violence Flashcards
causes of violence in sport
•Frustration or anger leading to aggression e.g. with officials, with the result, due to provocation or abuse by opposition fans, possible gamesmanship by opponents such as time wasting (see picture right)
•’Win at all costs’ may create high levels of pressure to win which can lead to violent conduct
•Lack of or limited deterrent for violent acts
•High importance of contest or rivalry e.g. a semi-final or if the game is a local derby leading to a higher than normal level of tension and subsequent possible violence
•Drugs / steroids / alcohol use possibly causing over arousal or excessive excitement leading to violence
•Violent nature/physical contact involved with some games e.g. rugby / ice hockey
•Emotional or anger management issues i.e. players or spectators too quick to anger
•Sticks or other implements that can be used as
“weapons (having a weapon to hand may lead to violence
causes of violence
•Overcrowding / poor spectator provision causing irritation / anger therefore more chance of violence
•Peer pressure / mass culture / diminished responsibility of crowd people losing or ignoring their own sense of responsibility
•Imitating violence on pitch from performers
•’Hooligans” keen to cause trouble (not genuine fans) - violence not spectating the aim of them attending games!
•Loss of inhibitions due to drugs or alcohol
violence in sports implications to society
•Cost to the taxpayer in terms of extra policing at elite level sports arenas where violence is likely (as pictured) - police officers also have to be redeployed from other areas of crime prevention
•Does sport reflect society? If you refer to previous topics on pre, post, 20th and 21st century, society and sport often reflect one another. If so, will violence in sport be reflected by violence in society?
violence in sports implications of sport
•Scandal / bad publicity, it reduces the reputation of the sport, which can lead to a decline in participation as people are discouraged from taking part
•Violence at elite level competitions discourages genuine, law-abiding supporters from attending
•Violent performers at elite level could be seen as negative role models, possibly leading to violence increasing at lower or ‘grassroots’ levels
violence’s implications to performers
•Injury, a dangerous tackle for example, can impact on performance or fitness - can even end careers
•It can damage the reputation of a player / team - the reputation of Zinedine Zidane - a world famous footballer, was severely damaged following the pictured act of violence in a World cup football final (he retired from playing soon afterwards)
strategises to prevent violence by players
•More or better qualified officials at all levels. An increase in correct decisions by officials is likely to lead to less frustration on the field of play leading to less violence
•Change or adapt rules. If rules surrounding potential flashpoints are amended, again violence may be reduced.
•Stricter punishments - harsher bans or fines for violence acts may deter performers from being violent
•Use psychological techniques to channel possible aggression into assertion instead of violence. Employ the use of stress management techniques
•Use play back technology to make considered judgements, such as the TMO, again increasing the proportion of correct decisions leading to less frustration on the field of play leading to less violence Play back technology can also be used for retrospective punishments for violence that make have been missed first time by the officials, again acting as a deterrent. Performers knowing, they
‘cannot get away with violence’!
•Emphasis on fair play. Coaches, media, NGBs to reduce the emphasis on winning, which will reduce tension levels and therefore possibly reduce violence.
•Temporary removals. Use of ‘sin bins’ to temporarily remove a player from the field of play for violence, so allowing them to lower arousal levels.
•Substitute performers, even temporarily as is possible in some sports, if the coach feels a performer is likely to be violent, perhaps following provocation
•Peer pressure. Peers can highlight the negative impact violence on the field of play can result in.
• Role models. NGBs can promote performers with good disciplinary records
•Educational campaigns. NGBs introduce campaigns to reduce violence
strategises used to prevent spectator violence
Use CCTV to find violent culprits, then arresting or ejecting them from the stadium
•Stricter punishments, for example, life banning orders from attending games, confiscation of season tickets etc.
•Control or ban alcohol - spectators affected by alcohol are more likely to be violent, so by preventing it being consumed in the stadium may reduce violence. Plus, giving stadium officials the power to refuse entry to spectators suspected of being under the influence will help reduce the effects of alcohol on spectators
Improved use of police intelligence to locate and prevent potentially violent spectators entering / stadiums
•Improve spectator facilities. Comfortable, covered, all seater stadiums with a good view of the sporting action (e.g. the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff) may help reduce frustration or anger and in turn reduce violence
Separate fans to attempt to reduce tension between rival spectators and therefore reduce the chances of violence (as pictured)
•Similarly, an increase in police or steward presence may deter spectators from being violent
•More responsible media coverage which lessens the
‘hyping up’ of events and rivalries may reduce tension and violence. Social media could be used to build friendship as opposed to animosity
•Promote events as family entertainment. The presence of more families at sporting event including more women and children may lessen violence - violence at sporting events is usually perpetrated by men
•Start times. Playing games when the start time is imposed by the police, for example, early kick-offs to reduce alcohol consumption
•Passing specific laws- for example making entering the playing arena ‘trespass’, a criminal offence, so trying stop pitch invasions or potential clashes between rival fans
