1 - THE SOCIOLOGY OF SPORT: What Is It and Why Study It?
About This Book
About This Chapter
Defining Culture and Society
Defining Sports
What Is the Sociology of Sport?
Why Study Sports in Society?
What Is the Current Status of the Sociology of Sport?
Summary: Why Study the Sociology of Sport?

2 - USING SOCIAL THEORIES: How Can They Help Us Study Sports in Society?
What Are Theories and Why Do We Need Them? Functionalist Theory: Sports Preserve the Status Quo
Conflict Theory: Sports Are Tools of the Wealthy
Critical Theory: Sports Are Sites Where Culture and Social Relations Are Produced and Changed
Feminist Theory: Sports Are Gendered Activities
Interactionist Theory: Sports Are Given Meaning as People Interact with One Another
Figurational Theory: Sports Are Collective Interventions
Is There a Best Theoretical Approach to Use When Studying Sports?
Summary: How Can Social Theories Help Us Study Sports in Society?

3 - STUDYING THE PAST: Does It Help Us Understand Sports Today?
Understanding History While Studying Sports in Society
Sports Vary by Time and Place
Contests and Games in Ancient Greece: Beyond the Myths (1000 B.C. to 100 B.C.)
Roman Contests and Games: Spectacles and Gladiators (100 B.C. to A.D. 500)
Tournaments and Games in Medieval Europe: Separation of the Masters and the Masses (500 to 1300)
The Renaissance, Reformation, and Enlightenment: Games as Diversions (1300 to 1800)
The Industrial Revolution: The Emergence of Organised Competitive Sports (1780 to 1920)
Since 1920: Struggles Continue
Using History to Think About the Future
Summary: Can We Use History to Understand Sports Today?

4 - SPORTS AND SOCIALISATION: Who Plays and What Happens to Them?
What Is Socialisation?
Becoming and Staying Involved in Sports
Changing or Ending Sport Participation
Being Involved in Sports: What Happens?
What Socialisation Research Does Not Tell Us
Summary: Who Plays and What Happens?

5 - SPORTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE: Are Organised Schemes Worth the Effort?
Origin and Development of Organised Youth Sports
Major Trends in Youth Sports Today
Different Experiences: Informal, Player-Controlled Sports Versus Organised, Adult Controlled Sports
Sociological Questions About Youth Sports
Sports and Education
Recommendations for Improving Youth Sports
Prospects for Improving Youth Sports
Summary: Are Organised Youth Sport Schemes Worth the Effort?

6 - DEVIANCE IN SPORTS: Is It Out of Control?
Problems Faced When Studying Deviance in Sports
Defining and Studying Deviance in Sports: Three Approaches
A Constructionist Approach to Deviance in Sports
Research on Deviance Among Athletes
Performance-Enhancing Substances: Deviant Overconformity in Sports
Summary: Is Deviance in Sports Out of Control?

7- VIOLENCE IN SPORTS: How Does It Affect Our Lives?
What Is Violence?
Violence in Sports Through History
Violence on the Field
Violence off the Field
Violence Among Spectators
Summary: Does Violence in Sports Affect Our Lives?

8 - GENDER AND SPORTS: Does Equity Require Ideological Changes?
Participation and Equity Issues
Ideology and Power Issues
Summary: Does Equity Require Ideological Changes?

9 – RACE, ETHNICITY AND NATIONAL IDENTITY: Are They Important in Sports?
Defining Race, Ethnicity and National Identity
The Origins of Race and Racial Ideologies
Sport Participation Among Ethnic Groups in the United Kingdom
The Dynamics of Racial and Ethnic Relations in Sports
Summary: Are Race, Ethnicity and National Identity Important in Sports?

10- SOCIAL CLASS: Do Money and Power Matter in Sports?
Social Class and Class Relations
Sports and Economic Inequality
Social Class and Sport Participation Patterns
Global Inequalities and Sports
Economic and Career Opportunities in Sports
Sport Participation and Occupational Careers Among Former Athletes
Summary: Do Money and Power Matter in Sports?

11 - SPORTS AND THE ECONOMY: What Are the Characteristics of Commercial Sports?
Emergence and Growth of Commercial Sports
Commercialisation and Changes in Sports
Owners, Sponsors, and Promoters in Commercial Sports
Legal Status and Incomes of Athletes in Commercial Sports
Summary: What Are the Characteristics of Commercial Sports?

12 - SPORTS AND THE MEDIA: Could They Survive Without Each Other?
Characteristics of the Media
Sports and the Media: A Two-Way Relationship
Images and Narratives in Media Sports
Audience Experiences with Media Sports
The Profession of Sport Journalism
Summary: Could Sports and the Media Survive Without Each Other?

13 - SPORTS, POLITICS AND GLOBALISATION: How Do Governments and Global Processes Influence Sports?
The Sports–Government Connection
Sports and Global Political Processes
Politics in Sports
Summary: How Do Governments and Global Processes Influence Sports?

14 - SPORTS IN THE FUTURE: What Can We Create?
Envisioning Possibilities for the Future
Current Trends Related to Sports in Society
Factors Influencing Trends Today
Envisioning Possibilities and Creating Futures
Summary: What Can We Create?