Amateurism And Porffessionalism Flashcards
What is an amateur?
A person who plays the sport for the love of it and no financial gain
What is a professional?
A person who plays the sport for financial gain
Things amateurism was associated in the 19th century…
Appreciating value of health and fitness
Manliness
High moral integrity
Appreciating the value of rule-regulated activity
What is a gentleman amateur?
Played sport town high moral code
Played range of sports using their natural talents
Was respected member of society with a public school background
Belonged to social elite
Participated in sport as a character- building exercise
Name some positive impacts of amateurism…
Amateurs held a higher status than pros in 19th century.
Code of amateurism was based on playing sport to clearly set rules.
Adhered to a code of ethics.
Belonging to a social elite-enabled amateurs to play for love of sport, not of money.
Participation was more important than winning.
Amateurs=elite performers of 19th century.
The “new middle classes” admired cultured values of upper class and gentleman amateur.
Modern day amateurs…
Amateurs tend to be lower status than pros.
Some high level performers are still not pros (gymnasts)
Blurring of amateur and pro distinctions
Performance at top level in most sports is now open to all.
Some receive finance to pay training expenses e.g. (national lottery money)
Amateurism in modern day sport…
Codes of amateurism are still evident in British sport
It’s still viewed + and promoted in a number of ways e.g. fair play awards
Rugby, Only captains can talk to referee and have to call him sir. Rugby maintained amateurism into late 20th century
Rise of professionalism…(football)
Sports like football become more popular therefore working classes increased time and wages.
Working class had to make money from sport otherwise no opportunity to play.
Training became specialised.
Results and winning became more important.
Foul play and gamesmanship used to gain advantage.
Challenges to refereeing decisions become more common.
What are the Positive impacts of professionalism?
Presented working classes with chance to earn money whilst not at work.
Standard of performance increased as a result of dedicated training.
Led to increase in commercialism and media coverage in late 20th century.
Became avenue of social mobility.
professionalism today
All classes can compete (social class is not a barrier anymore)
People are now respected to their talents and efforts in reaching the top
Hugh rewards for pros through media and sponsorship
More time to train
Celebrity status
+ roles act as motivators for others to achieve in sport
Lord of Kirby invested into sport - become commercialised
More spectators attend.
Aspects of football today
1900-1950 footy became part of commercialised mass entertainment industry
BBC began live coverage of sport events in 1927
1900 max wage was £4 a week, max wage abolished in mid 1900’s due to threat of strike action
Modern football is extremely commercialised and is linked to far more media coverage.
Wages have increased dramatically due to Bosman ruling giving them freedom of contract and massive transfer fees
How has women’s football become more popular?
Due to socio-cultural factors:
Equal opportunities - sex discrimination has passed.
Increased media coverage of women’s footy
Increased female role models
Increased provision via school PE programmes
Increased approval by FA
increased clubs formed both pro and local
Increased participation via funding into game
Increased participation via funding into game
Increased free time (traditional domestic responsibilities decreased)
Elite female officials, how have they emerged?
Story of emerging female referees is not so encouraging
At end of 20th century very few female officials were progressing through to footy league
A women’s development pathway has been developed to try and improve this situation
Real tennis between 1800-1950
Middle class invention
Played by middle class
Organised by middle class
Use of specialist equipment
Use of standardised rules
Played by male and females
Public provision (spread to working class via public parks)
Modern day tennis popularity
Spread around the world
Tournaments in USA, Australia, France, England, make up 4 major comps.
Players realised they could make money.
Pro tours and tournaments were established as early as 1920
Open tennis. What happened and what did that lead to?
In 1968 rumours of amateurs (shamateurs) taking illegal payments
Led to abandonment of distinction between pro and amateur.
Let to era which in turn established the pro tennis circuit. Increased revenue from tv rights
Popularity of game has spread world wide and it’s tried to shed its English middle class image
How is tennis today different and the same?
Still viewed as a middle class activity
It developed later than other activities
Tennis clubs have a dress code
1968 male/female won different money
2007 male/female wine equal money
2015 money increased
2023 money increased further
Emergence of female tennis players - modern day
WTA developed a female only pro circuit in late 20th century
Gave female tennis players an opportunity to play at the top level
Earning millions of pounds in process
Rationalism and modern day development of track and field
Industrialisation lead to rural fairs being replaced by urban fairs athletics became more popular in towns with purpose built tracks in major cities
Walking and running races took place over set distances and courses the upper classes took part to test themselves but working classes took part for money
Track and field how did it come about, who formed it and why?
Exclusion cause which prevented manual workers from competing attempted to separate modern athletics from old pro form
1866 the amateur athletics club was formers by public school boys, they were gentlemen amateurs who did not allow working classes mechanics and labourers join the club
They brought respectability to athletics with an emphasis on fair play courage and physical endeavours
When was the amateur association club formed and what happened to it eventually?
In 1880, they opened the sport to everyone
What did a professional individual end up becoming?
Someone who ran for money and not just someone from the working class
Were women allowed to participate in track and field?
It was not deemed appropriate as it was unladylike and they were unable to follow the dress code
When was the women’s amateur athletic association club founded?
In 1922
