KINES 114: Sociology of Sport 2013 Course Syllabus
Instructor: Steve Miller MF 11:45-12:50 in FAH 145
Phone: 631-4970 Office: 105 St. Joseph Hall
e-mail: Office Hours:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Sport represents one of the most dynamic and influential institutions in contemporary society and yet is rarely examined critically in an academic setting. This course is designed to critically examine sport as a social institution from a sociological perspective. We will discuss current sociological theories/paradigms, utilize research techniques pertinent in the field, and analyze empirical research in sociology (both in and out of the sporting context) for a better understanding of how sport fits within (as well as shapes) the fabric of society. From this course, students can gain a better understanding of how sport both reflects cultural trends and influences societal change. Topics include the study of socialization through sport at various levels (youth, interscholastic, intercollegiate, and professional), the symbiotic relationship between sport and the media/sport and politics/sport and the economy, as well as the interactions among gender, race, and social in the sport and physical activity domain.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Identify various sociological perspectives and explain how they shape thinking about complex social issues
2. Examine complex social issues from at least three different sociological perspectives
3. Demonstrate knowledge of and critically analyze empirical research in sociology
4. Utilize three different sociological research techniques
5. Articulate the historical underpinnings of selected contemporary issues in physical activity
6. Apply what was learned in class to their own sport/physical activity experience
7. Integrate theory and research with practical strategies for positive social change
8. Demonstrate strong communication skills (both verbal and written)
9. Arrange materials for a resource file that can be used for lifelong learning on these topics
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
❖ To read all the assigned readings prior to class and be able to discuss the topics in class.
❖ Attend all class periods and participate in discussions (in class and on Gaellearn) in a meaningful way that facilitates learning within the group. Attendance is expected at all class meetings. Accordingly, there is no penalty for the first four absences (other than the possibility of missing a quiz and/or key information for an upcoming exam/course project). However, your grade will be affected significantly (70 point penalty) by any absences after the fourth absence. In addition, a student missing more than six classes will not receive higher than a C; a student missing more than eight classes will receive a failing grade in the course. (According to SMC attendance policy, student-athletes, in the season in which their sport has schedules intercollegiate competitions, will not be penalized for missing class because of representing the College in those competitions – so long as the student’s absence from the class for the purpose of intercollegiate athletic competition does not exceed 3 days of class). Please notify me ASAP if your feel that your attendance will hinder your grade.
❖ To complete all assignments on time. (10 points per day will be deducted for all late assignments)
❖ To complete all assignments on time. Students are expected to complete two of the four written assignments (approximately 10 pages each) on selected topics.
❖ To utilize Gaellearn on a daily basis and participate in Gaellearn discussions
❖ To inform the instructor of any special accommodations or concerns that you have regarding the course. Student Disability Services extends reasonable and appropriate accommodations that take into account the context of the course and its essential elements for individuals with qualifying disabilities. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Student Disability Services Office at (925) 631-4358 or to arrange a confidential appointment to discuss accommodation guidelines and available services. Additional information regarding the services available may be found at the following address on the Saint Mary’s website: http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/sds
❖ To uphold SMC’s commitment to diversity. The School of Liberal Arts has three educational purposes: 1) to free the mind from ignorance and error; 2) to foster self-discovery and personal development; and 3) to promote understanding of the world and one’s place in it. In accordance with these goals and in compliance with applicable law and its own policy, SMC prohibits discrimination against any member of the school’s community on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex/gender/marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, medical condition or physical or mental disability. Furthermore, the curriculum is designed, implemented, and evaluated in a manner that promotes the acquisition and application of knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to help all students learn.
❖ To adhere to the College’s Academic Honor Code (AHC). Students are expected to do their own work at all times, without giving or receiving inappropriate aid; to avoid behaviors that unfairly impede the academic progress of other members of the community; and to take reasonable and responsible action in order to uphold the community’s academic integrity. Accordingly, all papers and responses must be your own work and must be original for this course. All sources that you use (either directly or indirectly) must be cited in a consistent manner using APA style. To help ensure adherence to the SMC Honor Code and in accordance with department policy, we will be using turnitin.com in this class. This means that students will be responsible for submitting all course projects into turnitin.com in the same way that they have done in other classes. Papers not submitted to turnitin.com will not be graded and students will not be given credit for completing the assignment until this process is complete. Specific instructions on how to submit the papers will be given on the individual assignments.
REQUIRED COURSE READINGS:
❖ Sociology of North American Sport (9th Edition) by D. Stanley Eitzen & George H. Sage Paradigm Press (2013).
❖ In addition, supplemental readings will be provided to the student and some readings will be available exclusively on Gaellearn.
COURSE EVALUATION: GRADING SCALE:
Quizzes (10) 150 points (15 pts each) 645-700 A
Class Projects (2 of 4) 200 points (100 pts each) 630-644 A-
Midterm (2) 200 points (100 pts each) 615-629 B+
Final exam 100 points 575-614 B
GaelLearn Partic (8) 50 points 560-574 B-
700 total points 545-559 C+
505-544 C
490-504 C-
475-489 D+
435-474 D
420-434 D-
0-419 F
There are FOUR course assignments and students are expected to complete TWO of the four. Information about specific assignments can be found on Gaellearn.
KINES 114: Sociology of Sport _ Fall 2013 Course Calendar
Date Topic Readings for the Day Assignment Information
9/4 Introduction No Readings GL- Intro
9/6 Intro to sociology Chapter 1* GL #1 assigned
9/9 Theory Chapter 1
9/11 Culture Eitzen* + Chapter 3*
9/13 Culture Kusz
9/16 Culture/Politics Soares
9/18 Culture/Politics No Readings
9/20 Politics Chapter 9*
9/23 Politics Brady* + Berkowitz, et. al.*
9/25 Politics Kaufman/Wolff GL #2 assigned
9/27 Media Chapter 11*
9/30 Media Cooky, et.al. + Kian et. al Assignment #1 assigned
10/2 Media Messner/Dunbar
10/4 Exam #1
10/7 Youth sport Chapter 4 * Project 2 assigned
10/9 Youth sport Devereaux + Coakley GL #3 assigned
10/11 Youth sport Wiersma + Helsen, et. al
10/14 Youth Sport-parents internet articles
10/16 Interscholastic sport Chapter 5* + Allen TX article
10/18 Interscholastic sport TBA
10/21 Intercollegiate sport Chapter 6* GL #4 assigned
10/23 Intercollegiate sport Tsitsos/Nixon + Yost
10/25 no school midterm holiday
10/28 Intercollegiate sport Sperber + Fountain/Finley GL #5 assigned
10/30 Discussion of projects No readings Project 3 assigned
11/1 Midterm Exam # 2
11/4 Gender Chapter 14*
11/6 Title IX No Readings
11/8 Title IX WSF article + Kennedy
11/11 Gender & Coaching Acosta/Carpenter + Kamphoff, et. al GL #6 assigned
11/13 Social mobility Chapter 12*
11/15 Mascots Davis + Staurowsky# Project 4 assigned
11/18 Mascots No readings
11/20 Mascots No readings
11/22 Race Chapter 13*
11/25 Race TIDES articles GL #7 assigned
11/27 THANKSGIVING
11/29 THANKSGIVING
12/2 Race/Ethnicity Singer, et. al.
12/4 Race/Ethnicity TBA
12/6 Jeopardy!
Final 12/11 11:30-1:30 in same room
KINES 114: Sociology of Sport and Physical Activity Course Assignment: Option #1
Youth League Commissioner
Ideally, by the end of the unit on youth sport you will have gained enough knowledge to evaluate and make improvements to an existing youth sports league or even start your own youth sports league. Every responsible league should start with a mission statement and employ people who will carry out that mission. Leagues also need to make sure that youth sport competitors are benefitting from being part of the league so they have to make themselves attractive to youth (and their parents). Some do this by emphasizing the competitive aspects of the sport and some do this by emphasizing fun & learning aspects of sport while de-emphasizing the competitiveness. Either way, your mission (or philosophy) and the plan for the execution of that mission should be made clear to everyone involved.
The goal of this assignment is to act like the commissioner of a youth sports league and outline the details of the mission and how that mission should be carried out. In preparation for this assignment it is required to a) review the mission statements of various youth sports leagues, b) visit the IMG Acadamies website, and c) interview at least one adult who is actively involved in youth sport as a coach, administrator, or volunteer. The interview should consist of no more than ten questions and the goal of the interview should be to ascertain what kinds of issues are prominent for adults involved in youth sport. A summary of the interview should be a part of the paper and the interview questions themselves should be added as an appendix to the paper. Also, in preparation for the paper it is required that you read the articles “De-emphasizing Competition in Organized Youth Sport: Misdirected Reforms and Misled Children” by Cesar Torres and Peter Hager and “Reformation or Reclassification? A Proposal of a Rating System for Youth Sport Programs” by Lenny Wiersma (both found on Gaelearn in the “youth sport” folder) and add at least ONE other article about youth sport found in a scholarly journal. Your reaction to these articles can and should be part of the paper. Finally, to help you with this paper you might find the Positive Coaching Alliance website (positivecoach.org) to be of some use. Please look over that website and similar websites to help you as you think about the mission of your new league.
The paper itself should be anywhere from 8-10 pages (not including the title and reference pages), and all sources should be cited properly throughout the text using APA style. The paper should consist of the following sections:
Introduction
✓ Explain at least three major issues concerning youth sport participants today
✓ Your overview and reaction to the Torres/Hager article
✓ Your overview of the Wiersma article and the rating of your league
✓ The article you found should be incorporated into the intro as well
✓ Explanation of your league and your role in the league
Summary of the Interview
✓ Who was interviewed and why were they chosen? Explain how the interview will help you.
✓ Major issues discussed
✓ Insights gained from the interview
✓ Conclusions drawn from the interview
Mission Statement
✓ A summary of the mission statements from other sports leagues
✓ What your mission statement is and how you came up with it
✓ What values are most important to your mission/philosophy?
✓ What are the most important goals of the league?
✓ A brief statement about what your league does NOT stand for and why (include the rating system here)
Execution of the Mission
✓ An outline of what you will do to carry out the philosophy/mission of the league
✓ What type of coaches will be utilized (paid or volunteer)?
✓ What type of training will they receive?
✓ How will you ensure competitive balance?
✓ How will you reach your goals as a league?
✓ How will you avoid attrition (high drop out rates)?
✓ What role will parents have in this league? What are your expectations for parents?
✓ Will you have a code of conduct? An athlete’s bill of rights?
Final Thoughts
✓ What are the strengths and weaknesses of your league?
✓ How does your philosophy fit with current cultural trends in youth sport?
✓ What kind of impact will your league make on the lives of its young participants?
✓ Why will the league be successful?
✓ Any other concluding remarks
Other Important Information:
● This assignment is worth 75 points and is due on Saturday 6/28 at 11:59pm. The paper should be anywhere from 8-10 pages. Points will be deducted for late assignments (10 per day). In accordance with department policy, you are also expected to submit the paper to turnitin.com. In class we will review the procedures of submitting a paper to turnitin.com and address any questions about the process at that time. If you submit the paper to me on time but forget to submit it to the turnitin.com site no points will be deducted, however the paper will not be graded until it is submitted to turnitin.com.
● You are expected to use APA style and should include a reference page and all sources should be cited properly throughout the text. If you do not know how to use APA style, see me or an SMC librarian ASAP for assistance. Reference/Information assistance is available at the Reference Desk, by phone (925) 631-4624, text message or IM. Check the Library’s “Ask Us” link for details: http://library.stmarys-ca.edu/ask-us/ Extended assistance by appointment is also available. Contact the subject librarian for your major or any of the Reference librarians for an appointment. Or, if you'd prefer, you can provide the contact link information for your Subject Librarian, which can be found at this link: http://library.stmarys-ca.edu/about/staff/selectors.html.
● Center for Writing Across the Curriculum– Through collaborative discussion, Advisers guide their peers toward expressing ideas clearly and revising their own papers, always weighing audience and purpose. Writers visit CWAC to brainstorm ideas, revise drafts, or work on specific aspects of writing, such as grammar, citation, thesis development, organization, critical reading, or research methods. The office is located in Dante 202 or via Skype screen-sharing. Please call for their summer hours--Phone 925.631.4684.