Historical Issues in Sport and PE The Syllabus

Content of the Course: The Development of Popular Recreation in the UK. The Development of Sports Festivals. Games in Popular Recreation. 19 th Century Public School Developments of Athleticism. Technical and Social Developments – stage 1, 2 and 3. Rational Recreation in Urban Industrial Society. Urban Industrial Factors which influenced the development of Rational Sport.

Content (continued) The Rationalisation of Bathing and Swimming in Post-Industrial Communities. The Emergence of Track and Field Athletics as a new form of Urban Festival. The Rationalisation of Games. The Development of Drill, Physical Training and PE in Elementary Schools. Later Syllabuses and the Transition from PT to PE. PE and Modern Trends.

Historical Issues in Sport and PE What is History?

An Approach to Historical Study: The study of sports history can stand on its own as it increases the knowledge and understanding of people and situations in the past. It can be based on different sports or socially based on different sectors of society at a particular time. In each case the intention is to establish what happened as objectively as possible, attempting not to allow our present situation to affect our judgement.

An Approach to Historical Study: History has the ability to come to life when we attempt to interpret the intentions and attitudes of people, as well as their recorded actions. However, we must be careful not to find what we are looking for rather than what really happened. Remember, we want to understand history not change it.

For Example: It is thrilling to think that Webb Ellis picked up the ball and in so doing invented the game of rugby football…but it wasn’t quite as simple as that!

Factors Underlying the Origins of Sport: Tribal: We have been invaded by numerous races in the distant past and each one has brought its own cultural activities with it. Some of our sports can be traced back to the Celts, Romans and particularly the Normans.

Origins of Sport: Ritual: Most sports and pastimes had a religious and ceremonial associations, both pagan and Christian. These were joyful festival occasions held on special days. We only need to look at the events associated with Shrove Tuesday and May Day to recognise this.

Origins of Sport: Survival: Many ancient sports have their origin in fitness to survive in dangerous surrounding, the ability to obtain food and military efficiency with a weapon. Often there has been an interesting transition from functional to recreative in activities linked with survival.

Origins of Sport: Recreative: In all societies children copy adults in their play. Similarly, all civilisations seem to reach a point where the level of maturity is measured in the recreative pursuits of their leading citizens and the violent activities of the lower orders.

Question: Without presuming that an activity necessarily belongs in only one category, explain the placement of the following activities. Stag hunting Mob football Archery Pancake races Real Tennis