Socio-Cultural Influences in Sport

Question 1

A swimming club insists that all members have to be able to perform a racing dive before they can join the freestyle swimming squad. What type of barrier is this for disabled swimmers?

Answer 1

Psychological – this simply requires a change of attitude by the club as race diving is not an essential skill for competitive freestyle swimming. (Some Paralympians start the race in the water, depending on their classification.)

Question 2

What are the three types of barriers for disabled people in sport?

Answer 2

Physical – for example, a lack of or the cost of adapted equipment

Logistical – for example, a lack of transport or inappropriate communication

Psychological – for example, lack of confidence, other people’s attitudes

Question 3

What type of athletes are most likely to engage in Gamesmanship?

Answer 3

Ego-oriented or extrinsically motivated players

Question 4

Define sportsmanship

Answer 4

Playing within the rules and understanding and using sports etiquette.

Question 5

Define Gamesmanship

Answer 5

Without breaking them, players bending the rules and use questionable methods to gain an advantage

Question 6

What are some reasons for deviant behaviour in sport?

Answer 6

• Pressure from coach/media to win
• “Win at all costs” mentality
• Lack of moral code

Question 7

Give some examples of deviant behaviour in sport

Answer 7

Match fixing or taking illegal PED’s

Question 8

What are the negative impacts of deviant behaviour

Answer 8

• Damage reputation of the sport
• Loss of earnings/sponsors
• Fines/bans

Question 9

What are the 3 main groups involved in the commercialisation of sport?

Answer 9

• Sport
• Media
• Sponsors

Question 10

How do sports benefit from commercialisation?

Answer 10

Increased revenue helps individual sportspeople and sports organisations to increase participation, improve performances and attract support

Question 11

How does the media benefit from commercialisation?

Answer 11

High profile sports stories help to attract audiences,

listeners and readers

Question 12

How do sponsors benefit from commercialisation?

Answer 12

High profile coverage of sport ensures a high profile for their companies and products.

Question 13

What is a disadvantage of sponsorships in sport?

Answer 13

Sponsorship of sport creates tensions when a sponsor’s image or product appears to undermine the sporting message. For example, tobacco firms sponsored sporting events until 2005 when they were banned from doing so across the European Union (EU)