Jack Pedley
The Contribution Sport
Makes to Society
Sport is one of the most important aspects of society as it has been recognised as providing an essential part in the growth and development of children and adults across the world. Jarvie (2006) states it is part of the social and cultural fabric of different localities, regions and nations and is regularly associated with issues such as crime, health, labour, migration, economic and social regeneration and poverty. According to Sport England 6.82 million people in Britain alone, play sport at least three times a week. It encourages good sportsmanship and teaches us to be competitive as well as providing jobs and entertainment and helping to reduce crime. Sport also helps to address wider social issues as It can contribute towards addressing gender inequality and assists with the development of life skills such as leadership, decision making, organisational and management skills
Svoboda (1994) states that participation in sport enables us to reduce feelings of stress and tension, build self- confidence and self- esteem and to meet and communicate with other people. Also it provides opportunity to take different social roles and develop social skills such as tolerance and respect for others as well as teams skills such as co-operation and cohesion. Wankel and Sefton (1994) feel that the psychological benefits of sport and physical activity reduces feelings of anxiety, depression and helps improve socialisation, community integration, educational attainment and social status. Furthermore sport can help tackle obesity and the subsequent illnesses associated with it. The latest health survey for England revealed that nearly 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 10 children aged 2-10 were clinically obese. Sport has done a lot for many communities around the world in making places to live a lot safer by getting youths off the streets and in to different sports. It can be used as a distraction and getting people involved in regular sport will stop them filling their leisure time with antisocial behaviour. .Barrett and Greenway (1995) have reviewed evidence of the impact sport has on young offenders, they state that using leisure and cultural activities to attract young people develop their interest and skills rather than commit crime should help society both socially and economically. Sport England (1999, p7) admits it would be naïve to think sport alone can reduce crime but suggests that strong experiential evidence exists to show that sport definitely has a part to play in preventing crime as it provides challenge, adventure and gives meaning and purpose to a lot of young people’s lives. The West Yorkshire Sports Counselling project aimed at reducing the reconviction of offenders supported this view. The programme involved one-to-one participation centred basis for 3 hours per week. Trained sports leaders counselled participants in sports activities, familiarised them with appropriate clubs and this gave them experience of outdoor activities and encouraged independent participation. It was found that after a 12 week programme participants that completed more than eight weeks were less likely to be reconvicted. Ian Wright former England footballer once did a television programme on when he created a five a side football tournament in prisons around the country to get convicts into sport and out of trouble for when they are to be released. Now cities and towns all over London have night time sport clubs where a huge range of sport is shown to children for them to play and get involved with.
