3.2.4.6 - Sport & The Law Flashcards
(complete)
How can the law impact on sport?
Controls violence, player rights, eliminates discrimination, player contracts, spectators, fair competition, Players VS Officials, coaches
Who develops the laws of the game for each sport?
- International Governing Bodies (IGB) are the regulators
- NGB’s are then expected to implement them in the sport in their countries
What is a contract to compete?
Unwritten code where performers agree to compete against each other to win
It involves; playing by the rules, trying their best, respecting ethics of play or sportsmanship/fair play motive, participation more important than winning, respect and respond positively to the officials
Is the contract to compete relevant or not relevant?
YES:
- without rules sport would be dysfunctional
- sport is a contest based on operating within a rule structure
- fair play is an important ideal and one of the values of Olympism
- if players do not give 100% effort there is no satisfaction gained from taking part and spectating
NO:
- athletes should try and win at any cost
- gamesmanship is acceptable because there is a lot at stake within global sport
- the contract to compete is outdated, belonging to the 19th century middle classes
- different cultures have different interpretations, based on different values
- athletic schedules are physically and mentally demanding and so it is not always possible to give 100% effort
What is legislation?
Legislation is a law or set of laws that have been passed by parliament
What is sport legislation?
- Refers to the laws that are made or enacted which relate to sports in particular
- Legislations and regulations which are put into place to improve and maintain safe involvement in sporting activites
What is sports law?
The laws, regulations and judicial decisions that govern sports and athletes who perform in them.
Why might performers need help from the law?
-Loss of earnings
-For injuries from opponents
-For discrimination
-For false doping bans
-Spectator/supporter violence
-Performer violence
-Contract Disputes
-Sponsorship/Commercial disputes
-Protection from the media
-Officials duty of care
-Coaches duty of care
-NGB’s
-Child protection
-Equal opportunities
Revision tip as a way of remembering the different reasons why sports performers might need assistance from the law during their sporting career?
S - Spectator violence - trespass onto the field of play is punished
O - Opponents being too violent - law provides protection from violent play
C - Contractual/commercial issues with sponsors
C - Contractual issues with employers e.g. Bosman ruling
E - Equality of opportunity issues (e.g. racism, sexism)
R - Refereeing negligence (performers should be protected ensuring a duty of care)
M - Media intrusion
D - Drugs/Doping issues
How are officials impacted by sports legislation?
- Officials have a duty of care towards participants, to make sure all dangers around them are eliminated and it is a safe environment
- Officials have to take reasonable care over another person to avoid any dangers that could cause them harm
- When an official doesn’t do everything possible to keep participants safe, this is seen as being ‘negligent’
- Referees may be liable to prosecution for being negligent
Examples of why officials have been prosecuted or could be prosecuted?
- Failure to follow NGB rules and guidelines regarding safe procedure and practice can result in negligence
- Failure in the duty of care to a player through not enforcing rules properly
- Prosecuted for match fixing, bribery and conspiracy
eg. playing on a surface that hasn’t been checked prior to the start of the match, not stopping/controlling a collapsing rugby scrum
How are coaches impacted by sports legislation?
Coaches have a legal obligation to eliminate all potential dangers so that players can participate in a safe environment and to ensure that nobody gets hurt unnecessarily
What legislation and sports laws should a coach follow?
- Responsibility for safety and welfare of those under their control e.g. loco parentis’
- Health and safety - coaches must ensure safe practise, access to first aid, emergency contacts etc
- Supplements - Legal and ethical obligation to care for performers in terms of use of supplements and educate their athletes about drug use and abuse
- Child protection issues - Protection from abuse including emotional and physical abuse (clubs and authorities have specific guidelines regarding child abuse and how to report it)
- Coaches should have: Public liability and personal accidents insurance (available through NGB affiliation fees)
How can coaches show duty of care?
- Keeping up to date contact details, medical details, registers of attendance need to be kept up to date
- Maintain appropriate supervision ratios dependent on the activity being taught, age and experience of those participating
- Ensuring that first aid provision is available at the club and someone is first aid trained
- Ensuring that individuals regularly involved in coaching children have a current DBS check
- Ensuring they have undertaken an appropriate risk assessment for the activity so any dangers are planned for
Revision tip for how a coach can ensure duty of care?
RA - Risk assessment
FA - First aid
SA - Supervision rations
DA - Data access
