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Violence in Sport
Contemporary Issues Section
AS Social-Cultural Studies for PE
Lets Check the Spec
Candidates should be able to:
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of
violence in sport (players and spectators)
• describe possible causes and solutions
Violence in Sport – History Overview
• Controlled aggression is part of many sports
• Sometimes spills over into an uncontrolled situation
• Notably, when similar violence occurs on the street and not
in the name of sport, it is a crime
• The occasional mob football days of pre-industrial Britain
were violent, much like many pre industrial games
• After 1850, control emerged after the influence of the
middle class and public school boy games became linked
with fair play
• Physical determination and courage were applauded, but is
had to go hand in hand with gentlemanly behaviour
Violence in Sport - Today
• Times have changed
• The stakes are high, outcome imperative, the
pressure intense, sporting stadiums are
referred to sometimes as ‘cauldrons’
• Gamesmanship, or stretching of the rules to
the limit in order to gain advantage is
commonplace (Example?)
• We are concerned with violence by spectators
and players (participants)
Violence by Participants
• This can be explained in terms of:
– Cheating – blatant infringement of rules and a
disregard of the true values of the sport
– Health – it causes injury and physical damage, which
can be life-threatening
– Legality – physical violence is against the law and is
increasingly being punished with legal action when it
occurs in sport
– Role Modelling – elite sports performers have a
responsibility to be role models
– Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7sqDrZU96w
Possible Causes of Violence by Players
Possible Solutions to Violence by Players
Violence by Spectators - Background
• Aggression and rebellious behaviour at sporting
events is not new
• Problems of violence in pre-industrial Britain
• In the Victorian period, the constant fighting of
the Irish immigrant Hooligan family added a new
word to our language in the 1890s
• Hooliganism became a major social problem in
the 1960’s 70’s and 80’s caused by predominantly
white, urban, unskilled teenage males at football
matches
• Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ulESIRFKWs&feature=related
Possible Causes of Violence by Crowds
Possible Solutions to Violence by Crowds
An Enduring Problem?
• NGB’s continue to push the need to elite performers to be
role models
• Football hooliganism – the number of arrests and need for
police presences has declined in recent years
• Football has become more ‘Americanised’, with family
enclosures, cheerleaders, mascots, music etc.
• Young male fans who would otherwise cause trouble are now
put off by high ticket prices, the loss of terracing, oppressive
management and stewarding.
• The hooligan image of football in the UK is beginning to
change
Lets Recap…
Candidates should be able to:
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of
violence in sport (players and spectators)
• describe possible causes and solutions
Questions…
• Extension task: look over your notes and ask
your partner questions relating to what we
have covered