Violence in Sports

Violence in Sports 1

Combatting Violence in Sports While Preserving the Beauty of Competition

Jacob García

PSY 101

Dr. Weber

October 11, 2013


Combatting Violence in Sports While Preserving the Beauty of Competition

Participating in organized sports is widely popular in the United States. In fact, in a study

conducted by Michigan St. University, over 35 million children participated in competitive

sports this year. Along with significant health and fitness benefits, the beauty of competition

allows children to learn many of life’s core elements, such as teamwork, camaraderie,

sportsmanship, and the importance of community. Competition also provides a means for

establishing lifelong friendships that otherwise would not have been so readily available.

Competition even goes as far as to unite different cultures and establish a common bond.

Nevertheless, the sports culture in the United States has grown so large, dominant and

glorified that we have become oblivious to the critical issues and public health problems arising

in the field of sports. A central issue of concern is the fact that unnecessary violence in sports is

being overlooked or simply ignored. The attitude that certain forms of sports violence are “part

of the game” runs rampant across the country. This paper will provide insight regarding

unnecessary (psychologically motivated) types of violence in sports. It will also examine the

rationale typically given for these unnecessary forms of violence, while also exploring the

solutions towards combatting these violent acts. Ultimately, this paper will shed light on the

consequences that will result if we fail to acknowledge and combat violence in sports.

Hazing is one form of unnecessary violence that is widely ignored and that can be

combatted without losing the beauty of competition. As defined by Fields (2009), hazing is

“sports-related violence perpetrated by member(s) of a sports-related group against individual(s)

seeking inclusion within, admittance to, or acceptance by that group” (32). Fields states that 80%

of collegiate athletes experienced some form of hazing (33). Hazing is largely viewed as a

method of fostering teamwork and cohesion. It is a misguided effort encouraged by both coaches


and players to create relationships that appear to be sincere. From first-hand experience in

playing three varsity sports in high school, hazing is heavily encouraged. Coaches and older

players occasionally engage in crusades against younger players, forcing them to do extensive

manual labor as part of a “rite of initiation” and a “tradition throughout the history of the

program.” Hazing may also consist of engaging in humiliating and downright absurd acts in

order to show or convey the idea that one will put the team above one’s personal well-being at all

costs. However, what those who promote hazing fail to acknowledge is that the competition itself

creates these highly coveted relationships. Giving all one’s efforts and dedicating oneself

towards the goal of the team is what forms lasting bonds. Hazing simply fakes these relationships

and, as a result, has absolutely no purpose in sports other than to promote unnecessary

(emotional and physical) violence.

Another form of violence is the practice of brawling—fights among players, fans or

coaches. In some cases, brawling is not only prevalent in the sports culture, but it is actually

glorified. Fields (2009) agrees when he states, “Perhaps more than any other sport, ice hockey,

especially in the National Hockey League, seems to pride itself on the fights (unlike most other

sports, fighting does lead to automatic ejections from the game), and the attendance at NHL

games between teams with a history of fighting increases” (34). As a sports enthusiast, countless

hockey fans have explicitly told me that the only reason they go to hockey games is the

possibility and thrill of seeing a fight.

However, we cannot fool ourselves: brawling is not specific to hockey. From my

experience in high school sports, players, post-practice, engage in locker room fights with a

blatant desire to portray the image of masculinity. Go to any football practice, from high school

to the professional level, and you are certain to witness a team brawl. The brawls are even


encouraged by the coaches. One of the most famous examples of brawling in the history of

sports in the United States is the infamous act of barbarity and complete chaos that took place on

the basketball court between the players on the Pistons and Pacers and even the fans in

attendance in 2004. While hazing may be a more commonly accepted practice and thus more

difficult to combat, brawling is just as detrimental and even more nonsensical. What purpose

does brawling in sports serve? Perhaps it demonstrates masculinity. I view it as a cop-out in

handling stress and adversity. There are many other ways that stress can be dealt with, such as

opting to be taken out of the game or taking a step back and thinking of the consequences of such

actions. Thus, brawling in sports is completely unnecessary.

A view that was presented as rationale given for brawling in sports somberly states that

there may be aspects fundamentally characteristic of competition that might be out of our

control. Kerr (2009) cites an approach known as the “reversal theory” in hopes of understanding

what leads to brawling in sports. Kerr states, “Reversal theory posits that aggressive and violent

behavior is based on metamotivational states, metamotivational state combinations, and the

reversals that may occur between them” (45). Essentially, a balanced or preferred combination of

these metamotivational states (such as excitement, modesty, anxiety and anger) leads to positive

emotions. An imbalanced combination may result in violent, on-field behavior. The grand

question that comes out of this approach is critical: How can we ensure that an imbalance of

metamotivational states does not occur?

Fields (2009) explores such possible solutions towards combatting brawling and hazing.

In order to ensure that an imbalance of these metamotivational states, and thus brawling, does

not occur, he advises the adoption of required sportsmanship clinics and policies that

demonstrate no tolerance towards brawling (34). Fields also notes that the possibility for an


imbalance of the metamotivational states will be drastically reduced if fans do not encourage

such violent behavior, which in turn, will not insight the players to engage in violence. Fields

states, “…positive spectator behaviour has predicted positive player behaviour…and negative

coach and spectator behaviour has predicted negative player behaviour” (34). Furthermore, in

regards to hazing, Fields suggests, “Teams could replace hazing with positive teambuilding

experiences like community service, mentoring, travel and outdoor recreation” (34). These

positive team building exercises could replace the concept of hazing and could help foster the

lasting bonds and relationships that naturally result from participation in sports and competition..

The consequences of hazing and brawling range much farther than the immediate

physical toil and, perhaps, emotional distress. In fact, Anderson (2008) controversially argues

that violence in sports extends far beyond the athletes engaged in such violence. Anderson states:

“As a highly segregated, homophobic, sexist, and misogynistic regime, sport not only contributes

to the gender order, but it also reproduces a conservative and stabilizing form of masculinity…”

(260). Anderson goes on to claim that due to the segregation of sports, men form sexist views of

inferior athleticism and objectify women (259). Fields (2009) also elaborates on the

consequences of violence in sports when he states, “In addition to the direct morbidity and

mortality resulting from incidents of sports-related violence, fear of sports-related violence may

dissuade some individuals from participating in sports activities… decreasing adolescents’

physical activity level which, in turn, could have a long-lasting impact on their general health

and quality of life” (32). Thus, by ignoring violence such as hazing and brawling, the lasting

benefits that competition provides is undermined. The learning and growing environment that

sports innately offer morphs into an environment that weakens self-esteem and general well-

being.


The issue of violence in sports cannot be taken lightly. It has been largely ignored and

simply dismissed as “part of the game.” However, under no circumstances should we tolerate

deliberate physical and emotional harm, such as brawling and hazing. These forms of violence

are not part of any “game” and are completely unnecessary. Furthermore, blaming an act of

violence on a conditioned behavior acquired through participating in sports is preposterous. As

Standen (2009) humorously remarks, “…an athlete has never successfully claimed that his

particular conditioned-behavior characteristics of learned violence allow him, like a ‘battered

spouse,’ wider latitude in justifying criminal conduct” (619). We must ensure that we take the

appropriate steps in order to combat violence in sports. We must come to the realization that

hazing is a fake attempt at establishing lasting relationships, and that many cases of brawling

result from an imbalance of the “metamotivational states.” Thus, we must stress the importance

of sportsmanship and the alternatives for dealing with stress and adversity, rather than simply

letting our emotions run rampant. Only in this manner do we ensure that the beauty of

competition (lasting relationships, health benefits, and connection of cultures) is not

overshadowed by barbaric, childlike and unnecessary violence in sports.


References

Anderson, E. (2008). “I used to think women were weak”: Orthodox masculinity, gender

segregation, and sport. Sociological Forum, 23 (2), 257-276.

Fields, S., Collins, C., Comstock, R. (2009). Violence in youth sports: hazing, brawling, and foul

play. Br J Sports Med, 44, 32-37.

Kerr, J. (2009). Analysis of recent incidents of on-field violence in sport: Legal decisions and

additional considerations from psychology. Wiley-Liss, Inc., 35, 41-48.

Standen, J. (2009). The manly sports: The problematic use of criminal law to regulate sports

violence. The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology. 99 (3), 619-641.