Sport as a Social Institution

• What’s a sport? • Should chess or a game of dice be considered

a sport?• Could sport be considered a social institution

like family or school? • Why is competition such a big part of sport

today? Are all forms of competition the same?

Sport

• Sport, according to Sociologists and Anthropologists, must meet 3 necessary conditions: 1. Competitive games,2. Won or Lost on the basis of physical skills, and….3. Played according to specific rules

Sport as Competition

• 3 Types of Competition:– Direct Competition• Two individuals or teams engage each other physically

– Ex. Baseball, Football, Ice Hockey, Soccer, Tennis, Track

– Indirect Competition• Participants take turns at the same skill

– Ex. Bowling, Ski Jumping, Field Events

– Against a Standard• Individuals may compete indirectly, but performances

are measured against a preset standard– Ex. Diving, Figure Skating, Gymnastics

Expository

• Select a physical activity and write a brief explanation on why it is or it is not a sport. Consider the three conditions of sport when writing your essay.

History of Sports

• As old as the existence of people

• Mastery of skills useful for people to survive their environment

• What were the basic skills needed for the survival of early human beings?

CAVE OF SWIMMERS (Libya)•Interest in skills rather than functional tasks of staying alive

SKILLS BECOME SPORTSGladiators fought for enjoyment of audience; not defending the empire

SKILLS BECOME SPORTSYachting for enjoyment or competition rather than transport or trade

Sport as an Institution

• Social Institution: system of statuses, roles, values, and norms that is organized to satisfy one or more basic needs of society– Ex. Family, Schools, Educational System, Legal

System

Sport as a Social Institution

• Does sport provide something that other institutions like school and religion cannot provide?

• Does sport create equality or does it generate conflict and division in society?

• Are there any statuses and roles in the world of sport that are unnecessary? Can you think of any positions or jobs that are not necessary?

• Are we killing sport when we overanalyze it, or are we improving its condition?

Sport as an Institution

• Characteristics of Sport as Social institution– Secularization– Equality– Specialization– Rationalization– Quantification

Secularization of Sport

• Sport moved from the sacred to the profane, through a process called secularization

– Sacred: supernatural, inspiring awe, respect and reverence

– Profane: ordinary world, commonplace and familiar

Mesoamerican Ball Game - ōllamaliztli

Early Sports - Chichen Itza in Mexico (Maya)

Secularization of Sport

• Tim Tebow Story• National debate about

whether sport is a place for religion

• What is the place that religion occupies today in sports?

• What is the place that religion occupies today in the world?

• http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/tim-tebow-power-prayer-15512001

Equality in Sport

• In past societies, participation was based on ascribed rather than achieved characteristics

• Today– Is competition open to everyone?– Do the same rules apply to everyone?– Does your school treat athletes of different

gender in the same way?– Does society treat people of different gender the

same way?

Equality in Sport – Title IX

• What is Title IX? What was its original purpose?

• Do you think schools do a good job in keeping up with Title IX?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KymR6N1HT88

Specialization

• Individual concentrates on a single task• Better chance of excelling in that task.• Results from stress on achievement• Ex. Specialization in football: owners, managers,

doctors, specialized players

• Specialization or Diversification? Which one do you think is better at an early age? Should kids specialize on one sport or try as many as they can when they are young?

Specialization or Diversification? Which one do you think is better at an early age?

Rationalization

• Every feature of human behavior is subject to calculation, measurement, and control

• There is a reason for everything

• Sport is played according to rules that are periodically modified

• Rules are “official” and widely accepted

Rationalization

• “Rationalization is a process of not perceiving reality, but of attempting to make reality fit one’s emotions.”

• Analyze the quote. • In your own words, what does it mean? • Do you agree with it? • Can you think of any examples that will ratify or

debunk this quote?

Bureaucratization

• Bureaucratization– Formal organization that develops and enforces

rules– Settles disputes– Organizes competitions and keep official records– Includes International Organizations– Ex. NBA, NHL, NFL, FIFA

Quantification

• Methods of measurement get more sophisticated

• Comparison of Players

• Quantifiable Objectives

• Quantity over Quality?

PowerPoint 13 – The End