Chapter 1: What is Sport and Why Do We Study It?Sport is a Microcosm of SocietyOur sports are organized similar to our society and vice versaWhy Study Sport?Sport is an integral part of everyday lifeIt builds connections with strangers and communitiesIt provides identities for cities and schoolsIt provides role models in our societyIt affects our culture, traditions, and valuesVarda BurstynThe feelings and identification engendered by sport “approximate the experience of religion more than any other form of human cultural practice”Sport through the AgesEarly Greeks used sport for celebrating, hunting, and honoring the godsSpartans used sport to improve war skillsAthenians used sport, along with academics and music, to develop a person holistically (well-rounded)What is the difference between play, games, sport, and work?Play GamesSportWorkPlayFree activity to explore environment, express oneself, dream, and pretendNo firm rulesNo set locationOutcome unimportantPleasure only objectiveEx) tag, building forts, foot race, hide and seek, cops and robbersGamesSpecialized form of play with more structureMental or physical (inactive or active)Informal or formal rulesCompletiveOutcome is prestige or statusEx) Card Games, mine sweeper, video/board gamesDiscussion: As many games become more mainstream there is often a corresponding movement to organize them with standardized rules and competitive events. They take on the characteristics of a sport. Can you think of any examples?Ex) kickball, snowboarding/skiing, ultimateSport (determined by society)Higher order of play or gamesMust include physical activity and skillCompetitive; outcome important to participants (and others) and not predeterminedInstitutionalizedRequires specialized facilities, equipmentEx) Nascar, NOT WWE because it is predetermined, baseball, basketball, 3-gun tournaments, Poker world series, horseback,Definition of sport in North AmericaAn institutionalized competitive activity that involves physical skill and specialized facilities or equipment and is conducted according to an accepted set of rules to determine a winnerImportant: The definition of sport is always changing according to a given culture’s beliefs and attitudes toward sport.WorkPhysical or mental effort needed to perform a taskOften connected to earning a livingProfessional athletes work when they are paid to play sportHigh-performance athletes may experience sport as work even if they aren’t paidEx) pro football/hockey/baseballPlay Group vs Organized TeamsSpontaneous play group-competitive Physical activities with no formal organizationGood deal of time spent organizingUsually no adult supervisionGoal is to continue playMore play for the fun of itExperience is an end in itselfOrganized Teams- Competitive physical activities on a sponsored competitive team in an organized leagueOrganization is complete before gatheringSupervised and controlled by adultsGoal is victory or improvement in standingsFun may not be a partGame is the means to an endTypes of Sport and WorkAmateur vs. ProfessionalAmateurs play for the love of he game and for hobby, and they play just for the participation or for engaging in the challengeProfessionals paly for compensation (salary and possibly scholarships) and they use sport to make a living or as a stepping stoneRecreational vs. High-Performance SportRecreational play is for fitness, fun, and socializingHigh performance is aimed at developing skill to the highest levelWhy We Study SportPersonal developmentScholarly studyProfessional practiceImportant: global physical health concerns have enlarged the focus of sport studies to include exercise, physical activity, and public healthKey Point: in any country there are millions of sport fans and trivia experts but relatively few sport scientistsSport and Exercise SciencesVarious names, terms, and university departments for study of sport and exerciseAdopted standard of kinesiology emergingThree Domains:BiophysicalFocuses on physical activity from the sciences of biomechanics, physiology, and medicineAreas of study:BiomechanicsExercise physiologyNutritionSports medicinePsychosocialFocuses on physical activity from the science of psychologyAreas of study:Sport psychologyMotor learning and behaviorPedagogy (study of the art of teaching)SocioculturalFocuses on physical activity from the sciences of history, philosophy, and sociologyAreas of study:Sport historySport philosophySport sociology (this class)DEF of Sport SociologySociology is the study of a society, its institutions, and its relationshipsSport sociology is the study of sport and physical activity in the context of the social conditions and culture in which people liveSummarySport is found in many aspects of everyday lifeSport is specialized and higher order of gamesProfessional sports focus on high performance and are work for professional athletesThe line between amateur and professional sports is not clearThe study of sport as a science is growingThere are multiple reasons for studying sportSport sociology is the study of sport within social contextSPTE 110 1st Edition Lecture 1  Chapter 1: What is Sport and Why Do We Study It? Sport is a Microcosm of Society- Our sports are organized similar to our society and vice versa Why Study Sport?- Sport is an integral part of everyday life- It builds connections with strangers and communities- It provides identities for cities and schools- It provides role models in our society- It affects our culture, traditions, and values Varda Burstyn- The feelings and identification engendered by sport “approximate the experience of religion more than any other form of human cultural practice” Sport through the Ages- Early Greeks used sport for celebrating, hunting, and honoring the gods- Spartans used sport to improve war skills- Athenians used sport, along with academics and music, to develop a person holistically (well-rounded) What is the difference between play, games, sport, and work?- Play GamesSportWork Play- Free activity to explore environment, express oneself, dream, and pretend- No firm rulesThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- No set location- Outcome unimportant- Pleasure only objective- Ex) tag, building forts, foot race, hide and seek, cops and robbers Games- Specialized form of play with more