1. Chapter 1 What is Sport and Why Do We Study It?

2. Chapter Outline Sport Through the Ages Definition of Sport
Study of Sport
Chapter Summary

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Discussion
What is the difference between play, games, sport, and work?

6. Figure 1.1

7. Play
Free activity to explore environment, express oneself, dream, and pretend
No firm rules
No set location
Outcome unimportant
Pleasure only objective
Name some examples

8. Games Specialized form of play with more structure
Mental or physical (inactive or active)
Informal or formal rules
Competitive
Outcome is prestige or status
Name some examples

9. Discussion
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?

10. Sport Higher order of play or games
Must include physical activity and skill
Competitive; outcome important to participants (and others) and not predetermined
Institutionalized
Requires specialized facilities, equipment
Name some examples

11. Definition of Sport in North America
An 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 winner.
Important: The definition of sport is always changing according to a given culture’s beliefs and attitudes toward sport.

12. Work Physical or mental effort needed to perform a task.
Often connected to earning a living.
Professional athletes work when they are paid to play sport.
High-performance athletes may experience sport as work even if they aren’t yet paid.
Name some examples

13. Figure 1.2

14. Why We Study Sport Personal development Scholarly study
Professional practice
Important: Global physical health concerns have enlarged the focus of sport studies to include exercise, physical activity, and public health

15. Sport and Exercise Sciences
Various names, terms, and university departments for study of sport and exercise
Adopted standard of kinesiology emerging
Three domains
Biophysical
Psychosocial
Sociocultural

16. Biophysical Domain
Focuses on physical activity from the sciences of biomechanics, physiology, and medicine
Areas of study
Biomechanics
Exercise physiology
Nutrition
Sports medicine

17. Psychosocial Domain
Focuses on physical activity from the science of psychology
Areas of study
Sport psychology
Motor learning and behavior
Pedagogy

18. Sociocultural Domain
Focuses on physical activity from the sciences of history, philosophy, and sociology
Areas of study
Sport history
Sport philosophy
Sport sociology

19. Definition of Sport Sociology
Sociology is the study of a society, its institutions, and its relationships.
Sport sociology is the study of sport and physical activity in the context of the social conditions and culture in which people live.

20. Discussion
What are some advantages that can be gained by an individual AND a society when developing a deep knowledge of sport and physical activity is a priority?