Sport in the 20th century Flashcards
What was life like in pre-industrial britain (pre 1780)?
> Communications and transport were limited
Wide spread of illiteracy - lower class weren’t educated
Cruel and violent existences were the norm for the lower class
Limited free time
Class divisions
People lived in the countryside/rural areas
Characteristics of popular recreation were?
> Long hours of work for the lower class meant popular recreation activities were occasional and therefore restricted to annual events.
With limited transport popular recreation activities were local and specific to each community.
Activities used the natural resources available to them. For example open land for mob games.
Activities were aggressive and male dominated - reflecting a harsh society
Wagers were placed on sporting contests by the upper class
Mob football. What was it?
> It was played by the lower class - reflecting the clear division of the two classes societies
Was a localised from of activity - for example Ashbourne
It was played in very rural areas
Lower class were not educated and so the rules were very simple to understand
Long working hours meant that mob football was only played occasionally
Mob football was eventually banned just before the 19th century.
Real tennis. What was it?
> Also called “royal tennis” of “the sport of kings”
Real tennis was an exclusive game played by the upper class males of society. For example King Henry VIII
Upper class were educated and highly illiterate and so complex rules could be written down
Played to a high moral code and so lacked violence and opponents respected each other
Plenty of leisure time the upper class could play real tennis on a regular bases
Athletics. What was it?
> Took the form of an activity known as “foot racing” or “pedestrianism”
Hired servants competed for the upper class due to their speed and movement across land
They competed against one another
Success in athletics meant increased social status for a gentleman so the upper class were happy to work as patrons to the working class.
Often competitions took form of “festival occasions” - characteristics of these included:
- Simple rules
- Local events
- Rural locations
- Betting occurred (wagers placed on outcomes)
Development of rational recreation.
> As Britain changed into an industrially based society sport and pastimes changed in a number of different ways - reflecting society changes. > Activities were rational recreation - designed by the middle class to be well organised, ordered and controlled > For example football, reflecting a more ordered industrially based society
What was the Wenlock olympian games?
> In 1850, the Wenlock Agricultural Reading Society resolved to form a class called the Olympian class which was set up to promote moral, physical and intellectual improvements, especially in the lower class people of Wenlock.
Founder was Dr William Penny Brookes
The 1st games took place in October 1850 and there were a mixture of events including athletics, football, quoits, cricket, running and hurdles.
Rules were written and they drew athletes from all over the country
What were the social and cultural influences on the development of rational recreation?
1) The industrial revolution
> Massive changes to the way people lived their lives
During the 1st half of the 19th century, the initial effects were often negative:
- Migration of the lower classes into urban areas (looking for work in new factories being built)
- Lack of leisure time
- Lack of income
- Poor health
- Loss of rights (restrictions placed on mob sports)
- Lack of public provisions (no access to private facilities)
During the 2nd half of the 19th century, some improvements had positive effects:
- Health and hygiene improved
- Gradual increase in income and more leisure time
- The new middle class (became more acceptable and respectable. Also leagues and competitions were made)
- Influence of ex-public school boys via the church
- Values of athleticism
- Industrial patronage (factory teams were set up to encourage loyalty to the workforce)
- Improved transport and communications
- Become cheaper to travel
2) Urbanisation
> Many violent sports (mob football) were banned as society became more civilised
Lack of space created the need for the development of purpose built facilities
Gradual improvements in working conditions meant more free time to play or watch sport/entertainment
Key features of urbanisation that contributed to the development of sport in this period:
- Lack of space
- Large working-class populations
- Loss of traditional sports
- Change in working conditions
3) Transport revolution
> The development of steam trains and railways increased spectator and participation opportunities spread interest in sport
As trains were expensive and mainly used by the middle and upper classes they gradually became more affordable for the lower class
Key features that the development of railways contributed to the development of sport:
- Movement of teams (lead to nationwide fixtures)
- Improved access to difficult parts of the country (leagues forming
- Cheaper train travel (led to working class following their teams to watch them play
- Improved access to the countryside
4) Communications
> Gradual improvement in education provisions for the working class which lead to improvements in reading and writing > Communications improved as the country became more literate > Awareness of sport improved in a number of different ways (knowledge of scores) > Led to the emergence of sporting heroes and role models as people could read match reports
5) Influence of the church
> Promoted sport and recreation among their local communities
Encouraged social control through civilised activities which lead people away from unacceptable behaviour such as drinking/gambling
Sport was seen as a good way to promote christian values
Church facilities provided venues
The development of the YMCA promoted the healthy body/healthy mind link
The church organised teams, set up clubs and organised competitions
6) The emergence of the middle class in a 3 tier society
> Were self made individuals who had some empathy and concern for the working classes
Improved lives of the working class was through working provisions
Key features of how the middle class helped development of sport:
- Codification (strict rules)
- Competitions
- Public provisions
- Increased leisure time
- Move to professionalism
7) The British empire
> Public schools played an important role in the export of the games ethic around the globe
Sport was seen as a very good and powerful way to instil moral values into people
Young men were educated to become leaders of the British empire spreading the playing of games in a number of different ways:
- Teachers (taught traditional sporting values in schools)
- Factory owners (set up teams and gave people time of work to play)
- Clergy (developed church teams or took sport abroad)
- Officers in the British army
- Diplomats (travelled the world and took sport with them)
- National governing bodies (codified sport and established leagues and competitions)
8) Public provisions
> To improve health and hygiene local authorities applied for public washing facilities and improve their status as a town
Plunge baths developed for swimming and recreation
Public baths were for people to go and wash
Helped productivity at work as workers were healthier and less prone to serious diseases
9) National governing bodies
> NGB’s developed in the mid to late 19th century due to the following reasons:
- Sport was becoming increasingly popular with more widespread playing
- More teams and clubs were forming
- More national and international fixtures were being organised
- Leagues and competitions were required
- Nationally agreed rules and codification for different sports were required
- Maintenance to deal with professionalism and early commercialisation of sport
What are the characteristics of rational recreation?
> Respectability - non violent and emphasis on fair play
Regionally/nationally play - competitions were played everywhere. Saturday afternoon was for watching football
Codification - complex and strict rules were written down by NGB’s
Referees and officials - present to enforce the rules
Purpose built facilities - constructed grounds for all kinds of sports
Skills/tactic based - players have positional roles and improved their techniques and fitness levels to increase their chance in winning
Amateurism and professionalism
1) Amateurism values included
> Manliness - physical endeavour
Appreciating the value of health and fitness
Appreciating the value of rule-regulated activity
High moral integrity
Characteristics of “gentleman amateurism”
Being a respected member of society
Belonging to the social elite
Participation in sport was viewed as character building exercise
Playing a range of sports - using natural talent
Playing sport to a high moral code
What were the positive impacts on amateurism?
> Dominated by upper and middle classes
Amateurs held a higher status than professionals at the time
Code of amateurism was based on playing sport to clearly set rules
Code of ethics - playing sport to a high set of moral values
Belonging to the social elite - having wealth and plenty of free time
Participation in sport - was seen as more important than winning
All rounder was viewed as high regarded
New middle class admired the cultural values of the upper class
What were the positive impacts on professionalism?
> Eventually the working class could play sport while getting paid
Early professionalism in walking and running were paid according to results
Working class played sport for final gain
Earning money while playing sport was highly wanted which increased the determination to succeed
