Amateur vs Professionalism

Question 1

What is an amateur?

Answer 1

A persona who plays sport for the love of it and receives no financial gain.

Question 2

What is a professional?

Answer 2

A person who plays sport for financial gain.

Question 3

What were the characteristics of a ‘gentleman amateur’?

Answer 3

• A respected member of society with a public school background; high status in sport reflected by high status in society.
• Belonging to the social elite, having wealth and plenty of free time for sport.
• Participation in sport was viewed as a character-building exercise; training was frowned upon.
• Playing ‘a range of sports’ using their natural talents.
• Playing to a high moral code.

Question 4

Which key term comes from the Latin term, meaning ‘for the love’?

Answer 4

Amateur.

Question 5

Who were amateurs in sport?

Answer 5

Those who played for the love, only the upper class as they could afford to play for fun.

Question 6

Who were professionals in sport?

Answer 6

Those paid to play as their time off work had to be compensated.

Question 7

Which type of performers trained to win?

Answer 7

Professionals.

Question 8

What was the most important factor in playing for the professionals and for the amateurs?

Answer 8

Professionals = morals.
Amateurs = winning.

Question 9

Breakdown the meaning of ‘gentleman amateur’.

Answer 9

Gentleman = upper class.
Amateur = plays for the love of it.

Question 10

Characteristics of a gentleman amateur:

Answer 10

• Respected member of society
• High status in sport reflected by high societal status.
• Participation was character-building.
• Training was frowned upon.
• Playing to a high moral code.
• Public school background.
• Belonging to the social elite.
• Having wealth & time for sport.
• Playing a range of sports using natural talents.
• Self-officiated due to high moral codes.

Question 11

Breakdown the meaning of ‘working-class professionals’.

Answer 11

Working-class = lower class
professionals = played for financial gain.

Question 12

What were the characteristics of a working-class professional?

Answer 12

• Poorest members of society
• Play for financial support
• Earning from sport was an avenue of social mobility.
• High rewards at stake and pressure to maintain success.
• Paid a wage for time off work when representing the factory teams.
• Paid on a success basis.
• Standards of performance increased as a result of dedicated training and determination to succeed.

Question 13

How was receiving money for sport seen by the upper class?

Answer 13

It was seen as a BAD thing!

Question 14

What was the relationship between the ‘gentleman amateurs’ and the ‘working-class professionals’.

Answer 14

The ‘gentleman amateurs’ respected the skills of the ‘working-class professionals’ but where looked down upon.

Question 15

What is the difference in class between the ‘gentleman amateurs’ and the ‘working-class professionals’.

Answer 15

'working-class professionals' = upper.
'gentleman amateurs' = lower.

Question 16

What is the difference in money received for playing between the ‘gentleman amateurs’ and the ‘working-class professionals’.

Answer 16

'working-class professionals' = their job.
'gentleman amateurs' = no money received.

Question 17

What is the difference in free-time between the ‘gentleman amateurs’ and the ‘working-class professionals’.

Answer 17

'working-class professionals' = lots of time.
'gentleman amateurs' = little time.

Question 18

What is the difference in training between the ‘gentleman amateurs’ and the ‘working-class professionals’.

Answer 18

'working-class professionals' = none.
'gentleman amateurs' = lots so they can win.

Question 19

What is the difference in morality between the ‘gentleman amateurs’ and the ‘working-class professionals’.

Answer 19

'working-class professionals' = highly moral.
'gentleman amateurs' = immoral.

Question 20

What is the difference in why they play between the ‘gentleman amateurs’ and the ‘working-class professionals’.

Answer 20

'working-class professionals' = love of the game.
'gentleman amateurs' = money.

Question 21

Rugby is a type of sport where there is a clear division between amateurism and professionalism, what is this divide?

Answer 21

'working-class professionals' = Rugby League.
'gentleman amateurs' = Rugby Union.

Question 22

Compare the sporting status of early 20th century amateurs with modern day amateurs.

Answer 22

early 20th century = higher.

modern day = lower.

Question 23

Compare the control of early 20th century amateurs with modern day amateurs.

Answer 23

early 20th century = role models.

modern day = no control.

Question 24

Compare the access of early 20th century amateurs with modern day amateurs.

Answer 24

early 20th century = money only.

modern day = open to all.

Question 25

Compare the excellence of early 20th century amateurs with modern day amateurs.

Answer 25

early 20th century = top performers.

modern day = merit based.

Question 26

What influence did the ‘gentleman amateurs’ have on modern-day sports?

Answer 26

• Fair play / sportsmanship.
• Shaking of hands prior and post contests.
• Olympics and the idea of amateurism excellence.
• Codes of conduct (“sir” to the referee in rugby)

Question 27

Why has sport changed into a professional industry?

Answer 27

money.

Question 28

What are the advantages of amateurism.

Answer 28

• No pressure
• Fun = focus
• Skill level is not an issue
• Part time involvement

Question 29

What are the disadvantages of amateurism.

Answer 29

• Lower level coaches
• Less specialised facilities
• Must train and work full-time

Question 30

What are the advantages of professionalism.

Answer 30

• Specialist coaches
• Specialist facilities
• Paid salary
• Made a solo job

Question 31

What are the disadvantages of professionalism.

Answer 31

• Accountable to sponsors
• Pressure to succeed
• Less about fun
• Commitment
• Full-time involvement