Sports as a Tool of Integration

What exactly determines whether or not an activity is a sport? The term sport is defined by The Free Dictionary as: A physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively, an activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules

Dating back to the B.C, small sports were created for people to have some sort of entertainment and a way to avoid the problems people were facing. These sports were then put into the greek olympics where people competed in different categories and their goals were to amuse the audience and showcase their skills. This is what inspired the concept of sports and since then sports have become one of the most talked about topics and continues to be used for strength and amusement. Doing sports was a way to face fears and overcome difficulties. In fact, sports were what got people through the most difficult times each country has battled. The whole purpose of a sport was to serve as a distraction from reality, but times have changed. Sports have developed into a major justification for the amount of people getting diagnosed with a mental disease. Sports take away the time and energy an average person needs to live healthy and happy. The newer generations don’t realize how sports can have a large effect on a person.

What exactly determines whether or not an activity is a sport? The term sport is defined by The Free Dictionary as: A physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively, an activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of

Following the Civil War in the United States, African-Americans still faced extreme forms of racism and troubles all the way up until the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. African-Americans were excluded from nearly all forms of participating in society including the ability to participate in professional sports and be paid at the same level as white athletes. The segregation of sports in this country was never declared by law, however it is something that our culture refused to accept (Reese). The eventual integration of sports in the United States, beginning with baseball and boxing, played a major role in the Civil Rights Movement and had a lasting impact on

The official definition of a sport is, “An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes another or others for entertainment.” Technically they are a sport. Esports (electronic sports) have teams or individuals from countries, states, counties or districts that come that compete in tournaments state, country or worldwide.

In our society sports are a very important social construction. As sports continue to grow, they are becoming more integrated into the major spheres of social life. Sports have become an entity, due to the fact that they not only create entertainment and jobs; sports have become a huge platform for various causes. Sports are extremely important to our society and have very powerful influences. Though experiences vary from person to person, most people have some sort of experience with sports. I personally have experienced sports more from the spectator and participant stance, and have been impacted from each perspective a great deal. Compared to sophomore safety, Jamal Adams my sports experience has been very different from impact and perspective.

Baseball has not always been the exciting, diverse, and traditional pastime as it is today. Before the glory days of televised sports, was its murky past. America’s pastime didn’t reflect what the country really represents at the core; a melting pot of people from different races and backgrounds. To understand how race has had an effect on baseball, one must look at the sport’s timeline. Starting from conception to pivotal events that shaped the game today, one can really see how the balance of power has shifted drastically in the game and has had an impact on our nation. Baseball started out as a leisure activity and transformed into a business. The game of baseball truly had no borders. In this paper, I will look at the origins of the sport and the battle for integration. I will also take a look at how the minority communities were affected by the conception, involvement, and racism that surrounded the sport.

To unearth the answer to the question, we must first learn what the definition of a sport is. According to the Webster Dictionary a sport is: a contest or game in which people do certain physical activities according to a specific set of rules and compete against each other. To justify that this is the actual meaning, we will also glance at the definition according to the Oxford Dictionary. The Oxford Dictionary states that a sport is: an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

What makes something a sport? What characteristics define a sport? Why do we feel that some sports are not considered sports when we have never played them? When you google the definition of a sport this is what you will find “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.” So as long as there is physical activity and competing then whatever you are playing is considered a sport.

Merriam Webster dictionary defines sport as an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often

A sport is an activity in which physical exertion and skill are used to compete against others individually or as a team. A very good example is cheerleading, since it involves physical activity and the accuracy of the athlete to hit every move. It is not just about jumping around wearing short skirts and huge bows. It is about loving what you do and working hard for it. Cheerleading is considered a sport because it involves you in cheer competitions, you need physical endurance, and skill is also necessary.

What is the definition of a sport? A game played with a ball or someone running around in tight, little shorts? What about “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against one another or others for enjoyment”? That is the true definition of a sport. Not only does football, baseball, basketball, and soccer fit this definition, but so does dance.

Sport is a competitive physical activity through casual or organised participants, sport is aimed to improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to to the audiencce. Usually sport is a contest between two oppistions, each attempting to exceed the oppsition. Some sports allow a tie game where as others provide tie-breaking methods to ensure there is one winner and one loser.

“Juvenile crime is on the rise, becoming more sophisticated, and Kids are beginning these behaviors at a younger age” (Wickliffe “Introduction”). Many studies have shown that children who are interested in sports are less likely to commit these crimes. Although having children involved in sports does not guarantee that they will stray away from criminal behavior, it does however, reduce the chances of them becoming involved. The earlier that children are involved in sports the better, because they could find that they truly enjoy them and wish to continue through middle and high school. A lifelong love of sports as a deterrent to less desirable behavior is something that society would like to promote. Teens who are involved in an extra-curricular activity like a sport are less likely to get in trouble, get better grades, and even live an overall healthier life (Servers “Reducing the Juvenile Delinquency Rate through Sports”).

Sport sociology examines sports as a part of cultural and social life, and adds a different dimension and perspective to the study of sport and exercise. More specifically, sport sociology examines the relationship between sports and society and seeks answers to many issues and questions regarding sport and culture. Sociology of sport poses critical and controversial issues; additionally, sports are considered a microcosm of society, the same social issues that exist in larger society also exist in sport culture. I have chosen eight peer-reviewed Sociological Journals to expand upon the understanding of this topic that I found to be the most relevant and offer diverse yet complete perspectives on sports.