Sociogenesis of Baskeball

"Basketball originated in 1891 when a future Presbyterian minister named James Naismith was assigned to teach a physical education class at a Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) training school in Springfield, Massachusetts"(FactMonster.com). It was said that Naismith was trying to find a new organized game to keep his students occupied. The development of basketball overtime has evolved drastically. It began with a single man creating a "pick-up game" that has now evolved into one of the most popuar sports in America. As most sports in the late 1800's, early 1900's, basketball targeted male participants. When basketball was first originated, the game was played with 9 players on each team totaling 18 players on the court at once. Basketball today is played with 10 people on the court, 5 per team. "Basketball caught on because graduates of the YMCA school traveled widely"(FactMonster.com).  In 1898, the first professional basketball league developed. Basketball quickly developed into a well-known and popular sport among men of the society. When basketball originated, it was played with a soccer ball and a peach basket as the basketball hoop. "Iron hoop and Hammok-style baskets were introduced in 1893" (Bellis).

James Naismith also later invented the 13 rules of basketball:
"1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.
Comment: Still current today. The ball can be passed or thrown in any direction with the exception that once the ball crosses the midcourt line, it cannot be passed back behind the midcourt line.

2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands (never with the fist.)

Comment: Ball can still be batted or tipped in any direction with one or both hands but never with a closed fist. Ball also cannot be kicked.

3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man who catches the ball when running at a good speed if he tries to stop.

Comment: A player still cannot run with the ball. If they do it’s a vioation. They must pass or dribble the ball with one hand. No allowance made when receiving a pass.

4. The ball must be held in or between the hands; the arms or body must not be used for holding it.

Comment: Players still cannot hold the ball against their body when moving. Results in a traveling violation.

5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking in any way the person of an opponent shall be allowed; the first infringement of this rule by any player shall count as a foul, the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made, or, if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game, no substitute allowed.

Comment: These infractions or player fouls still apply. Players are disqualifed from the game after committing five or six fouls. Flagrant fouls may result in automatic ejections along with suspensions.

6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violation of Rules 3, 4, and such as described in Rule 

Comment: True today. The ball cannot be struck with a closed fist or kicked.

7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count a goal for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the mean time making a foul.

Comment: This rule has been replaced by bonus free throws after a certain number of team fouls.

8. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.

Comment: Ball now goes through the basket. Defensive basket interference and offensive goaltending rules still apply. However, FIBA rules allow touching the ball by either team once it hits the rim.

9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field of play by the person first touching it. In case of a dispute, the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds; if he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on that side.

Comment: This out of bounds rule has been changed in that ball possession goes to the opposite team of the last player touching the ball. The inbounds five second count is still in effect and shot clocks have replaced the delay of game fouls.

10. The umpire shall be judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.

Comment: The umpire has been replaced with two or three person officiating crews. Player disqualifications have been modified to five or six personal fouls.

11. The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made, and keep account of the goals with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.

Comment: The referee has essentially been replaced by official scorers and timers. Out of bounds and goal decisions are made by the on court officials.

12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves, with five minutes’ rest between.

Comment: Game formats including length and the number of periods played along with halftime periods vary according to level.

13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner. In case of a draw, the game may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is made.

Comment: Sudden death or the first team to score has been replaced with five minute overtime periods."

While many of these rules are essentially still present in today's society, basketball was widely diffused into other countries. The main issue today is how much professional players should and will be paid. It is one of the most popular sports among men in the US and is still vastly spreading worldwide. 

References: 

Basketball in America: A History. 
http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0875085.html 

Basketball: James Naismith.
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blbasketball.htm

13 Rules of Basketball.
http://hooptactics.com/Basketball_Basics_Original_Basketball_Rules

Sport in the Ancient World

The various videoclips, readings and additional research furthered my knowledge of sport in the ancient world; particularly sport in ancient Greece and Rome. My knowledge of the development of sport worldwide prior to these readings and videos was immoderately low. I now feel that I have an understanding of where sport began, their characteristics and most importantly, the roles and functions of sport in the ancient world. The readings exemplified how both society and sport have evolved overtime. 

Sport in ancient Greece included running, jumping, discus throw, boxing, wrestling and the four horse chariot race. Although most of these sports still exist in today's society, many of their rules and regulations have changed overtime. For example, in Greece, the discus throw would not consist of spinning prior to releasing the discus and today, the athlete will spin to gain momentum before launching the discus. Another example of the change in rules overtime would be in the 100-meter dash. In ancient Greece, if there was a false start in the 100 meter, the participant would be brutally beaten by the judges as a penalty. The participants of sport in ancient Greece were "hailed as sons of the gods" according to the YouTube video. They wore "uniforms of the Gods" and competed naked. Much like today, the athletes of Greece had pre-game rituals. Today in the US, a pre-gmae ritual may vary from stretching or listening to music.....but in ancient Greece, a pre-game ritual consisted of being washed, oiled and scented in respect to the gods. 

Sport in ancient Rome was extremely different than in ancient Greece. In Greece, sport was for entertainment and pleasing the gods, where in Rome, sport was played to kill. Another major difference in sport in Greece and Rome was that in Greece, Greek citizens partook in the sporting events while in Rome, the slaves and war prisoners were the sporting participants. Sport in ancient Rome included chariot racing, boxing, and gladiator battles. The gladiator battles were the most popular and the most gruesome. It is said that the gladiator training "parallels training of the Roman soldier". Sport in Rome was known for fighting and killing. Boxing was even intended to injure and kill. For example, if the boxing match was exceeding long, and neither opponent went down, "free-shots" without protection were given against each opponent until one went down or died. I think that it is safe to say that much of the dynamics and roles of sport have evolved overtime while much has also remained the same in terms of competitiveness and common goals. 

References:
Youtube videos posted to D2L

Sports, Society & Me

Sports have always played a large role in my life. At an early age, I fell in love with two sports that quickly began to control my life. I played basketball and soccer year round, every year until my freshman year of college. Although my dad always prioritized my education, I was always taught that "education will get you into college, but that sports will teach you how to be successful in the world".  My dad couldn't have been more right. Looking back on life I don’t find reading Enders Game, or estimating molarities or learning how to diagram a sentence half as useful or helpful in the world as I do what I learned in playing sports. Sports taught me determination, devotion, love, passion, heart, hard work, reward, how to be a team player, how to set goals, and most importantly, how to get back up again. John Wooden, a legendary basketball coach who wrote a successful memoir stated: "Basketball or any other sport can be great fun to play and entertaining to watch. However, it offers something more important. The lessons it provides—taught properly—apply directly to life. Many of those lessons are usually taught first by a good mother and father, but sports can help make them stick and add a few more." Although I wasn’t fortunate enough to further my career in college, I feel eternally grateful for the opportunity to have experienced sport in the US and to have learned so many important life lessons in the process.

Sport in society is competition. It’s entertainment.  It's highly idolized. While sports play many roles in society, individuals may feel differently on the effects sports play in the US. People may argue that sport causes danger, vulnerability and false prioritizations, others might infer that sport teaches values, determination and sacrifice. US sport teaches us that while talent and hard work are rewarding, money, statistics and fame are equally as important. I personally think professional athletes in society hold a much higher idolization than they deserve. Yes, to become a professional athlete is hard work, but to save a life and fight for our country is a lot more challenging. I think that we hold athletes to higher standards than they can exceed, which causes vulnerability. Athletes are valued  and most are respected if they deserve to be respected, meaning they serve with good intentions and values.

 

What Sport Means in America: A Survey of Sport’s Role in Society

http://www.usada.org/uploads/usadaresearchreport.pdf

 

Sport Ethic

According to Hughes and Coakley, "When athletes use the 'Sport Ethic'- which emphasises sacrifice for the game, seeking distinction, taking risks, and challenging limits- as an exclusive guide for their bahavior, sport and sport participation become especially vulnerable to corruption". This direct quote shows that both Hughes and Coakleys hypothesis proves detrimental to the US athlete. If athletes feel the need to conform to society's expectations, then althetes are not only vulnerable to the game, but to themselves. In many ways, feeling the need to conform to any particular level of performance can cause serious harm to an individual. In today's society, athletes are always exceeding limits to attain money and fame. Amoung US citizens and in US sport, success is often measured by money and fame. Ethics in today's society can pressure an athlete to reach beyond maximum legal and fair regulations to perform at over and above their body's ability,

The four dimensions of the sport ethic were previously listed. Each dimension portrays an athletes vulnerability and pressure to conform to societal expectations. An athlete's desire to excell and seek perfection is an obvious goal for the individual. "Being an athlete means making sacrifices for the game". This dimesnion of the sport ethic is something that is expected from athletes who prioritize their team and thier bodys before all else. For US athletes of all ages, you are taught that your dedication to the team is much greater and more importat than any other priority in your life. This "sacrifice" often leads to athletes playing with broken bones, torn ligements, and pressures athletes to do whatever posible to conform to society's expectations. Being an athlete involves striving for distinction." This dimension seems obvious, but keeping yourslef accountable to reach maximum potential is a key ingredient to success and a key ingredent to show an athletes extrenal determination. "Being an athlete involves accepting risks and playing through pain." The ability to play through pain isnt something an athlete can be taught, however conforming to the cultural "toughness" is an expectation that many athletes have to comply with. "Being an athlete involves refusing to accespt limits in oersuit of possibilities." Refusing to accept limits is an extrme vulnerability athletes face everyday. The ability to overlook the limits in hopes to reach a potential opportunity is a conformity. 

All in all, athletes have to comply to all norms and expectations of society which only get higher and higher each day. Their job is to show both internal and external determination and dedication to thie team.

Another aspect of the sports ethic is the temptation it leaves athletes with to use illegal substances to improve their game. One athlete was caught and actually stood trial after lying about the situation. That Athlete was roger Clemons. "The case writes a new chapter in one of baseball’s worst scandals, the rampant use of performance-enhancing drugs in the 1990s and early 2000s, and leaves Clemens‘ legacy in jeopardy" (WashingtonTimes).
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/19/report-feds-plan-indict-roger-clemens/?page=all
 

Sports in the US

According to Coakley, Sport is defined as "well-established, officially governed, competitive physical activities in which participants are motivated by internal and external rewards". Sport in the US is among the most prestigious in the world's. Football, baseball, basketball and hockey are the most popular sports played and viewed in the US. Not only are these sports popular because they are the most viewed, but their players have made up some of the world's greatest athletes. Popular sports in the US differ in many rules and regulations, however they share various similar characteristics. Sport in the US is immensely sensationalized. Sport is sensationalized through success. Success is portrayed especially through money, competition, legacy and of course, the outcome of the game. 

A typical game day in the US is incredibly anticipated for sports fans. Many people will plan in advance to tailgate, which is an opportunity to celebrate before the game. At a tailgate, it is likely that a US sports fan will be eating and drinking and in some cases, betting on the game. Game day in the US is treated similarly to holidays. People are very adamant in their celebration of game day and the post game is often characterized by either sorrow or triumph.

Success through US sport is measured by the official outcome of the game. Success is also measured individually for each particular athlete partaking in the game. For instance, a professional player who is idolized by his or her performance, good values, and ability to impress others is a large measure of success. We associate success with legacy, both individual and team statistics, and with attitude and performance. US sport is not only an extreme competition for talented athletes but it serves as entertainment. Sport is one of the largest forms of entertainment in US society and today's culture. Children and young adults strive everyday to make it to the highest level of performance in which competition and determination associate themselves with goals of success in US sport.