Sport, Education and Society - Assignment Example

Lecturer: presented: Introduction Sports are beneficial to both the players as well as the spectators. For example people can spend their leisure time with great excitement while watching sports such as athletics, football, cycling and many other sporting events. Professional players earn a living from sports, and it is continuously becoming commercial in nature. Football and athletics have been helpful in the promotion of social change. Globalization of sports has led to an integration of cultures, harmonious relations among communities when they work as a team, promotion of health and many other social benefits (Smoll and Smith 2006 pp. 101-109). In schools, sports play a significant role in ensuring that students maintain physical fitness and minimize stress associated with difficult workloads. It has been established that tension builds in students when they are about to take exams due to uncertainty in regard to the outcome. The excitement that builds from watching or participating in sports significantly reduces such anxiety, thereby improving their performance. The integration of sports in the National Curriculum is a major milestone in enhancing the development of the youth in terms of health and education. This paper is a critical evaluation of the role of sport in society with special reference to football. The status of the sport in the National Curriculum for educational institutions as an extra curricular activity in the UK has been discussed. The links between school and post school sport has also been discussed (Sokowe 2008 pp. 78-91). Methodology Information for this research was collected from both primary and secondary sources. Substantial information was collected from published materials such as journals on sports, magazines and news releases. Observation was also a significant means of acquiring information, whereby various sporting events were observed, particularly football in order to give an insight of how the game is played. The information was then compiled in order to come up with this report. Sport in the National Curriculum The integration of sports in the national curriculum was accomplished in the 1990s. The “Education Reform Act” facilitated these developments bringing in major changes in the educational curriculum. The operations were completely changed to give room for sports to be incorporated to the system. Physical education was included in primary and secondary, as well as the establishment of a sports college which is a secondary school with the aim of improving the value of physical education and sports in the educational institutions. It has a program for coordination of sports which integrates many schools with an aim of helping them to present their students for two hour training in physical education every week (Magdalinski 2008 p. 79). This helps in promoting sports in schools since the students are exposed to experts in the field. There is usually a teacher who is concerned with planning and organizing the training programs. Colleges specialized in sports were established as an initiative to enhance the development of skills in teachers in order for them to have the capability of delivering effective coaching skills for sports, especially in the stage 2 and 3, which are deemed to be significant in development of sports skills in students. This is the period where students are awaiting to join secondary, after primary education (Smoll and Smith 2006 pp. 101-109). Efforts to integrate sports in schools were mainly geared towards the achievement of objectives such as; enhancement of learning through the use of physical activity to reduce stress in the students. It was also aimed at enhancement of the development of self esteem and confidence among the students which is significant in their future sporting activities after school. Students realize that they can be as good as the adults engaged in sports and therefore they begin exercising their talents early. Becoming socially responsible is promoted by the aspect of working with others as a team, which is necessary even in other activities apart from sports. Apart from social responsibility, students develop good morals through ensuring that they care for each other and also learn the importance of fair play. By participating in team work, the students are able to develop their interpersonal skills. Their behaviors are guided by principles or the rules of the games, for example football that has a number of rules to be adhered to, and therefore they are capable of conforming to the accepted behavior in society. More over, the students develop skills that are essential in their future careers in sports, especially for those who may be employed in organizations that are engaged in sports. Introduction of sports in the school curriculum had several health benefits, such as maintaining physical fitness that enhances growth as well as reducing abnormalities associated with child obesity and depression. These are significant determinants of the future person and therefore it is important that they are offered in schools (Smoll and Smith 2006 pp. 101-109). Modern Sports as a Profession and for Leisure in the Society The activities involved in sports are significant to the society in regard to spending leisure time. The players are usually engaged in a particular activity for more than an hour which is refreshing and important in releasing anxiety and stress amongst them. On the other hand, fans usually spend their leisure time watching the players with great excitement. They are usually involved in every move the players make cheering and making comments. This involvement is an important aspect of spending leisure time since it has several benefits such as avoidance of using drugs and other antisocial activities. It also helps in releasing stress and anxiety in the fans (Torkildsen 2005 p. 34). Modern sports are continuously being transformed in to commercial activities whereby people, especially the youth who are the energetic part of the society. Sports therefore serve as a major factor that contributes to poverty eradication in the society through employment creation. A society that is able to provide its young population with employment makes significant moves towards achievement of socio-economic development (McNamee 2008 p. 78). It significantly boosts the efforts to reduce social evils that are associated with unemployment. Social satisfaction and esteem is achieved when members of a society participate and emerge winners in sports. For example the European nations are popular globally for their participation and prowess in sports such as football. Many African nations also pride themselves on their prowess in athletics. Countries such as Ethiopia and Kenya command great popularity due to their success in athletics. Global sporting activities bring the world population together, creating social harmony through competitions. Certain social differences are minimized when the global societies are integrated through sporting events. The History of Sports (Football) Football is believed to have begun from ‘harpaston’, which was an antique game that was played by Greeks. The game was played roughly by men, and had no rules to control the conduct of players, making it one of the most brutal games of the time. The only rules that were observed were those regarding awarding of points, which were acquired mainly through crossing a particular line that was designated as the goal with the ball, kicking it across the line or simply flinging it across the line. The opponents had the task of ensuring that the ball does not cross that line. The field was not demarcated and therefore there were no particular boundaries. The number of players was also not defined and therefore the roughness could be attributed to such indefinite structures. This game evolved in to football and other games such us Rugby in later years (Elfin 2001 pp. 18-21). The twelfth century is understood to be the time when modern football developed in Europe. In England, the sport acquired popularity amongst the people, compelling kings Henry II and IV to prohibit the game. The underlying factors for the ban were that people were undermining the traditional games of the nation, thereby eroding their culture. The bans were later lifted and the sport continued to attract more and more fans. The initial rules were not consistent and were only developed in the in the early 19th century when the sport was integrated in to the educational curriculum. The game was introduced in seven government schools in England. In the United States, the sport began in the mid 19th century (Lomax 1999 pp. 72-76). The first teams to meet in a competition were from the university of Princeton and Rutgers. The teams consisted of 20 players each. The rules of football have kept on changing since the early football to the modern one. They are mainly changed in order to make it more exciting both for the fans and for the players as well as protecting the players from injury. Major changes in the football rules occurred in 1873 when the “Intercollegiate Football Association (IFA)” was established in a meeting involving representatives from “Columbia, Rutgers, Princeton, and Yale Universities who met in New York City” (Forster and Pope 2007 p. 91). This meeting culminated in a reduction of the team players from 20 to 15. Docherty et al (1987 pp. 377–382) observes that Walter Camp who was the instructor at the University of Yale was not satisfied with the 15 as the minimum number of players, and therefore he further pushed for more reforms to reduce the number of players to 11 per team. Football is currently a global sport with many countries participating in international competitions such as world cup. Brazil, England, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, South Korea, Japan Argentina, France, Turkey and Spain are some of the major countries where football is played. Football is mainly played from August to May of every year in the European countries. It is also played during this season in Japan and South Korea. In Brazil, the games are mainly played in January and February, and then the competitions continue in April and May. These are the major seasons for the country competitions. The football season in Argentina is similar to that of European countries running from August to May (Westerbeek 2006 p. 76). Modern football usually runs for 90 minutes which are divided in to two halves, with a 15 minute break between the two halves, known as half time. Each of the two half is usually continuous; with the clock stopping only when the ball is kicked out of the field or when there are interruptions through substitutions or injuries. After 90 minutes end, the referee extends the time by several minutes to cover the time lost through stoppage, which is referred to as injury time. The referee determines the end of the match. The goal keeper is the only one allowed to touch the ball with hands. The rest of the players may attract penalties by touching the ball. After each score, the ball is taken at the center of the pitch where it begins once more. The raise man on each side of the pitch assists the referee in observing erroneous play in order to administer penalties (Lomax 1999 pp. 72-76). The major players who are renowned for their prowess in football include; Iker Casillas and Seigo Ramos, Xavi, and Puyol all of Spain; Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, all of England; Cafu, Dida, Kaka, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho of Brazil; Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, Lioni Messi of Argentina among others are the major players that were identified as the most significant in their teams by Fifpro (Elfin 2001 pp. 18-21). The Brazilian players are popular for their ability to play a well coordinated game. They are known to play with a lot of dedication for their team. They have won the world cup several times. Conclusion Sports have multiple benefits for the society as a whole. They help the children to learn better and also in the maintenance of a healthy society through engaging in regular exercises. Their inclusion in the school curriculum was an advantage for the students and they are useful even after completion of school. Sports began long time ago. For example, football has a long history which dates back in the twelfth century. It has continuously evolved from a game without rules to the modern football. It is currently an international game, with all countries globally participating in world cup after every four years. Other sports such as athletics amongst others are also important in the construction of identity in the society. The community and the entire global society have accepted sports with zeal, and they derive multiple benefits, from economic to social development. Many governments are also supporting their national teams to participate in international events. Bibliography 1. Docherty, D., Wenger, H.A., Collis, M.L., Quinney, H.A (1987). The Effects of Variable 2. Elfin D. 2001. Football History, Insight on the News, Vol. 17, 18-21. 3. Forster J. and Pope N. 2007. The Political Economy of Global Sporting Organizations, Routledge. 4. Lomax M. E. 1999. The African American Experience in Professional Football. Journal of Social History, vol. 33, 72-76. 5. Magdalinski T. 2008. Sport, Technology and the Body: The nature of performance, Routledge 6. McNamee M. 2008. Sports, Virtues and Vices: Morality Plays, Routledge. 7. Smoll F. & Smith R. 2006. Children and youth in Sport: Journal on Early Childhood Development, (3)5, 101-109. 8. Sokowe M. 2008. High Rates of Injury for Female High School Athletes: Journal on Physical and Sports Science, (7)2, 78-91. 9. Torkildsen G. 2005 Leisure and Recreation Management, London: E & F N Spon. 10. Westerbeek H. 2006. Managing Sport Facilities and Major Events, Champaign. Read More