DEFINITIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF SPORT

WHAT IS SPORT?  Sport has had a long history and has played a major part in society and culture. It is a concept that has many definitions but we can use these definitions in order to encompass some of the major characteristics.

ONE DEFINITION………..  Coakley, 1993 has attempted to do this:  ‘ institutionalised competitive activities that involve vigorous physical exertion or the use of relatively complex physical skills by the individuals whose participation is motivated by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors’

OCR DEFINITION……………..  AN ORGANISED COMPETITIVE AND SKILFUL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY REQUIRING COMMITMENT AND FAIR PLAY.

WRITE YOUR OWN DEFINITION  REFER TO HANDOUT AND SEE HOW DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO DEFINE IT  PICK OUT ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS THAT ENABLES AN ACTIVITY TO BE CLASSIFIED AS SPORT

CHARACTERISTICS SHOULD INCLUDE:  Institutionalised  A standard of behaviour recurs in different situations.  Rules are standardised  Officials regulate the activity  Rationalised activities involves strategies, training schedules and technological  Advances.  Skills are formally learned  Physical activities  Skills, prowess, exertion  Balance, coordination  Accuracy  Strength, endurance

WE NEED TO CONSIDER:  Tradition – do we traditionally call the activity a sport in this country?  Physical exertion – does the activity involve strenuous movement.  Competition – does the activity involve competition against oneself or others?  Administration – does the activity follow National Governing rules?  Behaviour – does the performer show commitment, skill and fair play?

TASK  Look at different physical activities and say whether or not they should be classified as a sport eg. darts, jogging etc.

DO NOT WORRY………..  The extent of the physical nature of the activity can vary and can lead us to question whether an activity such as darts, is a sport. Darts is referred to as a sport via the media, but the fact that it does not require much physical exertion can place it lower down the sport continuum, even though it meets other criteria for inclusion as sport. Any activity which does not meet all the criteria listed above would have less status as a sport.

SO…………………….  Do not forget our definition of physical recreation, it is worth noting that we are reinforcing the notion that sport is at one end of a physical recreation continuum.  Do not worry if you are still unsure whether some activities are sports or not. Many others have also tried to define what are sports or not with only limited success.

REMEMBER!  THE ATTITUDE OF THE PERFORMERS NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN DECIDING IF A PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS BEING DONE AS PHYSICAL RECREATION OR SPORT

WATCH ROLLERBALL  LIST CRITERIA THAT MAKES IT SPORT  LIST CRITERIA THAT DOES NOT MAKE ITB SPORT.

FOR…………………  COMMITMENT  OFFICIALS  VIGOROUS  COMPETITION/SCORING  ADMIN  ARENA/SPECTATORS

AGAINST…………….  LACK OF SPORTSMANSHIP  ASSUME NO GOV. BODY  LITTLE FAIR PLAY  MANY INJURIES/LACK OF RULES  LACK OF AESTHETIC QUALITY