Ethics and Deviance

• Deviance definition

  When a performer's conduct does not follow the generally accepted values of a particular group "Actions that stray from cultural norms"
• Fair play definition

  A virtue of rule adherence whereby players abide by the rules of competition
• Sportsmanship definition

  When a performer plays to the written and unwritten rules of the game
• Gamesmanship definition

  Attempting to gain advantage by bending the rules, only abiding to the written rules
• Cheating definition

  The intentional breaking of rules in order to obtain an advantage over the other teams/players
• Sporting Ethics

  • Commitment to sport
  • Sport is lost if try to win by unfair means
  • Rule structure
  • Allow others to demonstrate skills
  • Plays to best ability
  • Keep to rules otherwise no competition
• Contract to compete

  Sporting situation- enter an unwritten moral contact with the others involved

  E.G Olympic Oath

  Athletes pledge to do their best, show respect to rules/officials, sportsmanship
• Jay Coakley 1992

  suggested 3 types of behaviour

  positive, relative and negative deviance

  
• Positive deviance

  move away from norm without intention to do harm or break the rules. Overconforming.
• Negative Deviance

  Behaving in a way that knowingly breaks the rules/ethics of the sport. Underconforming
• Relative Deviance

  where deviant behaviour isn't acceptable in wider society but is acceptable in a sporting situation.
• Off-Field examples of deviance

  • Bribery
  • Illegal payments
  • Corruption (Governing bodies)
  • PED's
  • Doping
• How is deviant behaviour carried out?

  • Voluntary - athletes takes drugs on own account
  • Cooperative - Performer takes drugs as teammates are doing them
  • Enforced - coach gives them drugs
• Russia case study

  • Found to be running a years long state-sponsored doping scheme
  • Ban was shortened to 2 years due to Russia appealing a 4 year ban
  • Russian athletes still completed, under the 'Russian Olympic Committee'
  • Was exposed by a whistle blower in 2016
  • 2018 winter Olympics, Russian athletes competed if they passed drug tests
• Causes of Deviance

  • 'win at all costs' mentality
  • Financial pressure
  • Pressure from coach
  • Culture of the sport
  • Media pressure
  • Stress of situation
  • Lack of moral code
  • Pressure to win
  • Lack of positive education / role models
  • Lenient punishment
  • Following deviant role models
• consequences of deviance

  • Damage sport reputation
  • Loss of respect/credibility/earnings
  • Punishment + bans
  • Loss of sponsors
  • Lack of trust by fans
  • Become a negative role model
  • Social media abuse
• The Olympic Ideal

  • To play sport for the love not money
  • Taking part that counts, not about winning. Emphasis on participation
  • Against the Lombardian Ethic of "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing"