Sociology of physical education and sport

Sport pervades society to such an extent that it has been described by many experts as a microcosm of society. In other words, sport mirrors the values, structure, and dynamics of our society. As such, sport reflects the characteristics of society. Eitzen and Sage point out that among the characteristics that sport and our society have in common are a spirit of competitiveness, a large concern about materialistic things, the presence of bureaucracy that dominates individuals, and an inequitable distribution of power. The pervasiveness of sport and its institutional nature have led to the study of sport from sociological perspective.

As a medium that permeates nearly every important aspect of life, sport has led some physical educators and sociologists to believe that it should receive intensive study, particularly as it affects the behavior of human beings and institutions as they form the total and cultural context of society. Sport sociology focuses on examining the relationship between sport and society.

As an area of study, the sociology of sport has grown considerably over the past 30 years. As a field of study, sociology of sport will likely continue to grow, expanding both in depth and breadth. However, many challenges face the field. There is a need for further research leading to the development of theories about sport and its relationship to society and social life.

Sport sociologists use sociological research strategies to study the behavior of individuals and groups within the sport milieu. They are concerned with understanding the influence of social relationships, past social experiences, and the social setting of sport activities on the behavior of individuals and groups within sport. Some questions sport sociologists might address are:

· Does participation in sport build character?

Does it prepare individuals for life

· Does sport help minorities, including women, become more fully integrated into society? How does participation in sport affect the social and economic status of minorities?

· How does the mass media affect sport?

· What are the effects of youth sport programs on the lives of participants? the participants’ families?

· How are politics and sport related? religion and sport? the economic status of the community or the country and sport?

· How does interscholastic and intercollegiate sport influence the academic achievement of its participants?

· How do coaches influence the lives of their athletes?

· What will be the nature of the sport experience in the twenty-first century?

To address these and other questions, sport sociologists may examine historical circumstances, social conditions, economic factors, political climate, and relationships among the people involved.

2.1. Listen to the text “Sociological Foundations of Physical Education and

Sport”. Answer the questions you have met in the text.

2.2. Find the English equivalents for the words and phrases.

Умова, засоби масової інформації, меншості, довкілля, змагатися, дух суперництва, як такий, бути повністю інтегрованим, стратегія соціологічних досліджень, стикатися з проблемами, призвести до розуміння, охоплювати/розповсюджуватися, пристрасний/несправедливий, у загальному та культурному контексті суспільства, наповнювати собою/ пронизувати, поєднано, бюрократизм, обставини, вірогідно, розподіл влади, розповсюдження, вказувати, агент/посередник/провідник, його слід інтенсивно вивчати, поведінка людських істот

2.3. Match the terms in the box with their description.