Amateurism and Professionalism Flashcards
Amateur
Person who plays sport for the love of it with no financial gain
Amateur code
Playing sport purely for the sake of it
Professional
Person who plays sport for financial gain
Professional code
Emphasis on winning
Amateurism characteristics
Manliness - robustness and physical endeavour
Appreciating value of health and fitness
Appreciating value of rule
High moral integrity
Gentleman amateur
High status
Social elite who had free time
Sport was character building
No training, used god given ability
High moral code, no ref
Good humour on defeat
Positive impacts of amateurism
Code of amateurism - formed by NGB
Code of ethics
Participation more important than winning
All rounders in sport
New middle class admirer values and adopted this
Professionalism characteristics
High corruptible
Foul play
Fights
Gamesmanship
Challenges ref to commonplace
Typically working class
Played for wages due to low factory income
Time off so more time to train
Positive professionalism impacts
Working class had more time to play sport
Paid more than working class, able to move to middle class
Why did amateur sport exclude working class club memberships
Prevent move to professionalism
If one was to use athletic skill for profit or source of income, unfit for membership”
Modern Day amateur
Lower status
Some high level performers still classed as amateurs
Performance at top level open to all
Some amateurs receive money for training expenses
Less power in sport
Positives of modern day amateur
Fair play
sportsmanship
shaking hands
olympic ideal
Ruby union - remained amateur until late 20th century
Modern day professionalism
All classes can compete, no social barrier
Respected for talents and efforts
High rewards - media and sponsor
More time to train, higher standards
Celebrity
Role models
Commercialisation brings money into sport
More spectators
