Sport as a Social Institution

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Sport as a Social Institution

• Whats 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?

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Sport

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

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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

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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.

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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?

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CAVE OF SWIMMERS (Libya)

• Interest in skills rather than functional tasks
  of staying alive

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SKILLS BECOME SPORTS

• Gladiators fought for enjoyment of audience not
  defending the empire

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SKILLS BECOME SPORTS

• Yachting for enjoyment or competition rather than
  transport or trade

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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

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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?

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Sport as an Institution

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

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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

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Mesoamerican Ball Game - ollamaliztli

• Early Sports - Chichen Itza in Mexico (Maya)

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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-po
  wer-prayer-15512001

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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?

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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?vKymR6N1HT88

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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?

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

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Rationalization

• Rationalization is a process of not perceiving
  reality, but of attempting to make reality fit
  ones 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?

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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

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Quantification

• Methods of measurement get more sophisticated
• Comparison of Players
• Quantifiable Objectives
• Quantity over Quality?

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PowerPoint 13 The End