Athletes have their own set of norms that they follow in order to show their commitment to sports that they participate in. According to Hughes and Coakley, the "Sport Ethic" or the definition of a "real athlete" can be described in four main points. First, an athlete has to be able to make sacrifices for The Game. They need to forget about other interests in their life in order to give the sport full commitment and attention. Second, an athlete needs to strive for distinction. Athletes work so hard to get closer and closer to perfection. They will practice as long as it takes to be the best, because in their heads, practice makes perfect. Third, athletes need to accept risks and play through pain. Athletes should never back down and perform under any pressure. If they are injured and they can still physically play, they should. Lastly, athletes refuse to accept limits. Once they achieve a certain amount of skill, they continue to work harder so they can improve more. Even if the athlete is already the best, that individual will continue to work towards improvement.
Many people are surprised by this and wonder why athletes conform to this set of beliefs. The reason is actually very simple. Athletes have a set of norms that they follow, just like everyday norms that exist in our society. The saying "no pain, no gain" is a perfect example that supports the third point. Athletes are expected to be faster, stronger, and work harder than the average person. The sport culture teaches them to never quit and always work to be the best.
Personally, I have experienced many of these dimensions of the sport ethic. For example when I played football in high school, if you were hurt often times you were told to "rub some dirt in it" or "grow a pair and start acting like a football player." The coaches would tell us what we could and could not eat and how we shouldn't hangout with friends before a game day. Our coaches began to schedule "fun days" that were basically extra practice days where we would meet up and run simple drills without pads. Ultimately we were told that our most important thing in life is football and we need to work as hard as we can to improve.
Tyler Martin
Athough I agree with your opinion on how athletes should conform with the norms, I feel it is important to state that although we disagree with some of the norms we know that our sacrifices some way or another are going to pay off if we abide by them. Whether it is paid off with money or simply a professional career and recognition, we have to (like you say) know that there is no gain without pain.
ReplyDeleteNeira Ortiz-Ruiz
I don't really agree with the idea that athletes need to "give up" other interests in their lives. I think that they certainly must prioritize their interests, but I do not think it is fair to say that athletes are not allowed to have any other interests or hobbies. That being said, they definitely have to make sacrifices. Sam Winsor
ReplyDeleteInteresting comments and post - what are the guarantees that the sacrifices we make will pay off in the end? Whether we are talking in terms of sport or life?
ReplyDeleteAs to the note made on coaches' influence on adherence to the sport ethic...it certainly seems to provide a space where we learn what it means to "be a man" (I would argue for women it is far more complicated for reasons we will explore this semester)...but the idea of "growing a set", "sac up", don't be a p*$%&, etc. play a large role in how men see themselves in sport and outside of it. - Prof Withycombe