Sociogenesis of Hockey

Hockey, or ice hockey as it is referred to in most countries, was first originally played western Europe by the Vikings.  However, the more modern style of the sport has said to have evolved from British soldiers and immigrant into Canada.  The sport had originally developed from the more common "stick and ball" games.  According to most sources,  in 1875, the first indoor organized game was played in Montreal.  Although, this theory has been disputed over history.

Moreover, instead of a ball, the participants in this game used a hard rubber puck. In regards to the equipment used, the players did not wear helmets or as many pads as they do today.  The only player to wear a mask was the goalie and even still, this mask was said to be thin and not very protective.

The NHL today requires all first year players to wear a helmet with a visor attached to help protect their face.  In fact, although it is not required, players also have a metal chin guard attached to their helmets.  The goalies masks have changed dramatically in terms of their size and thickness.  Like many contact sports today, ice hockey faces many injury challenges.  The main concern from board members is the safety and protection of the players.  In two words, one significant event that has occurred over the history of this sport would be Wayne Gretzky.  Gretsky's sensational play has impacted the game to this day.  He is the record holder for most points, goals, assists, and has accomplished so many other achievements that have not even come close to being achieved by any other player since.  Hockey is a great sport to watch, and even better to participate in.    

Sport in the Ancient World

The types of sports played in the ancient world are ones that measure a person's strength and physical ability.  Today, sport requires an athlete to develop both physical and mental strength.  The rules to ancient sport were much different as well.  Also, I noticed that there really was no social control to sport as there is in today's society.  There seemed to be less politics involved in sport; however, the athletes were forced to swear to Zeus that they would abide by any rules of the game.  There was much more religious content involved back then compared to today's sport in society.  Those who participated in the ancient games were among the elite and strongest persons of the community.

Sport, Society & Me

My connection with sport means a great deal to me.  It allows me to construct an identify of myself with certain teams, players, and where I'm from.  This connection I have with sports has just been handed down from my parents and family.  My father used to sneak me into Chicago Bulls games by having me sleep on his shoulder so he wouldn't have to pay for a ticket for me.  My parents also got me into basketball at a very young age and I couldn't be more appreciative of that.  I also developed this connection through my friends at school.  Many of us were fans of the same teams which allowed us to relate with each other and watch the games together.

I believe that sport plays a positive role in US society.  It brings individuals and communities together of all ages.  Enormous arenas and stadiums brings cities together.  Getting children involved in spots allows for them to understand competition and fairness.  Sport also teaches us the values of commitment  and dedication.  It allows for us to set goals and work hard to achieve those goals.  Eitzen writes, "the fact is that achieving a professional sports career is extremely difficult, no matter how hard the individual works" (Eitzen, 9).  Watching our favorite athletes and listening to their stories teaches us that nothing in this world comes easy and no matter what background or town you come from, with hard work and commitment, anybody can become a successful athlete.  Because most athletes act as role models to their fans and upcoming athletes, I do believe that they are very much valued in our society.

The Sport Ethic

Hughes and Coakley (1991) refer to the sport ethic as, "to what many participants in sport have come to use as the criteria for defining what it means to be a real athlete."  The sport ethic essentially encompasses four key characteristics of what it means to be a real athlete.  They are: 1) Being an athlete involves making sacrifices for The Game 2) Being an athlete involves striving for distinction 3) Being an athlete involves accepting risks and playing through pain 4) Being an athlete involves refusing to accept limits in the pursuit of possibilities.  Athletes conform to these set of beliefs because it shows that the athletes are conforming to the "rules" of sport under the social control that makes those rules.  These four concepts minimize the risk of deviant behavior.  An athlete who conforms to these concepts is seen n the eyes of the public as an athlete of loyalty, allowing the participant to be labeled a "true athlete."

In my own experiences, I believe that I have conformed to these concepts.  Although deviance and unconformity is not always a bad thing by showing that the athlete portrays strong opinions and character, they also keep costly behavior to a minimum and allow for all participants to play on an even keel.

Sport(s) in the USA

In America, you will find the most popular sports to be Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Hockey.  Although these may be the most popular, Americans of all ages, race, and gender participate in many other sports.  Because there are so many different sports to play in in America, the sport(s) community is one that continues to develop and broaden as the years go by, and one that thrives on its culture of diversity.  If a person coming to America for the first time went to a 'gameday,' they would find loyal fans and the atmosphere to be loud, exciting, and electrifying.  They will find this 'gameday' to be very social and lively event.  Jack Coakley writes, "we can't escape the fact that social life is complex and characterized by inequalities, power differences, and conflicts of interest between different categories of people" (Coakley, 14).  Here, the outsider will find values in sports such as competition, sportsmanship, fairness, and responsibility.  Sports are a large part of American society and is a community of its own that will continue to grow.