Sport creates a communal spirit that brings people together in a cohesive manner in search of common goals.

7. Sport provides a feeling of success both for the participant and the spectator when a player or a team with whom one identifies achieves. To win in sport also is to win in life.

 

 

2.4. Put the verbs in brackets into right tense form.

 

SPORT ACTIVITIES

 

1. Sport, as it (be) defined), (require) that participants (use) relatively complex physical skills and physical prowess or vigorous physical exertion. 2. Because these terms (can, be) conceptualized as part of a continuum, at times it (be) difficult to make the distinction between physical and nonphysical skills, between complex and simple motor requirements, and between vigorous and nonvigorous activities. 3. Because these terms (not, be) quantified, determining what (be) complex physical activity and what (not, be) can be a difficult task. 4. Furthermore, not all physical activities involving complex physical skills or vigorous physical exertion (be) classified as sport. 5. The circumstances and conditions under which these physical activities (take) place must be considered when classifying a physical activity as a sport.

 

2.5. Give a talk on “Sociological Foundations of Physical Education and

Sport”. Answer the questions you have met in the text.

2.6. Listening comprehension.

 

DEFINITION OF SPORT

 

In order to study sport in a systematic manner, it is necessary to develop a specific

definition of sport. Such definition may, by its first nature, be limiting and restrictive. Yet it is necessary to provide a focus and a shared perspective by which to understand the relationship of sport to society.

Coacley suggests that sport can be defined as follows:

Sport is an institutionalized competitive activity that involves vigorous physical

exertion or the use of relatively complex physical skills by individuals whose participation is motivated by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors.

This definition refers to what is popularly known as organized sport activities. On the basis of this definition, three often asked questions can be addressed:

1. what kinds of activities can be classifies as sport?

2. under what circumstances can participation in activities be considered sport?

3. what characterizes the involvement of participants in sport?

 

 

2.5.1. Listen to the text “Definition of Sport”

2.5.2. Answer the questions that are included in it.

2.5.3. Give a talk on “Definition of Sport”.

2.6. Have a dictation.

 

It is interesting to note that the Greeks provided civilization with two disciplines. The first described how sport could be most helpful in the training of a strong and graceful performance and body. The second provided civilization with the basics of philosophical thinking. As the historian Isocrates said:

“ Certain of our ancestors, long before our time, invented and bequeathed to us two disciplines: physical training for the body, of which gymnastics is a part, and for the mind, philosophy. These twin arts are parallel and complementary, by which their masters prepare the mind to become more intelligent and the body to become more serviceable, nor separating sharply the two kinds of education, but using similar methods of instruction, exercise, and discipline”.

 

III. Text II

INTERNATIONAL SPORT:

THE OLYMPICS

 

Opportunities for elite nonprofessional athletes to compete in international events are numerous. International championships are contested annually in many sports and special competitions such as the Asian Games or the Pan-American Games that are held every 4 years. College and University students have the opportunity to compete in the World University Games that are conducted every 2 years. The opportunity to compete in these special international competitions is highly regarded, but the most prestigious of the international competitive events is the Olympic Games.

Since the rebirth of the Games in 1896 and the addition of the Winter Games in 1924, competitions for athletes from around the world have been held every four years under the direction of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Many people still ascribe to the beliefs that the Olympics offer athletes an opportunity to extend their limits in a quest to achieve excellence by the accomplishment of personal athletic goals, to establish friendships with other competitors around the world, and to foster international understanding and peace by bringing together the nations of the world.

While these Olympic ideals are highly valued by many people throughout the world, there are many problems that prevent the attainment of these lofty goals. The Olympics have been used by many countries to further political goals. Examples of this include the use of the 1936 Olympic Games by Hitler and the Nazis to highlight Aryan supremacy, the terrorist shootings at the 1972 Munich Games to capture world attention, and the boycotts of the 1976, 1980, and 1984 Olympic Games to make political statements and to influence world opinion.

The Olympic Games have become increasingly commercialized. In 1968, the Mexico Olympic Games cost $ 250 million to stage, while the 1980 Moscow Games cost $ 2.25 billion.

The Olympic Games were founded for amateur athletes, those individuals who compete for the love of sport. Defining amateurism and dealing with questions pertaining to participant eligibility have presented a significant problem for the IOC. As we move into the XXI century, the Olympics are becoming more an open competition. Nonprofessional athletes are allowed, under certain conditions, to receive money, and professional athletes are allowed to compete.

The Olympics offer participants from around the world the opportunity to attain athletic excellence and to develop international understanding. These goals can be accomplished when the Olympics are structured to be conductive to the achievement of these noble goals.

 

 

3.1. Read and translate the text “The Olympics”.

 

3.2. Make up 15 questions of all types to the text.

 

3.3. Translate the following into English:

 

Спортивні змагання в олімпійському спорті є тим центральним елементом, який визначає всю систему організації, методики та підготовки спортсменів для результативної змагальної діяльності. Без змагань неможливе існування самого спорту. Тому олімпійський спорт значною мірою может розглядатися як галузь знань та діяльності, яка спрямована на забезпечення функціонування та развитку змагань. Спортивні змагання є своєрідною моделлю людських стосунків, які реально існують у світі: боротьби, перемог та поразок, спрямованості до постійного вдосконалення та прагнення найвищих результатів, досягнення творчих, престижних та матеріальних благ.

 

 

3.4. Put questions to the words and phrases in italic:

 

1. The summer and winter Olympic Games are very important sport festivals in

the world today. 2. They attract millions of spectators via television, and millions of dollars from company sponsors. 3. Winning a medal in an Olympic sport is a peak experience for athletes in all of the countries of the world. 4. The Olympic Games became such important sport events in our modern world because they are based on a set of ideals and principles which must be followed by people organizing and participating in Olympic Games. 5. This set of ideals, called Olympism, is promoted not only by athletes and officials, but also by many educators, business people and organizations who believe in its principles. 6. These principles are outlined in the Olympic Charter which is the constitution of the International Olympic Committee.

 

3.5. Give a talk on the theme.

3.6. Discuss the theme “The Olympics” with your group mates in class.

 

IV. Retell the oral topic:

 

SOCIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT   Sport has become an important part of people’s culture. Sport pervades society to such an extent that it has been described as microcosm of society. Its pervasiveness has led to the study of sport from a sociological perspective. Sociology of sport focuses on the study of sport as an institution, the effects of sport on its participants, and the relationship of sport to other societal institutions. Sport may be described or studied from many levels of analysis: sport as a game occurrence, sport as an institutionalized game, sport as an institution, and sport as a social situation. The growth of sport in schools and colleges has been comparatively recent. Since athletic play such an important role in educational institutions, it is interesting to examine their influence. Athletics can have positive or harmful effects on its participants. Several pressing problems exist in sport today. The opportunities for girls, women, and individuals with disabilities in sport; the minority athlete; amateurism and the Olympics; and youth sport are some of the concerns of professionals. It is important that every physical educator have a philosophy of sport. This will help give direction to the sport program and ensure that the desired goals are achieved.

 

UNIT XX

 

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST # 8

 

These tasks are designed to assist you in determining if you have mastered the materials and competencies presented in the above studied information.

 

1. Discuss how sport is a socializing force in world culture.

 

2. Define the nature and the scope of sport.

 

3. Trace the growth of sport in educational institutions in Ukraine. Then discuss this statement: “Sport in educational institutions was initiated at the college level and then expanded downward into the high school, junior high school and elementary school levels.”

4. Discuss the sociological implications of educational sport. What a the benefits and possible disadvantages of participating in educational sport?

5. Discuss each of the following statements:

 

a. Expansion in girls’ and women’ sport has created many problems.

b. State legislation has resulted in the growth of sporting opportunities for individuals with disabilities, but this growth has created many problems.

c. Elementary school children should not engage in highly competitive sport.

d. The Olympic Games should be abolished.

e. Violence is becoming a part of competition in sport.

 

6. Formulate a philosophy of sport that will clarify the worth of athletics and give

direction for conducting it so that it will make the greatest contribution to

humankind.

 

 

UNIT XXI

 

BIOMECHANICAL FOUNDATIONS