Responsible Sport

A Breakdown… Who is required to be responsible? Participants and Spectators What does it mean to be responsible? To act in a manner that is fitting for the occasion How do we act responsibly? Sportsmanship and respect to all we compete against and to everyone we watch playing sports Play to the rules and respect the officials

Who is required to be responsible? The Participant What determines participant behaviour in sport? Type of sport one is participating in: Physical contact, High speed rate, Slow and precise movements etc Level of competition or type of game Practice, League match, Friendly, International, World Cup Situational factors Home ground Advantage, Physiological Arousal

The type of sport one is participating in Competitive sport is about the pursuit of physical and psychological advantage over one’s opponent, therefore a degree of assertiveness or even intimidation is likely to occur Each sport is unique, from the rules to how it is played. The type of behaviour depends largely on the sport that an individual is participating or competing in Rugby: A certain amount of aggression is tolerated because of it’s physicality. The game requires an individual to be psyched up to a certain point but over arousal may lead to over aggressive behaviour Darts: Less aggression because the sport requires fine motor control to be precise when competing. The participants cannot become over aroused with anger or frustration as this will limit their ability to control their precision.

Because each sport requires different levels of readiness, adrenalin and aggression, these factors will influence the participants behaviour radically What else will influence a participants behaviour? Rules: Rules govern the game and how one would play it Referee: The referee, in-line with the rules, helps control the game or sport

Level of Competition What does level of competition mean? Sport may be played as a recreational activity or for in a competitive environment Practice Friendly Game League or tournament International Many people enjoy playing sport for recreation and use it as a form of leisure. In this case the participants are not subjected to any factors or stimuli that will increase their aggression but rather create a state of relaxation. A game or sport that is competed in for a win or lose situation will create higher levels of stress, ultimately increasing the arousal of the participants. This may lead to competitors becoming highly aggressive, especially when fatigue or the reality of a loss sets in.

Situational Factors Situational Factors: What are situational factors? Situational factors are factors that influence the participants behaviour: Situational Factors: Perception of the oppositions intent The media build-up Psychological war before the battle – War cries (Haka) Verbal Abuse / Physical Abuse Location: Home ground advantage Fatigue Kit or Uniform – Colour Weather conditions Reflect on your own experiences by writing down 5 positive and 5 negative aspects that you can draw from the previous information discussed. Group Discussion

Physiological Arousal Arousal during sport or competitions directly affects the behaviour of the participants In every sport there is an optimal level of arousal needed to compete. This is otherwise known as the zone of optimal function. This is extremely subjective and every athlete and sportsman will have their own specific zone of optimal function. If an athletes level of arousal or anxiety falls outside this zone performance may suffer. This, in effect, will cause the participant to act out or become submissive depending on which direction he / she moves out of the zone of optimal function.

What influences spectator behaviour?

Spectator behaviour Different factors will determine the type of behaviour that spectators will elicit Factors such as: Win or loss situation Colour of kit Type of sport being played The level it is being played at Performance of supporters team

Win or loss situation The atmosphere with in a crowd or spectators may be determined by the actual game itself. The spectators that are supporting the team that is winning will have lower levels of anxiety thus decreasing the chances of aggressive behaviour. Where as the losing team’s spectators will have higher levels of anxiety and possibly become aggressive during the competition

Colour of kit Studies have shown that spectators who support teams that have black uniforms / kit tend to show more signs of aggression Spectators that support teams with lighter coloured uniforms / kits are less inclined to act aggressively toward the opposing supporters

Type of sport being played Rugby = Contact, highly physical, high rate A sport of this nature will inevitably evoke more aggressive responses from the spectators. A sport that is non-contact and less physical, such as rowing, will cause spectators to be less aggressive Team sports that involve contact also create a more aggressive atmosphere

The level it is being played at All sports are competed at different levels. International fixtures, such as a final, will generate a bigger hype. International fixtures will also draw in a larger spectator group than a league final.

Performance of supporters team The way a team plays or competes affects how the supporters support. A team playing well, and winning, will have positive support from their fans. A team playing badly, and possibly losing, will have a negative effect on the spectators and possibly cause higher levels of aggression

Alcohol Alcohol is a substance that is widely used and enjoyed. It is commonly accepted in our society that alcohol must be consumed to make any activity more enjoyable. This in turn creates many problems. It is, in most cases, abused and in turn can elevate situations Crowds packed into close proximity make it uncomfortable . This can often lead to other situations and alcohol can fuel the fire.

The Media The media play a large role in making people aware of specific games or competitions that are going to be played. They have the potential to create a massive hype Advertisements such as the SuperSport Super15 or International Rugby Test matches will add awareness of the up coming fixture and often make it seem “more than it is” Discuss this aspect of The Media’s role in Sport:

Assessment You must create a movie clip that demonstrates a responsible sport The instructions will have more detailed information about the assessment. Please read it carefully and ask if you are unsure.