Sociology of Sports: When the Rules Do Not Apply - Essay Example

Sociology of Sports: When the Rules Do Not Apply Sociology of Sports: When the Rules Do Not Apply In American Football, abusive language, fights and the use of performance enhancing supplements has become prevalent. Currently, the society has become accustomed to such acts. However, the significant rise in deviant acts in sports, particularly amongst the youths across a majority of sports, sparked research in factors contributing to prevalent un-sportsmanship behaviors amongst the youths. According to research, these un-sportsmanship behaviors infer deviance that is characterized by the unquestioned acceptance of norms rather than the rejection of societal norms (Crabbe & Blackshaw 2004).

There are several hypotheses derived in an attempt to explain the cause of deviant behavior amongst the youths. The first causal factor is social bonds normalize risk taking. In the society, being an athlete involves making sacrifices for the game. Therefore, to prove their dedication to their teammates and the society, athletes may over-conform to the sports ethics thereby resulting in un-sportsmanship behaviors. Moreover, the perception of athletes as special in the society also contributes to un-sportsmanship behaviors.

Some athletes perceive sports as a means to make a name for themselves in the community and to get ahead in life. This notion spurs un-sportsmanship acts so that they can continue to participate in sports and at the same time make a name for themselves. Some athletes believe that by over conforming to sports ethics, the society will identify them as ‘true’ athletes (Crabbe & Blackshaw 2004). The third causal factor is the extreme degree of hubris developed by athletes (Crabbe & Blackshaw 2004).

This sense of arrogance by athletes facilitates the occurrence of un-sportsmanship behaviors. Consequentially, the frequent occurrence of search behaviors has changed the concept of sports as a tool for moral development. Athletes are willing to take risks into deviant behaviors but overlook possible risks. To discourage such attitudes and behaviors, I would create awareness amongst athletes to help them understand the need to conform to sportsmanship behavior in sports. Even though athletes are informed of consequences of un-sportsmanship behaviors, such as fines and bans, as well as long-term health effects of the behaviors, they continue to engage in the practices.

Awareness of significance of the risks that the athletes seem to underestimate would shift value from perceived benefits of a behavior to its long term adverse effects. In order to control fights among athletes, creating awareness of possible effects of violence, such as accidental death or disability, which cannot be compared with possible fame of superiority would help. Focus would be on the short-term significance of the possible fame and its inability to add value to an individual’s potential as an athlete while the possible adverse effects terminate an individual’s ability to play (Jay, 2012).

Development of codes of behavior is another approach to controlling un-sportsmanship behavior through defining deviant behaviors and stipulating penalties that are more significant than possible benefits of the behavior. A provision that athletes would be tested for illegal drugs, and those who test positive would be banned from the team and their cases reported to national regulatory bodies for further actions is an example. Leadership and mentorship, with the aim of influencing athletes’ positive attitudes towards conformant behaviors would be another strategy to controlling unwanted behaviors.

Inviting a legend in the sports to discuss conformant behaviors that aided personal success and to train athletes on ways of aligning to the behaviors is an example (Jay, 2012). Research shows that need to meet stakeholders’ expectations and to gain fame are some of the factors to un-sportsmanship behavior, such as violence and use of drugs, in American Football. Awareness, stipulating guidelines, and leadership and mentorship are some of the ways for controlling the deviant behaviors. Reference Crabbe, T.

, & Blackshaw, T. (2004) New perspectives on sport and deviance: consumption, performativity and social control. New York, NY: Routledge. Jay, C. (2012). Sports in society: Issues and controversies. Berkshire, UK: McGraw-Hill Europe.