Socio-cultural influences

• What things affect participation?

  • gender

  • ethnicity (race, religion and culture)

  • age

  • family, friends and peers

  • disability
• Why are women less likey to participate in sport?

  • stereotyping: seen as 'weaker sex' and some sport are seen as 'traditionally male'

  • elite women sport receive less media coverage (tends to focus on looks and personal life)

  • lack of money in elite women sports

  • family commitments: have to look after children or elderly parents as well as cook, clean and shop

  • few female role models due to less media coverage
• What is a role model?


  a person looked up on by others as an example to be imitated
• How does ethnicity affect participation?

  • often limited to traditional sports

  • some religions have to fast

  • some religions have dress codes which makes participation more challenging
• How does age affect participation?

  • work means people have little free time

  • middle age people tend to have little disposable income (money left over)

  • physical changes caused by ageing also impact participation

  • skill level can improve with age and experience

  • older people are more likely to suffer injuries and take longer to recover
• How does family affect participation?

  • pass on positive attitudes to sport they play

  • negative attitudes to sport can prevent participation

  -> won't want to buy equipment or provide transport

  • might to be able to afford equipment and transport
• How do friends and peers affect participation?

  • if peer group likes sport, good 'peer pressure' makes you join

  • if peer group don't like sport, bad 'peer pressure' might make you not play as it can be difficult to go against the group
• How can disability affect participation?

  • less opportunities for disabled

  -> limited teaches or coaches with necessary qualifications

  -> local facilities not fully adapted for disabled

  • disabled may struggle to travel

  • disabled may be reliant on benefits, not having much disposable income

  • increased media coverage of paralympics encourages others

  • due to increased media coverage more role models
• What is commericalisation?


  the management or exploitation of a person, organisation or activity in a way designed to make a profit
• What is the media?


  a diverse range of technologies that acts as a means of mass communication
• What are the 4 types of media (+examples)?

  1. Broadcast - television and radio
  2. Internet and social media
  3. Print media - newspapers and magazines
  4. Outdoor media - billboards
• What is a sponsor?


  an individual or group, usually a company, that provides financial or other forms of support to an event, activity, person or organisation
• What is a sponsorship?


  provision of funds or other forms of support to an event, activity, person or organisation in return for some kind of commercial return
• What are the 3 types lf sponsorship?

  1. Financial
  2. Clothing, equipment and footwear
  3. Facilities
• What are the positive impacts of sponsorship and media on a performer?

  • more money to pay higher wages

  • media coverage can mean they become role models and heroes

  • more money available to pay for new technologically advanced kit, equipment and facilities or even free

  • more money to pay for better coaching and training programmes

  • more competitions, increasing the standard of competition nationally to increase international profile
• What are the negative impacts of sponsorship and media on a performer?


  • strong media coverage can increase pressure and decrease enjoyment

  • media coverage can mean mistakes become very public

  • sponsers may demand how performer behaves which can contradict with what they or team sponser wants them to do

  • have to maintain appeal to sponsers and media which can distract from training
• What are the positive impacts of sponsorship and media the officials?


  • media coverage can make them role models or heroes

  • more money sport has, the more professional the role of the offical becomes increasing need of career
• What are the negative impacts of sponsorship and media on the officials?


  • strong media coverage makes mistakes public

  • media presence can increase pressure to make right decision and reduce enjoyment
• What are the positive impacts of sponsorship and media on sport?


  • increased interest that have media coverage which increases participation

  • more money available to support grass-roots participation

  • more money available for teams to pay for kit, equipment, facilities, coaches and players

  • bigger prize funds and rewards for winning

  • more money spent on technological developments

  • more competitions, increasing participation

  • more role models created
• What are the negative impacts of sponsorship and media on sport?


  • rules of sports changed to meet requirements of media and sponsors

  • over exposure can cause people to loss interest

  • majority of women sports have less media coverage

  • controversies become sensationalised

  • sports can become dependent on money they receive from the media and sponsers

  • sponsers may sell products or services that promote poor lifestyle choices that supports disagree with
• What are the positive impacts of sponsorship and media on audience/supporters?


  • events televised, making it easier to support your sport or team

  • commentary educates views at home

  • live coverage, highlights, documentaries and coaching tip satisfy spectators interest in sport and educate them

  • media provides information about results, fixtures and rankings

  • good quality facilities making viewing live sport more comfortable
• What are the negative mpacts of sponsorship and media on audience/spectator?


  • timing of event can change to suit worldwide audiences

  • more people stay home and watch on tv or internet

  • most sport is shown via subscription or pay-per-view services making it expensive to watch

  • the more popular the sport becomes the more difficult to get tickets
• What are the positive impacts of sponsorship and media on a sponser?


  • sponsers name or brand is link to positive activity or performer

  • advertised to wide audience
• What are the negative mpacts of sponsorship and media on a sponser?


  • if sponsers name is linked to sport, team or performer that is hit by scandal it can have damaging effect on reputation
• What are the positive impacts of technology on a performer?

  • performance analysis aids can be used to improve performance

  • performers may use technology to ask officials to review decisions that go against them
• What are the negative impacts of technology on a performer?

  • not always available as its expensive to buy and install

  • too mant reviews can disrupt play putting performer at a psychological disadvantage
• What are the positive impacts of technology on a sport?

  • makes competition fairer as decisions can be changed or reconsidered

  • guarantees correct decision will be made
• What are the negative impacts of technology on a sport?

  • to many reviews disrupts play, annoying performers, officials and spectators
• What are the positive impacts of technology on officials?

  • provides officials with extra help if they need clarification

  • officials can communicate through microphone and earpiece

  • guarantees correct decision
• What are the negative impacts of technology on officials?

  • can undermine official if technology flag poor decision and is broadcast to wide audience

  • officials can become reliant on technology and make fewer on-field decisions
• What are the positive impacts of technology on audience/spectators?

  • can see how decisions are made

  • provides them with confidence of fair decisions

  • review proccess can add tension and excitement
• What are the negative impacts of technology on audience/spectators?

  • can cause poor spectators behaviour if decision is not reviewed

  • if online viewers have access to technology official doesnt and makes bad decision can cause problems
• What are the positive impacts of technology on a sponser/company?

  • fair play helps sport project good image into sponser/company
• What are the negative impacts of technology on a sponser/company?

  • not available at all levels of sport
• What is etiquette?


  a convention or unwritten rule in an activity, not enforced but usually observed
• What is sportsmanship?


  conforming to the rules, spirit and etiquette of a sport
• What is gamesmanship 


  attempting to gain an advantage by stretching the rules to their limit
• What is contract to complete?


  an unwritten of agreement between opponents to follow and abide by the written and unwritten rules of the sport
• What are the perceived advantages of taking PEDs?

  • increase chance of success

  • success leads to fame and fortune

  • used to level playing field, believe all performers use them, so not taking them would put them at a disadvantage
• What are the disadvantages of taking PEDs?

  • cheating and unethical

  • if caught reputation is irreparably damaged

  • if caught may be stripped of medal and prize money

  • being caught immediately leads to a ban, sometimes a lifetime ban stopping their career

  • if caught may be fined and lose sponsorships

  • serious side effects

  • reputation of sport is seriously damage especially if large numbers of performers are caught and banned

  • credibility of sport is questioned, successful performers might be suspected of cheating