Current issues in sport
Development
Early British sport / Agricultural society
In the agricultural society of medieval and early modern Britain and Ireland, existence was
mainly subsistence living off the land to survive. There would not be time to take part in
leisure activities on a day to day basis. Hard physical work was the norm for many, including
children. There were leisure activities like drinking, dancing and gambling.
The first variety of medieval football was typically known as mob football. Mob football was
unique as there was an unlimited number of players with very few rules. Due to the fact their
were no rules, clever players just moved the ball to the goal and aslong as no murder was
committed it would count. The ball was said to be made out of pig’s bladder.
The rich were able to travel and hunt on neighbouring estates or went to the coast to sail.
Ordinary people were prevented from hunting by game laws which made poaching a crime.
For the poorer peasants there were sports like mob football and demonstrations of skill in
pursuits such as archery.
Effects of the industrial revolution
In the 19th century cities grew, but life was hard as conditions were often cramped and
unsanitary. Work was physically demanding and there was little time off, and no additional
warnings available for sport and leisure activities. The factory Act 1846 resulted in people
having free time to take part in sport and able to spectate. Saturday afternoons, were the
time everyone was free from work which enabled people to play and spectate. This is why
football matches to this day are played at 3pm.
Influence of public schools, Rationalisation and Regulation
Public schools were so called because they were originally founded to provide an education
outside the houses of the rich. However, the schools and their endowments increasingly
became used by the nobility turning the public school system unto the one we know today.
This system grew in the early nineteenth century and sports flourished within the walls of the
public schools, especially rugby and cricket.
In 1848 Cambridge University introduced the first set of rules and were influential in the
development of the sport. Rules were solidified in the 1860’s that a match would last 90
minutes and a league format started in 1888. More rules such as 11-a-side, a manager from
each side plus a neutral referee, goals 12ft across and up to 20ft high and the offside rule was
added.
More general affluence spread and the middle class emerged. They wanted to adopt sports
previously only in the realm of the rich. They promoted rationalisation of sport and leisure to
encourage more organized, structured and wholesome recreation. Boys left public schools
and played roles in developing sport at Oxford and Cambridge universities. National sports
Development
Early British sport / Agricultural society
In the agricultural society of medieval and early modern Britain and Ireland, existence was
mainly subsistence living off the land to survive. There would not be time to take part in
leisure activities on a day to day basis. Hard physical work was the norm for many, including
children. There were leisure activities like drinking, dancing and gambling.
The first variety of medieval football was typically known as mob football. Mob football was
unique as there was an unlimited number of players with very few rules. Due to the fact their
were no rules, clever players just moved the ball to the goal and aslong as no murder was
committed it would count. The ball was said to be made out of pig’s bladder.
The rich were able to travel and hunt on neighbouring estates or went to the coast to sail.
Ordinary people were prevented from hunting by game laws which made poaching a crime.
For the poorer peasants there were sports like mob football and demonstrations of skill in
pursuits such as archery.
Effects of the industrial revolution
In the 19th century cities grew, but life was hard as conditions were often cramped and
unsanitary. Work was physically demanding and there was little time off, and no additional
warnings available for sport and leisure activities. The factory Act 1846 resulted in people
having free time to take part in sport and able to spectate. Saturday afternoons, were the
time everyone was free from work which enabled people to play and spectate. This is why
football matches to this day are played at 3pm.
Influence of public schools, Rationalisation and Regulation
Public schools were so called because they were originally founded to provide an education
outside the houses of the rich. However, the schools and their endowments increasingly
became used by the nobility turning the public school system unto the one we know today.
This system grew in the early nineteenth century and sports flourished within the walls of the
public schools, especially rugby and cricket.
In 1848 Cambridge University introduced the first set of rules and were influential in the
development of the sport. Rules were solidified in the 1860’s that a match would last 90
minutes and a league format started in 1888. More rules such as 11-a-side, a manager from
each side plus a neutral referee, goals 12ft across and up to 20ft high and the offside rule was
added.
More general affluence spread and the middle class emerged. They wanted to adopt sports
previously only in the realm of the rich. They promoted rationalisation of sport and leisure to
encourage more organized, structured and wholesome recreation. Boys left public schools
and played roles in developing sport at Oxford and Cambridge universities. National sports
