The Sociology of Sport and Physical Education

Contents: Preface. 1. Sports and sociology of sports. 2. Human kinetics: science of human movement. 3. Figurational approach to soccer hooliganism. 4. Sports as a entertainment. 5. Physical education. 6. Sports and urban development. 7. Influence of religion on sports. 8. Women’s sports and gender discrimination. 9. College athletics. 10. Drugs in sports. 11. Social capital and feminist theory. 12. Sociological imagination. 13. Physical fitness for sportspersons.

Sport is assumed by many to promote those character traits generally deemed desirable, such as fair play, sportsmanship, obedience to authority, hard work and a commitment to excellence. As sport is a microcosm of society, the same types of deviant behaviour found in the larger social system can be expected to be found in sport. Society values winners and justifies the win at all costs mentality. Industrialization and capitalism have long legitimized this reality. Whether or not an athlete violates norms of acceptable behaviour will be determined by his or her own self-evaluation of ethic and morals.

It is hoped that the present book will be of immensely useful for the students of physical education and sports sciences and other related courses.