CHAPTER 5

Gender

Gender

The disparity in sports participation between men and women, with fewer women taking part in sports than men in the UK.

Role model

A person looked up to as an example to be imitated, which can be lacking for people of different ethnicities in smaller sports.

Ethnicity

Describes an ethnic group to which a person belongs, and can affect representation and participation in sports and physical activities.

Age

The impact of physical changes caused by aging on sports participation, with physical activity peaking between the ages of 16 and 25.

Disability

A physical or mental impairment that affects a person's ability to carry out normal daily activities, leading to under-representation in sports due to barriers such as lack of adapted equipment and transport.

Commercialization

The management or exploitation of sports for profit, including the influence of media, sponsorship, and financial impacts on performers, officials, and the sport itself.

Media

Technologies used for mass communication, including social media, broadcast media, print media, and outdoor media, which can have positive and negative impacts on sports.

Sponsorship

Provision of funds or support to an event, activity, person, or organization in return for commercial benefits, such as financial support for athletes and naming rights for facilities.

Performer

The positive and negative impacts of technology on performers, including performance analysis aids and video referees, which can improve performance but also disrupt play and put performers at a disadvantage.

Official

The use of technology to assist officials in decision-making, such as Hawkeye and television match officials, which can provide additional help but also lead to over-reliance and controversy.

Sponsor/Company

An entity that supports a sport and helps project a positive image, but is not available at all levels of sport.

Ethical conduct by performers

Demonstrating fair play and adhering to the rules, spirit, and etiquette of a sport.

Etiquette

Unwritten rules or conventions in an activity that demonstrate respect, such as apologizing when the ball hits the net in tennis.

Sportsmanship

Conforming to the rules, spirit, and etiquette of a sport, such as walking out when a player gets out in cricket.

Gamesmanship

Attempting to gain an advantage by stretching the rules to their limit, such as time wasting when winning or appealing for a decision even though you know it was not in football.

Contract to compete

An unwritten agreement between opponents to follow and abide by the written and unwritten rules of the game, such as not arguing with officials or following the etiquette of the sport.

Performance enhancing drugs

Prohibited substances and methods used to enhance performance, including stimulants, anabolic agents, narcotics, peptide hormones, diuretics, and blood doping.

Stimulants

Substances that affect the central nervous system, increase mental and physical alertness, and reduce fatigue, often used by cyclists in long-distance events.

Narcotic analgesics

Drugs that reduce the feeling of pain and mask the pain caused by overtraining, allowing performers to train harder than their competitors.

Anabolic agents/steroids

Artificially produced hormones that mimic testosterone, promoting bone growth and reducing recovery time, commonly used by performers who need strength, muscular endurance, and power.

Peptide hormones

Substances that stimulate the production of naturally occurring hormones, such as Erythropoietin (EPO) used by endurance athletes to improve aerobic capacity.

Diuretic drugs

Drugs that remove fluid from the body by increasing the rate of urination, often used to lose weight quickly in sports with weight categories.

Blood doping

A method of increasing the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream by removing and re-injecting a performer's blood, improving aerobic capacity.

Beta blockers

Drugs that reduce heart rate, muscle tension, and blood pressure, improving fine motor control and steadying nerves, commonly used in sports like archery and shooting.

Advantages and disadvantages of taking PEDs

The benefits and drawbacks of using performance-enhancing drugs, including increased chances of success and fame, but also ethical issues, reputation damage, and potential bans.

Spectator behavior

The influence of spectators on sporting events, both positive and negative.

Home-field advantage

Gaining an advantage in a sporting event from being in familiar surroundings with the majority of spectators supporting you.

Hooliganism

Disorderly, aggressive, and often violent behavior by spectators at sporting events.

Strategies to combat hooliganism and poor spectator behavior

Measures such as early kick-offs, all-seater stadia, segregation of fans, improved security, alcohol restrictions, travel restrictions, banning orders, and educating spectators to promote good behavior and condemn hooliganism.