Sports and Physical Education

Sport is assumed by many to promote those character traits generally deemed desirable, such as fair play, sportsmanship, obedience to authority, hard work and a commitment to excellence. As sport is a microcosm of society, the same types of deviant behaviour found in the larger social system can be expected to be found in sport. Society values winners and justifies the win at all costs mentality. Industrialization and capitalism have long legitimized this reality. Whether or not an athlete violates norms of acceptable behaviour will be determined by his or her own self-evaluation of ethic and morals. Written specifically for students of both Sports Science and Physical Education, 'Sport and Physical Education: The Key Concepts' is a reference guide to the disciplines, themes, topics and concerns current in contemporary sport. Entries on such diverse subjects as professionalism, history, exercise physiology and education offer an up-to-date perspective on the changing face of sport science. It is hoped that the present book will be of immensely useful for the students of physical education and sports sciences and other related courses.