The factors leading to the emergence and development of modern day sport Knowledge and understanding of factors leading to the emergence of modern day sport. The historical and social context in which mob activities (for peasants) and popular recreations (for the aristocracy) existed in pre-industrial Britain. The view taken by the landowners, aristocracy, church and peasants on recreational activities and reasoning behind the view.

Pre-industrial popular recreation Pre-industrial popular recreation reflected the society, life and time in which it existed. The activities were often colourful and lively and were supported by a strict class system. Different classes sometimes shared activities (cock fighting) Sometimes took part in different activities (mob football for the peasants and real tennis for the upper class) And sometimes had different roles within the same activity (the bare fist fighter was lower class, while his patron was upper class).

What were the popular recreations of pre-industrial Britain? Blood Sports Mob games Festivals Combats Popular Recreations Fairs Archery

Blood Sports Bear Baiting- A bear was tied up to a post in the middle of a ‘pit’. Trained fighting dogs were set on it until it was killed. The dogs were replaced when they were tired or killed. Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were fond of the sport. Cock fighting- two roosters set to fight each other in a ‘cock pit’. The fight may be to the death or may be called off early. Spectators made wagers on the outcome of the fight. Bare knuckle fighting- two lower class peasants would fight without gloves. Upper class would be a patron (sponsor) for the fighters, look after them, set up fights and then bet on the outcome of the fight.

Combat sports After the Norman Conquest (1066) it was a time of unrest and fear of war For this reason all men whatever their rank and class had to keep their fighting fitness The development of combat sports followed The gentry trained their skills through the joust and tournament (jousting on horse back) The contests became festivals with spectators watching from the stands

Characteristics of Popular Recreation Occupational – would link to jobs. i.e rowing across the Thames Occasional – Because of limited free time , took place on holy day festivals Local – Because of limited transport Fetes or fairs Wagering- a primary feature of life. peasants and gentry would bet/wager on the result. A chance to go from ‘Rags to riches’ Popular Characteristics of Popular Recreation Few and/or simple unwritten rules –as peasants were illiterate Violent- reflecting how hard and harsh life was at the time. Ritual- ritualised because of the influence of older pagan and existing church influences. Rural – events took place in fields and villages due to majority of people living in rural areas

What relevance have these popular recreations had on modern day sport? Many of these activities have survived at both an aristocratic and a popular level, but many have been curtailed (restricted) or reformed. There is no longer the clean separation between upper and lower class Among the upper class sports coursing is banned in this country, hunting is now legally restricted and shooting is strictly controlled. Popular recreations such as baiting have been made illegal Festivals are more respectable Archery has become a codified target sport Mob football only survived in rural areas which escaped the impact of reform.

Reformed/Respectable Occasionally played Illegal Restricted/ controlled Reformed/Respectable Occasionally played Coursing Baiting (e.g.bear) Bare knuckle fighting Cock fighting Hunting Shooting Festivals Archery- codified target sport Mob football- Shrovetide football

Varying opportunities for participation Participation affected by… Class Gender Opportunity Provision Esteem

How did different social groups view Popular recreation? Peasants Limited to sports that were cheap, natural and required little equipment Used sport to get away from harsh working lifestyle Wanted to go from ‘rags to riches’ through wagering or professional sport. Aristocrats Weren’t limited by opportunity, provision or esteem par-force hunting and real tennis would par-take in some peasant recreations but disagreed with the unruly behaviour of mob sports. Women were less restricted by gender- real tennis. Church Used popular recreation to keep people attending church events and bring people away from the pub. Hosted physical activity on ‘holy days’ ‘leisure opportunities should restore people for work’ Was against unruly behaviour of mob games Landowners Many popular recreations involved trespassing on private land This caused damage and inconvenience to land owners

The factors leading to the emergence and development of modern day sport The effect of the Industrial Revolution on British society and how it was reflected in recreational activities. The impact on recreational activities leading from: industrialisation, urbanisation, education, and transport developments

How did these changes in society effect recreation?

The Industrial Revolution This meant that there weren’t enough jobs on farms and in the countryside anymore The factory workers needed somewhere to live, so low-cost overcrowded terraced housing was built next to the factories. The rural farm workers moved into towns and cities in search of new jobs to provide for their families. Mechanisation meant that machines could do the work previously done by peasant workers, faster and more efficiently. The factory workers worked extremely long hours (only Sundays off a week), and were given very little money for their work. At the same time technological advances mean that factories were being created in towns and cities.

The Agrarian Revolution Enclosure of much of the countryside Emergence of a gentry class (Middle class) Growth of Methodist movement Agrarian Revolution Gradual Mechanisation of tenant farms Increase of respectability in early Victorian society Poor wages of rural working class Urban Revolution- marked a massive rise in population, as industrial well-placed towns grew in size and importance.

How did the peasants lives change during the early years of the industrial revolution? Characteristic of the Industrial Revolution Impact on Recreation Less open land Long Working hours in Factories- 12 hour working day Low wages Poor living conditions- overcrowding No space to take part in rural recreations Rural land was enclosed by the farmer to decrease trespassing Working class didn’t have time to take part, Sundays were church days. Didn’t have the energy – too tired for leisure Working class didn’t have the money to take part in a lot of activities. Women and children were used as cheap labour. Effected health, poor sanitation, poor food and water Lack of space

How did the middle class bring about positive change? The 1847 Factory Act- Reduced working hours to 10 hours a day, this increased the time available for the working class to take part in sport. Saturday half days (Shop keepers and some factories) Respectability- Victorian era, men to behave as gentlemen Muscular Christianity

Positive impacts of industrial revolution Communication- The sporting press became more available, creating more spectators and more interest in sport. Transport- fixtures could be played in different towns, people could take trips down to the beach (factories started to encourage this) Technology- clothing, sports equipment

Characteristics of rational recreation Characteristic (Key term) Description Socio-cultural influence (influence from society) Regular 1847 factory act and Saturday half day gave people more leisure time, people could participate or spectate more regularly. Middle class influence- 1847 factory act and Saturday half day movement. National Due to improved transport (railways) performers travelled outside their county, leagues were created increasing spectator interest. Improved transport- railways Sporting press – published results Universal Due to written and accepted rules (codified) and improved transport recreation was played following the same rules across the country. Education- people became literate so could write down rules

Characteristics of rational recreation Characteristic (Key term) Description Socio-cultural influence (influence from society) Codified Acceptance of Written rules, everyone who participates accepts rules , these rules take over the many different versions of the game that used to be played. Education- people could write down rules Respectability- Victorian Era Urban Due to industrial revolution people moved to towns and cities (urban areas), recreation took place here, often less space available, limited some opportunities Mechanisation and industrialisation caused people to move to urban areas. Festival Increasingly big spectator events , church and factory festivals Impact of the church Factories

Characteristics of rational recreation Description Socio-cultural influence (influence from society) Regulated Due to accepted rules playing conditions became controlled by officials, matches and competitions take place according to rules, this is accepted by players. Respectability -Victorian era Law and policing Respectable Spectators can attend events with no violence or bad behaviour, became an accepted part of society with no criminal attachment. Respectability- Victorian Era Increased Law and Policing Amateur/Professional

Popular Rec Vs Rational Rec Popular Recreation Rational Recreation Occasional Regular Ritual Universal Uncodified Codified Local National Rural Urban Violent Respectable Fetes or Fairs Festival Regulated Wagering (controlled gambling) Occupational

Amateurism and Professionalism in the 19th Century Distinction mainly based on the class system In cricket the ‘gentlemen’ were amateurs and ‘players’ were professionals ‘players’ started as employed groundsmen who prepared pitches but also played for the teams This was deemed the correct way of paying professional players in what was essentially an amateur sport. In rugby it was expected that players would not be paid (Amateurs) This changed in 1895 when rugby league was formed, but Rugby union remained amateur until 1995. Soccer became a professional sport in 1885 because players were mostly working class.

Female Sport in the 19th Century Historically a male pastime (links to war) Middle class did not expect wives to work- could participate if it was private and genteel (croquet, lawn tennis and golf) Working class women did not have time, money or provision until end of 19th C. Victorian attitudes excluded females from rational sport on the grounds that: Too manly, could endanger childbirth, Victorian fashion was restrictive, couldn’t display bodies, couldn’t be competitive or sweat