STUDY UNIT 1
SPORT OR PLAY
1.1 The term sports
One common requirement for an activity to qualify as a sport is that it should entail
fair amounts of physical exertion.
1.1.1 Historical origin of the term sport
The word sport originates from the Latin word desporto, which means to carry away.
Desporto indicated that people had to get away from their daily routine, their
economic and other activities, and have some diversion and recreational activities.
1.1.2 Definition of the term sport
Early definitions of sport, as stated by Polley (1998); is the participation in games
and exercises pursued in open air. The concept of sport is open to many
interpretations. Allision 1986, ‘sport is the institutionalisation of skill and prowess’.
1.1.3 Sport as a survival game
Spectators and experts who study the history of sport are bound to have noticed the
direct relationship between survival and military activities on the on hand and some
sporting activities on the other.
The following are examples of modern sports with close links with military flight or
flee activities:
✓ Javelin throwing and hurling a spear in battle
✓ Long jump and fleeing from enemies
✓ Modern boxing and fist fights
✓ Activities like target shooting and archery
1.2 The term play
The Greek verb paizein (to play) derives from the root pais, meaning child. This
refers to a light-hearted activity or one that is performed in a carefree manner. The
difference between sport and play lays in the difference at the level of the
seriousness with which an activity was practised.
The following are characteristics of play, according to Caillois 1961:
✓ Play is associated with freedom
✓ Play is not tied to specific venues, it is spontaneous
✓ Play is not tied to specific intervals and does not have a fixed duration
, ✓ Play is more difficult to predict and determine than that of sport because of the
spontaneity of the activity
✓ Play is to some extent unproductive
✓ Play has a strong element of pretending in the sense that players assume a
role within a time-space relationship
Play is voluntary and distinct activity carried out within arbitrary boundaries in space
and time, separate from our daily roles, concerns, and influences and having no
seriousness, purpose, meaning, or goals beyond those emerging within the
boundaries and context of the play itself.
1.2.1 Sport or play?
Distinguishing between play and sport is complicated by the fact that here is a
continual progression and development from the on activity to the other. Allision
1986 definition, ‘sport is the institutionalisation of skill and prowess’ – puts emphasis
on things like skill and prowess. But there are other aspects like courage and the
ability to give what it takes. Neither sport nor play is a static concept, each is
continually developing into the other.
1.3 Does play develop into sport?
Coakley points out the following variables before one can say anything about the
development from play to sport:
1. The type of activity that is practised
2. The structure of the context in which the activity is performed
3. The orientation of participants
1.3.1 The type of activity that is practised
When play progresses into sport one can observe changes such as the following:
✓ The players individual judgement becomes less important and the participants
spontaneity is inhibited
✓ Formal rules and structured roles restrain and replace the spontaneity which
previously characterised the activity
✓ The activity is no longer performed simply as a break from the daily stress
✓ The outcome of the activity is more collective and has benefits for individuals
and groups that are not directly involved in the activity
✓ The aims of the activity become diversified and complex and are linked to
values espoused by external people
✓ Levels of exertion and time spent on practicing increases
✓ The real goal of the activity becomes a source of stress and strain
,1.3.2 Structure of the context in which the activity is performed
Sport is conceptualised as a specific kind of play. An activity is considered sport
when it becomes highly regulated and follows a fixed pattern. This institutionalisation
of sport through the formalisation and standardisation of activities has an impact on
the development from play to sport.
1.3.3 Orientation of participants
Intrinsic motivation the reward for an activity lies in the participants subjective
experience. There is little or no reward from the individuals positive experience of the
activity. Extrinsic motivation means that the reward comes from sources outside the
individual and are measurable in material terms.
1.4 Progression from play to sport
The development or progression is often from play to sport, but this is not a fixed
pattern or universal pattern.
1.5 Review
Read on page 12 – 13
, STUDY UNIT 2
POLITICS
2.1 The concept of politics
2.1.1 An orientation
Politics has invaded the domain of sport which politicians use to exploit sport to their
advantage. Interaction between politics and sport has been going on to the extent
that the one readily developed into the other.
2.1.2 What is meant by the concept of politics
The following are two basic characteristics of politics:
1. The concept of politics refers to the capacity of an individual or individuals to
take decisions on behalf of a group or various groups of people
2. These decisions are either accepted by the group or are forcibly imposed.
Society is divided into a governmental sphere and a civil sphere. The governmental
sphere is where authoritative decisions are taken on behalf of society. In civil society
there are also authorities that make decisions that rules us.
2.1.3 Definition of the concept politics
Politics as a practice has been the systematic organisation of hatreds. Ronald smith
describes politics as the processes people use to resolve conflicts between private
interests and he common good that occur within the institutional framework of
government.
Smith’s definition clarifies aspects of political decision making, namely decisions on
structural issues and decisions on policy issues:
✓ Political decision making on structural issues entail aspects like by whom,
where and how decisions may be taken. They have to do with the structure
and formal nature of political decision making
✓ Policy issues have to do with society and with governments focus on
regulating society
David Easton regards politics as the authoritative allocation of values for society,
because resources are limited and scarce. Valuable commodities like wealth and
status, are not freely available and distributed unequally. This leads to conflict. To
prevent conflict appointed individuals have to decide on the distribution of these
commodities.
SPORT OR PLAY
1.1 The term sports
One common requirement for an activity to qualify as a sport is that it should entail
fair amounts of physical exertion.
1.1.1 Historical origin of the term sport
The word sport originates from the Latin word desporto, which means to carry away.
Desporto indicated that people had to get away from their daily routine, their
economic and other activities, and have some diversion and recreational activities.
1.1.2 Definition of the term sport
Early definitions of sport, as stated by Polley (1998); is the participation in games
and exercises pursued in open air. The concept of sport is open to many
interpretations. Allision 1986, ‘sport is the institutionalisation of skill and prowess’.
1.1.3 Sport as a survival game
Spectators and experts who study the history of sport are bound to have noticed the
direct relationship between survival and military activities on the on hand and some
sporting activities on the other.
The following are examples of modern sports with close links with military flight or
flee activities:
✓ Javelin throwing and hurling a spear in battle
✓ Long jump and fleeing from enemies
✓ Modern boxing and fist fights
✓ Activities like target shooting and archery
1.2 The term play
The Greek verb paizein (to play) derives from the root pais, meaning child. This
refers to a light-hearted activity or one that is performed in a carefree manner. The
difference between sport and play lays in the difference at the level of the
seriousness with which an activity was practised.
The following are characteristics of play, according to Caillois 1961:
✓ Play is associated with freedom
✓ Play is not tied to specific venues, it is spontaneous
✓ Play is not tied to specific intervals and does not have a fixed duration
, ✓ Play is more difficult to predict and determine than that of sport because of the
spontaneity of the activity
✓ Play is to some extent unproductive
✓ Play has a strong element of pretending in the sense that players assume a
role within a time-space relationship
Play is voluntary and distinct activity carried out within arbitrary boundaries in space
and time, separate from our daily roles, concerns, and influences and having no
seriousness, purpose, meaning, or goals beyond those emerging within the
boundaries and context of the play itself.
1.2.1 Sport or play?
Distinguishing between play and sport is complicated by the fact that here is a
continual progression and development from the on activity to the other. Allision
1986 definition, ‘sport is the institutionalisation of skill and prowess’ – puts emphasis
on things like skill and prowess. But there are other aspects like courage and the
ability to give what it takes. Neither sport nor play is a static concept, each is
continually developing into the other.
1.3 Does play develop into sport?
Coakley points out the following variables before one can say anything about the
development from play to sport:
1. The type of activity that is practised
2. The structure of the context in which the activity is performed
3. The orientation of participants
1.3.1 The type of activity that is practised
When play progresses into sport one can observe changes such as the following:
✓ The players individual judgement becomes less important and the participants
spontaneity is inhibited
✓ Formal rules and structured roles restrain and replace the spontaneity which
previously characterised the activity
✓ The activity is no longer performed simply as a break from the daily stress
✓ The outcome of the activity is more collective and has benefits for individuals
and groups that are not directly involved in the activity
✓ The aims of the activity become diversified and complex and are linked to
values espoused by external people
✓ Levels of exertion and time spent on practicing increases
✓ The real goal of the activity becomes a source of stress and strain
,1.3.2 Structure of the context in which the activity is performed
Sport is conceptualised as a specific kind of play. An activity is considered sport
when it becomes highly regulated and follows a fixed pattern. This institutionalisation
of sport through the formalisation and standardisation of activities has an impact on
the development from play to sport.
1.3.3 Orientation of participants
Intrinsic motivation the reward for an activity lies in the participants subjective
experience. There is little or no reward from the individuals positive experience of the
activity. Extrinsic motivation means that the reward comes from sources outside the
individual and are measurable in material terms.
1.4 Progression from play to sport
The development or progression is often from play to sport, but this is not a fixed
pattern or universal pattern.
1.5 Review
Read on page 12 – 13
, STUDY UNIT 2
POLITICS
2.1 The concept of politics
2.1.1 An orientation
Politics has invaded the domain of sport which politicians use to exploit sport to their
advantage. Interaction between politics and sport has been going on to the extent
that the one readily developed into the other.
2.1.2 What is meant by the concept of politics
The following are two basic characteristics of politics:
1. The concept of politics refers to the capacity of an individual or individuals to
take decisions on behalf of a group or various groups of people
2. These decisions are either accepted by the group or are forcibly imposed.
Society is divided into a governmental sphere and a civil sphere. The governmental
sphere is where authoritative decisions are taken on behalf of society. In civil society
there are also authorities that make decisions that rules us.
2.1.3 Definition of the concept politics
Politics as a practice has been the systematic organisation of hatreds. Ronald smith
describes politics as the processes people use to resolve conflicts between private
interests and he common good that occur within the institutional framework of
government.
Smith’s definition clarifies aspects of political decision making, namely decisions on
structural issues and decisions on policy issues:
✓ Political decision making on structural issues entail aspects like by whom,
where and how decisions may be taken. They have to do with the structure
and formal nature of political decision making
✓ Policy issues have to do with society and with governments focus on
regulating society
David Easton regards politics as the authoritative allocation of values for society,
because resources are limited and scarce. Valuable commodities like wealth and
status, are not freely available and distributed unequally. This leads to conflict. To
prevent conflict appointed individuals have to decide on the distribution of these
commodities.
