Soc 405 - Sociology of Sport

Course goals

Sport is a physical activity that occurs in a given cultural milieu and is socially structured. In this course, we examine:

Course Requirements

Four examinations will be administered. Each counts 25% of your grade. The examination format is true-false, multiple choice, and essay. Examination questions systematically cover required readings (text, reader) and lectures. Materials covered on each examination are mutually exclusive. You are permitted to bring 1 page (8 1/2" x 11") of "crib notes" into the examination. 

The Office of Disability Services requires that the following be added to the course syllabus. "If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a documented disability or if you have emergency information to share. Please contact the Office of Disability Services at Hoskins Library at 974-6087. This (action) sic will ensure that you are properly registered for services."

My office is 907 McClung. Office hours are from 1:30 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. and by appointment. Home phone is 690-4167, please do not call after 9:00 P.M. Office phone is 974-7019. Use voice mail or email to leave messages. I regularly check and return calls.

Required text--Jay J. Coakley. Sport in society: issues and controversies. 7th edition). WCB. McGraw-Hill. Boston. 2001.

Topical Outline

I. What is the subject-matter of sociology of sport?

(Much of the literature attempts to define play, game, sport, and athletics adhering to a paradigm of categorization wherein sets must be mutually exclusive and unambiguous rather than defining sets as fuzzy categories.)

  1. Attempts to define play (Anthropological investigations on the nature of play are not discussed in this course, but the body of literature is large.)
  2. Attempts to define games
  3. Attempts to define sport
  4. Attempts to define athletics
  5. Sports as spectacle
  6. Trash sports
  7. Noncompetitive sports

Coakley. Chapter 1 "The sociology of sport: What is it and why study it?" pp. 2-29.
Coakley. Chapter 2 "Using social theories: What can they tell us about sports in society?" pp. 30-54.

II. From Gambol to Game to Grunge

Greeks
Romans
Medieval

  1. Greeks, Romans, Medieval England, China, Japan, and Colonial America

Coakley. Chapter 3 "A look at the past: How have sports changed throughout history?" pp. 56-80.

  1. Rise of Modern Sport in United States--Status life styles, WASPs and ethnics, religion, technology, and commercialism

FIRST EXAMINATION (Objective and short essays) -TBA

***

III. Issues of Selection and De-selection in Play, Games and Sport

Coakley. Chapter 4 "Sports and socialization." pp.81-108.

  1. Physical ability -- Aversive socialization versus positive feedback
  2. Agents of socialization--parents, peers, coaches, school officials, preachers, and physicians

(S) Donald W. Hastings, Suzanne B. Kurth, and Monika Schloder. (1996) Work routines in the serious leisure career of Canadian and U.S. Masters swimmers. Avante Vol. 2, No. 3: 73-92.

  1. Gender socialization - Macho vs. feminina
  2. Gender role transcendence
  3. Gender stereotypes: Role strain versus cognitive balancing

Coakley. Chapter 5 "Sports and children: Are organized programs worth the effort?" pp.109-136.

  1. Motives for participation (Youth: Age-informal and formal games (fun, skills, or winning?) and Adults: Masters Sports)

IV. Sports Lifecourse--The Serious Leisure Career

  1. Entry
  2. Age-group
  3. Elite (Amateur vs. Professional)
  4. Exit--Attrition/Burnout; Retirement (Social death versus Rebirth); Withdrawal
  5. Re-entry

SECOND EXAMINATION (Objective and short essays) TBA

Coakley. Chapter 8 "Coaches: How do they fit into sports experiences?" (5th edition).

Suggested I lecture from this text COLLEGE SWIMMING COACH

V. Positive consequences of sports participation - Sports participation and academic performance, aspiration, and collegiate success.

Coakley. Chapter 10 "Social class: Do money and power matter in sports?" pp. 279-310.

Coakley. Chapter 14 "Sports in high school and college: Do varsity sports programs contribute to education?" pp. 417-455.

VI. Mass Media and Gender

Coakley. Chapter 12 "Sports and media: Could they survive without each other? pp.350-384.

THIRD EXAMINATION -- TBA

Coakley. Chapter 8 "Gender and sports: Does equity require ideological changes?" pp.202-241.

Coakley. Chapter 9 "Race and ethnicity: Are they important in sports?" pp. 242-278.

VII. Commercialization of Sport

Coakley. Chapter 11 "Sports and economy: What are the characteristics of commercial sports?" pp.311-349.

VIII. Problems in Sport

Coakley. Chapter 6 "Deviance in sport: Is it out of control?" pp. 137-172.

Coakley. Chapter 7 "Violence in sports: How does it affect our lives?" pp. 173-201.

Coakley. Chapters 13, 15, & 16.(Optional)

FINAL EXAMINATION- As scheduled

SUGGESTED WEBSITES

Scholarly sport sites-University of Calgary THE SINGLE BEST SITE ON SPORTS
Best site for Swimming Links
For selected sources of information (print & electronic) on sport business prepared by faculty at University of Memphis, see: Sport Business sources

Courses Taught

Undergraduate

Soc 311-Sociology of the Family

Soc 331-Introduction to Research Methods-After Spring 2003-Available only on request

Soc 400-Special Topics: Environmental Awareness, Environmental Justice Movement, and Anti-environmentalism

Soc 405-Sociology of Sport

Soc 462-Population Problems

Graduate

Soc 531-Methods of Sociological Research

Soc 563-Demographic Techniques

Soc 534-Adv. Sociological Analysis (formerly taught with Suzanne Kurth)-Available only on request

Soc 665-Advanced Topics in Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources: Inequalities in Environmental Risk (formerly taught with Sherry Cable)Readings in this course are useful for Soc 400

Seminar in Growth and Sustainability (with Sherry Cable)

Courses Taught in Physical Education

Advanced Competitive Swimming (Available on request - Snail mail)(Coaching resume available on E-Mail request)
Academic Resume