1. Basic Concepts of Sport
Chapter 10
Basic Concepts of Sport

2. Sport – the Natural Religion
Novak (1976) describes sport as a natural religion based on qualities and characteristics fundamental to the experience
How is sport a religion?
Rituals, i.e., coin toss
Costumes
Sense of power outside of one’s control
People who enforce rules
Teaches principles, i.e., courage

3. What is Leisure? Can be viewed as an attitude of freedom
Often distinguished from work activities
Viewed also as discretionary time left-over after work

4. What is Play? Sport is a manifestation of play
Characteristics of play represent a continuum such as:
Free
Uncertain
Governed by rules
Separate
Economically unproductive
Governed by make-believe
Play is not trivial, but rich with psychological, sociological, and historical meaning

5. Caillois: 6 characteristics of play
Free (voluntary behavior)
Separate (conducted in places where the time and space limits are fixed), e.g., let us go to the gym and play BB for half an hour
Uncertain (evenly matched competition)
Economically unproductive
Governed by rules
Governed by make believe

6. Differences Between Child’s Play vs. Adult Play
Play is the most basic behavior in young children
Children’s continuum includes: turbulence, gaiety, spontaneity, diversion
Adults’ continuum includes: calculation, subordination to rules, contrivance and ritual
One is not better than the other, however, as children grow and develop, their continuum goes toward the adult side

7. Games
Physical skill
Strategy
Chance

8. Games vs. Sports There are no exact distinctions between the two terms
Three important areas of the concept “game”:
Games derive from play
Games involve competition
Game outcomes are based on skill, strategy or chance
Not all games are sports but all sports are a game

9. Games vs. Sports, cont’d Sports are games involving skill and strategy
Sport games have primary and secondary rules
Sport games are classified into four categories:
Territory or invasion games
Target games
Court games
Sector games

10. Territory/Invasion Games
Goal is to invade the space of the opponent to score.
The use of goals or end zones are prevalent.
Games can vary in skill: use of arms, legs, stick implements.
Examples: football, ice hockey, soccer, rugby

11. Target Games
Primary objective is to propel an object with great accuracy toward a target or targets.
Examples: golf, bowling, horseshoes

12. Court Games
Primary objective is strategically propel an object in such a way that it cannot be returned by an opponent.
Examples: tennis, badminton, handball, squash

13. Sector Games
Primary objective is for one opponent to strike an object so as to elude defenders.
Examples: baseball, softball, cricket

14. Competition Concept Rituals and traditions are easily seen
Strives to achieve an objective
Involves a state of rivalry

15. Roles that Contribute to Sports as an Institution
Codification of rules
Officials or referees
Organization and structure of sport teams, i.e., NCAA
Record keeping to measure performance
Dissemination of information to the public, i.e., newspaper

16. Aesthetics of Sports
One tries to find the beauty in sports, form sports, and other sports
Form sports: performers consciously work on achieving a physical form that is aesthetic
Examples of qualities are: harmony, form, dynamics, flow, gracefulness, rhythm, poise

17. Aesthetics of Sports, cont’d
Carlisle (1974) has suggested four types of beauty in other sports:
Well-developed physique
Well-designed play or execution of the maneuver
Dramatic competition
Unity of an entire performance

18. Ethics in Sports
How people behave or conduct themselves in particular situations, i.e., games or sports
Fair play: how a competitor behaves before, during and after competition
19th Century concept from England, i.e., Arnoldism
Concept still permeates in our society today
Rule violations are meant to be enforced by officials or referees
Sports still can build character and teach important life lessons
However, sport can be corrupt and has the ability to teach negative lesson in life