Roberts also points out that according to Governmental research the number of children playing sports in and out of school had rapidly increased. He blamed this on the narrowing of social class and gender differences. It seems that young people prefer to play team games and this is probably reflected by their time in education.
People of all ages play football, however. The reasons for such a high level of participation in football are varied. Leisure time is free time. It is an opportunity to do whatever you want, it also offers the chance to escape the stresses and strains of everyday life. When spare time is apparently hard to come by nowadays, time for leisure is held in the highest regard among many. It clears the mind, offering a chance to focus on something you enjoy.
A lot of people play football for health factors – to keep fit and healthy in a time when appearance is perceived to be everything. Professional footballers live very luxury lives through the game, training through the week then playing at the weekend. It is also important for those who follow the game from a fans point of view; it has an effect across all spectrums. Amateur footballers play for a variety of reasons. Some will play to keep fit and healthy, to lose a pound or two here or there, but many play for the bravado and the enjoyment of being with ‘the lads’, in a setting dominated by masculinity and boisterousness.
Leisure is also known as residual time. It has become ever increasingly valued at a time when our lives are dominated by work. The reduction of hours spent at work, and the increase of the minimum wage have also contributed to people’s perception of leisure. It has suddenly become fashionable to be seen coming out of a gym, it would appear. The activities people undertake during this residual time are characterised as playful and enjoyable and could also be classed as being recreational. They are suitable to each person who undertakes them; it’s all about choice.
Haywood (1990) describes leisure as this: a means to achieving socially desired and approved ends, and is consequently frequently described in such positive terms as ‘therapeutic’, ‘remedial’ or ‘training’, or more negatively, as ‘compensatory’, ‘sublimatory’, or ‘social control’. This definition fails to mention that it is the free time in which an individual has total control of his/her actions and the activities they undertake. Historically leisure has been perceived as being elitist, only accepting those with time, money and independence. Times are changing.
To some, the participation of football may not be seen as leisure. There is a difference between play and leisure. Albeit it is undertaken in ‘residual time’, it has been argued (John Huizinga) that play is basic to culture and the development of civilization. Play and its outcomes are extrinsically motivated, having more functional elements, whereas leisure is intrinsically motivated and used for personal enjoyment.
People entertain themselves through leisure activities; they choose what they do in this free time. Without this concept of choice then the idea of leisure as we know it would have no meaning. Individuals dictate what they do in when they are away from the constraints of everyday life. The choice they have is varied however. Factors such as facilities available, disposable income and time will effect how people choose to spend their leisure time.
Other issues that must be taken into consideration when choosing a leisure activity must be the physical capabilities of the individual. Some people, for example, do not have the skills or abilities that some sports and arts demand.
Constraints such as time, money and space are external factors, these are hindrances that are out of the individual’s hands, and often come hand-in-hand. Some people (such as top businessmen) have plenty of disposable income, but lack time in which to spend it, for example. Others (such as the unemployed) have plenty or time but not enough disposable income, whilst those with enough time and money (those in rural areas) may not have the adequate facilities. All of these factors must be taken into consideration when analysing the motivation behind people’s participation in football.
Society plays a vital role in the way people pursue leisure. The way others see ourselves is becoming increasingly more important in today’s society. Not only this but people’s leisure activities are structured by social class, background, age, gender and race. Often unknowingly people are discriminated and their opportunities reduced by prejudice and unequal treatment. Football has always been a male dominated sport, but recently we have seen the introduction of professional women’s teams and even the Women’s World Cup. This is an event of major significance. International footballers come from all backgrounds, expelling the suggestion that it is exclusive and elitist. It is probably one of the only sport and leisure activities available in society for all who wish to participate.
Leisure is becoming increasingly more valued. It contributes towards self-identity and offers social contacts and the chance to meet new people. The amount of people who participate in leisure activities has reached new heights recently. The perception of leisure has changed dramatically too. No longer is it seen as being elitist and exclusive to those who could afford it, it is now seen as being a serious, obligated activity to be enjoyed by all. This is reflected in football.
Mauldon and Redfern (1969) provided a specific analysis of sporting activities, suggesting that all types of sport have three key elements. They are: gaining possession of a ball, travelling with the ball, and sending a ball away. These motor elements are carried out over a pitch or playing arena which is usually split between the contestants. Such an analysis illustrates the wide range of games which take place. Yet games contribute to only one part of sport. There are other sports available to the general public, which offer psychomotor skills and are also seen as being a leisure activity. Haywood and Kew (1984) proposed a table illustrating the structural properties of sports include games, outdoor pursuits, and other non-game sports such as boxing, gym, swimming and martial arts.
Haywood and Kew suggested that there were three key reasons why people participate in such activities. They were: what is the nature of the challenge, what conditions are imposed upon the challenge, and what type of response is made to this conditioned challenge. The challenge is either environmental (e.g. gravity or friction) and is presented by natural conditions (e.g. weather or playing surface), or it is inter-personal. ‘Conditions imposed’ refers to the equipment and the rules. And finally the response to the conditioned challenge is how the team or individual uses skill, tactics and strategy to overcome it.
Football is the predominant sport in today’s society and is presented in a variety of forms – from 5-a-side through to full 11-a-side games. The FA (Football Association) is the national governing body of the sport in England and seeks to develop the game at all levels under the vision of 'using the power of football to build a better future’. The FA is committed to running coaching schemes across all ages and abilities and concentrates a lot of its time at ‘grass-roots’ level at children. Such initiatives both reflect the growing interest in the participation of football and will continue to introduce people to the game. Soccer-schools and coaching award schemes are easily available to all and cost very little.
When a footballer’s playing days are over many take the next step into coaching whether is be at an amateur level such as coaching a side in a local county league or in the professional game. However more and more players are realising that involvement in coaching does not have to wait and that their own personal skills are more suited to coaching than actually playing the game. When the most high profile players are taking time out to work for their coaching awards this illustrates just how many forms football takes and how it affects those from the ‘grass-roots’ level to those at the very top of the footballing’ ladder.
Football is varied across many levels. Some of it is just having a ‘kick about’ in the park, but a lot of it is organised and structured, through associations like the FA. When the FA was set up in 1863 nobody would have believed the impact it has had on the game in today’s society, it’s come along way. This is down to the people though, if there wasn’t a public interest then there wouldn’t be a market for such associations. The interest in football is immense, both locally and globally, and this is reflected in the highest ever levels of participation, at all levels.
The Leisure Environment – Colquhoun
Looking At Leisure – Anderton
Recreation and Leisure in Modern Society – Kraus
Understanding Leisure – Haywood
Leisure in Contemporary Society – Roberts
Electronic Journals –Sport Education and Society