Violence_in_Sport

Opening statement In a perfect world children's participation in team sports should be fun, and contribute to their overall physical fitness and well-being. It will also ideally help them to develop social skills, promote an involvement in physical activity and an active healthy lifestyle for life. For these aims and ideals to be realised physical education in schools needs to encourage development of appropriate exercise habits, with emphasis on the recreational aspects of physical activities. Unfortunately in today’s society violence is seen regularly and plainly through many forms of the media and is something that is often looked upon as being ok. Or at the very least many people have become desensitised to it. These issues will be looked at further in the research being conducted and then a strategy will be put in place to minimise the problems caused by violence in sport. Question 1 Research the historical perspectives of this issue-include at least one case study where your issue is apparent. Firstly to fully understand this issue we must look at a definition of violence in sport. Violence in sports is defined by M.D.Smith as, "a physical assault or other physically harmful actions by a player that takes place in a sports context and that is intended to cause physical pain or injury to another player (or fan, coach, game official, etc.), where such harmful actions bear no direct relationship to the rules and associated competitive goals of the sport." Violence in sport is not a new thing. It is an issue that officials, sporting organisations and governments have been trying to manage for several years. Many sporting organisations have established procedures for managing violence that occurs during sport. This begins in the way officials manage the play and the way that players have been briefed by their coaches. Community sporting organisations need to have procedures in place to manage and prevent violence on and off the field and to promote these procedures to their members. Adult sportsmen need to know that violence is not acceptable. Sportsmen and sportswomen are often role models for thousands of children around Australia that look up to and respect them. In many organisations, this is outlined in their constitution and/or by laws. The sporting community in Australia has taken a very proactive role in preventing and managing violence in their respective sports and this has the support of governments. In saying this it has not eliminated the issue of violence in sport and the effects of violence in sport are still influencing many children. An example of this violence occurred in the 1989 Australia Rules grand final between Hawthorn and Geelong. The game was televised live all over Australia, as well as some Asian and American countries. The opening clash between a Geelong player and Hawthorn star Dermott Brereton was a massive blow and an act of violence. The Geelong player ran from Brereton's blind spot and gave him a huge bump that broke his ribs and made him physically sick. This action was completely inappropriate and exactly what the game didn’t and doesn’t need. Unfortunately this incident has somehow been turned into a legendary story that has been shown again and again for children footballers to see. This is a terrible message being sent to children around the country. So how does this effect children watching' Children see a player like Brereton get "cleaned up" by his opponent just because he was the best player and Geelong needed him not to play. They then try to be like their heroes and the next time they play football, at school at lunchtime or in a proper match, they too try to clean up the best player unfairly so that they can get an advantage. This creates violence not only on the field, but also by parents who could start arguing on sidelines because their children have been involved in violent acts that are completely unnecessary. The issue of violence in sport has also very recently been apparent in many different examples. One of these issues has been the racial taunts that the Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds received from the Indian cricketer Harbajan Singh. This has desensitised the seriousness of this issue for many children around Australia. Although this example is not an act of physical violence it is another behaviour verbal abuse, which can lead to violence on and off the field between players and spectators. It is very important to prevent and manage verbal abuse with heavy fines and suspensions. If verbal abuse is not disciplined children will look at these examples and say, “if they can do it, why not us.” The main theme that has been discovered in these examples is that children are looking up to sportsmen and women all the time and take their example and want to be like them. Violence can be prevented and instead of encouraging the issue it should be looked down on. George Orwell once made the observation, "Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence: in other words it is war minus the shooting." It is so important to not give people this idea and to encourage people to play hard but fair when it comes to sport. Sport in all different forms is something Australia really needs at the moment with the growing obesity rates, so sporting role models need to be on their good behavior and change history. Question 2 Describe the factors that influence this issue. One of the factors affecting this issue is the wide and growing range of media coverage for children all over the world in regards to sport. Sport in the 21st century is something that you can’t avoid, no matter who you are or where you are it has some affect on you. Compared to the early and mid 20th century the media coverage in the 21st C is significantly larger today. Today children are exposed to all sorts of images on the television and computer; one of these things is violence in sport. The sad thing is that violence today is something that many people are judged on. In other words social status is determined by how many aggressive acts are performed on the football field. Minimising violence is not helped when people like Gus Gould the former NSW Rugby L:eague Origin Coach and regular Channel Nine commentator say things such as, "there is nothing wrong with two prop forwards standing toe to toe and throwing a few - it's a man's game". People are sadly now accepting violence as something that happens in sport and they are blind to the effects that it may have on children in the long term. Parents and guardians need to encourage children to ‘play fair’ and teach them the problems of violence and the advantages of fair play. Jessie Armstead a NFL linebacker once said, “When you think about it, it is a strange thing that we do. During the game we want to kill each other. Then we’re told to shake hands and drive home safely. Then a week later we try to kill each other again.” It is quite clear that violence is a major issue in sport and as we can see even the players know this. The way to stop violence is for role models and senior roles in the sporting games to take example and to stop encouraging violence in sport. Although many say “leave it on the field” this is ridiculous and is summed up well by John Niland a former NFL player. He said “anyone who thinks he can be as violent as you can be playing football, and then leave it all on the field, is kidding himself.” Violence on the field leaves grudges off the field and will often lead to fights off the field in the younger population. Sport isn’t responsible for all violence but it does have a major impact on children and often gives kids the wrong message. Youths (11 to 18) represent only 21 per cent of Victoria's population, but they account for 46 per cent of all offenders. This is a disturbing statistic with big implications for the future. Question 3 List the positive and negative effects of this issue. There are very few if any positive effects of violence in sport and how it affects children. The only positives that come are when players are heavily fined, suspended from the game or made to go to counselling to resolve their anger management issues. Sadly this has been the exception in many sports and not the normal method of operation. When it comes to the negative side of things there are many areas that can be identified. Some children receive from sport feelings of low-self esteem, excessive anxiety (these two are more apparent at those who do not excel in their sport) and aggressive behaviour. Sport and fitness is important for everyone in leading a healthy lifestyle. Children, sometimes experience negative effects such as ‘sports burnout’ and no longer have any desire to participate in physical activity. These negative outcomes are produced by the way in which we play sport, the way we learn from role models and the excessive pressure that is often applied by parents and coaches. Often adults do not realise the direct effects they are having on children’s lives, which can cause serious long-term problems. 1) The way we play sport is becoming more and more of the mind set ‘win at all costs,’ This comes with the signals that aggressive behaviour is acceptable to achieving the win. It shouldn’t be like this as it is giving children a wrong attitude not only for sport but also in life. “A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.” Larry Bird ‘American Basketballer’ 1956. This is an attitude, which Christians and unbelievers could really benefit from in today’s world. If we can recognise the gifts that God has given us, we can then work at them. With this attitude you have already won before the game, you have achieved personal goals, and this way the old ‘win at all costs’ does not need to involve violence. It is unnecessary. The other vital way to avoid violence in sport and ‘sports burnout’ for kids is through the example of role models. These are the professional players that are always seen on the television screen. Unfortunately these players often don’t get it right, and are blind to the effect it can have on the large population of youth across the world. Sporting heroes are expected to act in an honourable way because they play for their country. They accept huge pay packets and adulation that accompany sporting excellence, and most importantly of all they are role models for younger generations. They carry the aspirations of a nation whenever they run out onto a sporting field - at home or overseas. They are our idols. Professional players voluntarily place themselves in a different category of national hero. We need to expect of them the same excellent behaviour off the field as well as on as they demonstrate to kids the right way to behave. Chris Judd once said, “I just want to be remembered as a footballer.” He said he wanted to be known as “a good footballer, nothing more, and nothing less.” Well sadly for Judd this idea is not based upon reality. Another example is Shane Warne ‘The King Of Spin’. He was a great cricketer but off the field his example was appalling. Children see the way he interacted with women and how he was involved in sexual scandals. They are tempted to follow his example because if their hero does that why can’t they' This is the same deal with violence. Some of the recent football ads have men fighting and then fixing it over a beer. This can lead to violence in real life situations and is seen through the brawls had by club footballers in the present and recent past. This is NOT HELPFUL. Children need to have role models of integrity and role models that set an example not only on the field but also off the field. Brooks Robinson, an American baseball player once said “Whether you want to or not, you do serve as a role model. People will always put more faith in baseball players than anyone else.” This is true for all professional sportsman, whether you like it or not you are a role model and kids will look up to you. So what Chris Judd Said earlier can’t be the attitude in which we persist. Role models are at the hearts of all kids, so they need to be honourable. The attitude of Tiger Woods (Number 1 golfer in the world 2009) sums up what a role model should be. “I think it's an honour to be a role model to one person or maybe more than that. If you are given a chance to be a role model, I think you should always take it because you can influence a person's life in a positive light, and that's what I want to do. That's what it's all about.” The next way in which kids can be influenced in their sport is their parents and coaches. Parents and coaches are part of a kid’s everyday life, and the kids generally look up to and obey these people. If coaches are encouraging violence (which doesn’t have to be in an obvious way) this can influence kids and desensitize them to the consequences of violence. Very little comments like “do whatever you have to to win” can often give the wrong message to kids and leave them free to do whatever they please. Parents can also be over competitive in the way they treat their kids. They often make the same comments and want their children to take out family grudges on the other players. Both parents and coaches need to encourage kids to play hard but play fair, and to fulfil personal goals with the gift God’s given them. If all these things are fixed we will be on our way to a better attitude amongst youth. Question 4 Examine the ethical and legal implications of this issue. The legal and ethical issues that occur in a sport such as football, raise a lot of opportunity for questions and debate. It is hard to define when violence in sport is too much. Football is a contact game that can quite easily cause injury, pain or other harm. The question is, are these sort of sports morally acceptable' What about boxing when the rules actually allow one to cause physical harm' To come to an ethical conclusion and set up legal rules we must first look at a definition of violence in sport. “Violence in sport is a physical assault or other physically harmful actions by a player which takes place in a sports context and that is intended to cause physical pain or injury to another player (or fan, coach, game official, etc.), where such harmful actions bear no direct relationship to the rules and associated competitive goals of the sport.” So as we can see intention is a big issue. Physical harm can be caused without intent and in the rules of a game. How do we define intent though' Physical contact/aggression in sport is only acceptable if it is in the rules of the game. It is also acceptable if the person playing understands what they are doing and the rules of the game. In boxing matches both fighters give consent to fight each other and know the rules and structures of the match. In these sports where physical aggression is acceptable; parents need to take care of their children and filter the actions their children are seeing. Players should know what is within the rules and what is not. If a player fights outside the rules of the game legal implications must be met. (Penalties) To stop players crossing the line of violence in their sport things need to be done legally and structures set up. Some of these include: 1) Removing any rewards for unacceptable violence by players. 2) Penalize this unacceptable behaviour so that the disadvantages of violence outweigh the advantages. 3) Encourage teams to focus on the joy of striving for excellence rather that purely winning at all costs. 4) Organise workshops, which show the consequences of violence in sport and its effect on youth. Also discuss the advantages of fair play and the good it is sending to children. 5) Encourage players not to see the opposition as enemy who need to be defeated but as a team in which you must play against for a well played and enjoyed game. 6) Encourage enjoyment of sport. 7) Set up consequences for violence in sport such as penalties, fines, suspension, anger management, and if needed court cases. Question 5 Suggest what could be done in the future to minimise the negative impact of this issue. As we have seen violence in sport is an issue that is important to minimise for the sake of the players and the kids. Steps that can be taken in the future to minimise violence include 1) Removing any rewards for unacceptable violence by players. It is important that no advantage comes out of a violent act. 2) Penalizing this unacceptable behaviour so that the disadvantages of violence out weigh the advantages. It should be to the person and teams disadvantage if they want to participate in violence. 3) Encourage teams to strive for the joy of excellence rather that purely winning at all costs. “A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.” Larry Bird ‘American Basketballer’ 1956. As we talked about earlier we need to get rid of the attitude of ‘win at all costs’ and recognise our God given talents, work at them, and then set personal goals. When you do this you have already won before the game. 4) Organising workshops, which show the consequences of violence in sport and its effect on youth. Also discuss the advantages of fair play and the good message it sends to kids. This is one of the most important. Players need to be educated on what sort of role models they are, how being fair is so much better, both for them and for the children watching them. It would also be good to have school clinics in which the children are taught about the benefits of fair play and how they should pursue them. 5) Encouraging players not to see the opposition as enemy who need to be defeated but as a team you must play against for a well-played and enjoyable game. This is something that can really help in changing people’s views. If sporting contests are changed to a focus on a good hard game and an enjoyable time, violence is no longer necessary. 6) Encouraging enjoyment of sport. This is important for kids so that they can enjoy a lifetime of health and physical well being and not get ‘sports burnout’ and be discouraged by sport. 7) Setting up consequences for violence in sports such as penalties, fines, suspension, anger management, and if needed court cases. Players need to realise that their acts of violence are not acceptable and if they continue they will cop some consequences. This will also teach youth that violence is not a small issue. If these are followed then we will be able to get to the state, which we talked about in our introduction. Kids enjoying sport, learning from it and pursuing it for lifelong gains. “The important thing in life is not to triumph but to compete.” Pierre de Coubertin (primarily responsible for the revival of the Olympic games.)