Critical Scientific Review of Team Sports

Dr. Hermann Brandt

CRITICAL SCIENTIFIC REVIEW OF TEAM SPORTS

Thulin Award by FIEP, Year 1970

TCHOUKBALL

TCHOUKBALL: The Sport of Tomorrow!

Foreword and Drawing by Michel Favre

ROULET Publications, Geneva FOREWORD

In this beginning of the XXIst Century, the relationship, collaboration, and construction sports phenomenon remains a key activity. in common. The term “sport” is a borrowing (1828) from The rather disturbed climate of our current the English word “sport” (XVth Century), society has perhaps a favorable effect upon which was itself borrowed from the Old the desire and the need to look for French ((XIIth Century) “desport,” which satisfaction in the area of relationships. In meant “amusement” or “entertainment.” The this sense, the playing of Tchoukball word “sport” applied to bodily activities supports well the relational dimension and performed out of pleasure, often in a spirit promotes interpersonal exchanges and of competition. Later on, it came to mutual respect. This sport encourages the designate any physical activity practiced in idea of an encounter with the idea of going the spirit of play, struggle, and effort, the to a refreshing source rather than looking for practice of which presupposes training and a confrontation in order to fell the adversary. the observance of certain rules. The tournaments and the matches must be In the XXth Century, sport became an festivals that not only leave the space essential domain of information and of necessary for each sports prowess but also entertainment, on account of which it took encourage the encounter in the broad sense, on considerable economic importance. with its entire enriching relational universe. Its important image in society enables The sports exploit of a player should be everyone to let his/her imagination run free lived by the others as the sign of a personal regarding the possibility of acquiring an achievement, of which everyone can feel ideal physical condition, or to dream of the himself an actor. sports exploit that brings fame. Competition This first English translation of Dr. is no longer only related to sports, but it Hermann Brandt’s work, Critical Scientific becomes financial as well. The effects of Review of Team Sports: Tchoukball, the this phenomenon open the doors to all sorts Sport of Tomorrow!, is an important event. of envies and engender the worst excesses. It is being published thirty-three years after In such a context, the fundamental question the first edition in French and thus reflects of safeguarding the identity of sport and of indeed the expansion of Tchoukball. The its educative value is raised in an even more publication of the English text is taking relevant fashion. place at a propitious moment, and will Tchoukball was conceived with the intention consolidate, we hope, the worldwide of defending, protecting, and developing the diffusion of this sport. first and fundamental values of sport. While writing this preface, many memories, Thanks to its comprehensive concept, it is a connected with the first French edition of tool with a definite effectiveness from the 1971, come back to me. I had the great luck physiological, psychological, pedagogical, to meet and to collaborate with Hermann and sociological points of view. Brandt for several years, and to be at his side In 1970 Tchoukball was above all a theory, at the time of the awarding of the Thulin and there were but a few of us to seek the Prize in Lisbon. At his request, I means necessary for the practical realization participated in the execution of the drawings of this sport in society. Its philosophy inside his work, as well as in the cover emphasizes above all two points: on one design and the photo of the Thulin Prize hand, the individual aspect in its totality medal at the back of the book. (psychic and somatic) approached through At the time of the Munich Olympic Games bodily and sports activity, and on the other in 1972, I myself presented the game and the hand, the team aspect in the sense of philosophy of Tchoukball in the framework

- 2 - of the workshops attached to the Olympic team remain valid for themselves, and the Games: 8th World YMCA Consultation on country of origin is concerned only through Health and Physical Education, Munich, the means that it offers to the players.” August 28−September 1, 1972. By common agreement, Hermann Brandt In 1970, Hermann and I wrote a charter* in did not print it, for we thought at the time order to bring an indispensable that nationalism was in regression. The complementary text to the rules of the game. quotation of this paragraph in this preface In the first draft of this charter, we had appears relevant to me because its subject is written this sentence (which at the time only likely to offer us topics for thought committed me): regarding the evolution of sports and their “We banish the modern Olympic spirit connection with nationalism in our society. because of its hypocrisies and because of its The expression of my dearest wish is that extreme nationalisms.” you, leaders and players, always encourage In the year 2000, at the time of the creation the development of this sport in the spirit of the Internet site of the International sought by Hermann Brandy and myself, the Federation and of the careful rereading of spirit presented and developed in this work the text of the charter, I agreed to the and in our charter. elimination of this sentence. It seemed to By way of conclusion, I quote the geneticist me to be wiser to moderate this wording in Albert Jacquard: order to avoid any polemical attitude within “The true practice of a sport consists of a the federation and to protect ourselves dialogue of each person with his own body, against a position that was too judgmental under the critical and possibly laudatory with regard to the Olympic movement. eyes of others. This dialogue may be harsh, It appears interesting to me to point out that the demands may be severe; what is in the rough draft of the first writing, we had important is that the body be respected and written this paragraph: not relegated to the rank of a mere tool.” “The game must be framed by a desire for “To live and to smile together, that could be human understanding that is not limited by our motto.” any consideration of religion, any national pride (or two groups!).... We go so far as to Michel Favre expect that no team raises the national *See the Charter in the appendix colors. The personalities who constitute a

- 3 - I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION

From Science to Technology It seems contradictory to me to rationalize When, as a young doctor, one takes up the Sports on a medical basis before beginning topic of Sports Medicine, one first discovers with the basics: to have knowledge of the that there is, behind that initial appearance, technical structure of Physical Activities, to some extraordinary realities called “Physical understand their management and hence to Education” (“PE”) and “Sports,” which support those who work in a human cover a set of extremely varied processes, meaning with the contribution of scientific methods and activities about which one knowledge. “Science without conscience is merely has a highly fragmentary, precarious but the ruin of the soul”--this remains the and rudimentary conception. The first basis for a human conception of science, and impression is that a legitimate utilitarian in my opinion, that very search for humanity Sports medicine can only be constructed through such Physical Activities seems upon a knowledge of these realities that is at worthy of attention by the scientist. least adequate. That is the reason why on the one hand, we However, while perusing this seemingly can have nothing but praise for ourselves for incoherent set, one becomes aware of the Scientific Activities that have a deployment large scope encompassed by such realities, of more and more Physical Education along with their numerous related problems. Masters, or praise at least those who have Personally, it always seemed indispensable understood that they would not be up to such to base a Sports Medicine activity on a task this far-reaching without the knowledge that is as precise and as complete promptest introduction of biological as possible about the technical nature of scientific realism; and when I say biological, these Physical Activities. Yet, when I also mean everything cerebral, hence wanting to study this first problem, one everything psychological as well. becomes struck by unexpected findings: in Is it to be pretentious or to lack realism to physical activities, one is either caught with wish to see Physical Activities be activities that are performed by sheer humanized? Medicine teaches us what man pleasure, without any other reason or is about because it is rare that any medical motivation other than the pleasure of the act be linked to the personality of the one game and the enjoyment of competition or who is consulting. The slightest medical performance, or one is caught with finding contact, the slightest health problem oneself facing pedagogical concerns, of demands the revising of human data about which the first concern is to reach man in his that problem, and man thus appears in a bodily and physical qualities. This first truly human fashion, which initially classification, seemingly a bit simplistic at encompasses man’s complete medical and first, stays with us from there on in all biological personality, along with everything Sports Medicine activity as there are, one as well in terms of the areas of psychology, the one hand, those who practice sports for personal behavior, the environment both pleasure without considering the biological social and professional, introducing a set of results and, on the other hand, those who data that make man a man, does not look for a qualitative result and who thus fragment itself, does not lend itself to be concern themselves about pedagogy, be they divided into different aspects. These aspects teachers or performers. are all in solidarity with one another, with man being this sum total. Physical Activities Must First Take into When examining studying and applying Account Human Nature Physical Activities, we are always startled

- 4 - with the difficulty involved in engaging man the field that science should reach to secure as a whole; any Method, any play Activity, results. any Sport neglects some particular aspects of man and, if it true that Physical Activities Searching for a Perfect Goal must tend towards and contribute to the edification of man, and not merely entertain It is no less true that man searching for him, it is in fact necessary to wonder about constant self-improvement takes us from the means that are employed to implement surprise to surprise, from disappointment to these Physical Activities, and their effects, disappointment, from hope to hope; but and it is most important to confirm that they unfortunately, we end up sadly observing keep the promises that are being attributed that an overly large number of Physical to them. Activities do not reach their goals because they set an overly restricted program and a Science and Practice goal too narrow. Physical Education often merely looks for articulator-muscular There are no better experiences for a man improvement and sometimes looks for a of science who deals with these problems particular development of the nervous than him being the captain of the ship, that System, or maybe sometimes also looks for is, to convert himself into a teacher, to be some greater biological effects (comprising the one to instruct, train people and be cardio-vascular and respiratory functions). responsible for the effect of such methods Additionally, Sports, suffering from the and procedures. The man of science is attraction of play and entertainment, plunges supposed to be able to confirm if the results ourselves into a troubling perplexity. I do that he looks for, or expects to have, have not believe that a reasonable man could became realities; yet in this field, notice the social, collective effect of taking unfortunately, there is one disappointment part in large sports competitions and world after another; least that we have a certain championships at the Olympic Games, ideal at the beginning, like a clear notion of without being deeply embarrassed as soon as the long-range goal necessary to offer he wants to consider man and society, since oneself and the horizons to be reached, as society is interested, but in what way? Does much on individual and physical levels as the Olympic ideal, for instance, evolve on psychological and social levels; one towards a true human interest? It would be frequently faces a quantity of disheartening easy for me to prove the opposite, but men experiences and observations. Physical with good intentions and educators whose Activities are still far from obtaining the sound ambitions underline their profoundly general cultural level that would make and human intent, admit being upset, and ask guarantee them the human level foreseen as themselves how one will one day react desirable or even contemplated as necessary. against the mercantile evolution of Sports The physician who is devoted to checking and its disastrous effect on the psychology, a very small problem, blood pressure or not just of champions, but of the performing pulse readings, a cardiac examination and masses alike. even oxygen consumption, sees only a very Because we need to declare it loudly: our minimal aspect of man’s participation in goal, the goal of human Physical Activities Physical Activities; yet, not only does he is not to create champions but to enable neglect the other parts, but he also these Physical Activities to contribute to the disinterests himself from them. Indeed, it edification of an authentic Society. This was only recently that Medicine finally set edification presumes that it truly and out to approach the psychological aspects of effectively addresses itself first to man as an man with respect to effort, and the first individual, and to all those who practice and attempts, and first discoveries are certainly live from society. Once we become aware encouraging and demonstrate the scope of of these problems, they enable us to briefly

- 5 - indicate and draw the terms of the various Gymnastics, that concern themselves about plans upon which Physical Activities evolve, the needs of a different humanity, one that, the very plans that enable us to ascertain, although not young, is nonetheless in the more often than not, that the practical strength of physical rendering, and feels an attempts lead, more or less, to resounding urgent need, as much on the physical as well failures, be they general or individual. as on the psychological level in fact, about What is it about? sane Physical Activities. But to what extent For instance, it seems to us to be extremely can we actually guarantee Physical dubious that the serial manufacturing of Activities that fulfill the double goal of exceptional champions truly serves the being effective and interesting. humanitarian cause and, if the gigantism of It took us over forty years to become aware international competitions like the Olympic of these very serious problems by ideal creates for us a point of view through progressively crossing the different cultural which we see the champion as great, on the levels shown in Physical Activities, starting other hand, we fail to appreciate the with simple biology and ending with substantial expenses that the whole of psychology and sociology. It is the result of humanity contributes to this manufacturing. having internally, painfully and deeply felt We must recognize that the part left to the the urgency of these problems about which crowd of performers (whose sole ambition is we sought to better define the very terms to entertain itself as well as possible) is in all that they put forward to you. cases irrational and especially not balanced and, once considering the collective and First Step: Science general necessities of the total population of the globe, faced with Physical Activities, On the one hand, on the purely biological and the effort provided to create super- level, some serious mistakes, according to Olympic champions, one can but be afraid us, may be committed and our first of the dehumanization of Sports turning to obligation was to objectively put the mercantilism. finishing touches on the scientific criteria of I do say, and I insist on it: as soon as we Physical Activities, in such a way as to want to approach Physical Activities truly establish with certainty (and in a way that and scientifically and we enter into the game would be controllable, practically speaking, of persons in charge of others on that level, and be thus acting in all likelihood on the anxiety felt towards objective, realistic Physical Activities) the scientific and actual observations facing humanity foundations of responsibilities. cannot but compel us towards a more After having noted the number of physical considerable effort towards this absolutely education teachers who poorly interpret the urgent and indispensable goal that is to gestures, the psychomotor acts (see, for humanize Physical Activities. When I say instance, the common error that consists in “to humanize,” I want to say, on the one interpreting as muscle activity that which is hand, to understand man as a whole, in his the effect of gravity only, something that is complexity, in his internal and personal frequent in Physical Education), after having activities, and in his social relations. And I considered how much these gaps diminish also mean to say allowing Physical the efficiency of Physical Education and Activities to play their social educative role Sports training, and how much, on the by reaching as much and as best as possible contrary, the more simple views could all the interested strata of the population. increase the standing of the Pedagogic Far from me is the thought to personally Activities of teachers and coaches in charge, revolt against the idea that one could only we tried to group in a synthetic, albeit talk about youth when speaking about Sports practical set on the technical level in and Physical Education. There are luckily Physical Education and Physical Training, some collective areas, such as Elective

- 6 - the essential values of biology in favor of merely be used as a pretext to indicate the pedagogy. direction of our concerns and to prove the scientific importance of cerebral, (« De l’Education Physique aux Sports par psychological and social problems, by la Biologie ». Editeur : « Médecine & granting a more precise picture, as small as Hygiène, Genève »/”From Physical it may be, of the complexity of cerebral Education to Sports through Biology.” functioning, and by thus evoking the Editor: Medicine & Hygiene, Geneva) elements in Physical activities that can make up the basis of the personality, as there is no This book should only serve as a such thing as reaching personality with foundation for fully and objectively concerns having to do solely with general establishing the fundamental criteria of biological functions, or muscular, Physical Education on a biological level; articulatory, respiratory and even cardio- through these criteria, one is entitled to say vascular functions! A man’s personality is to which extent such and such Physical of worthy nature only if his psychological Activity truly meets its pedagogic claims. and social behavior is meritorious; man’s The nature of the criteria is for the most part place in society is situated at the level of his articulatory, muscular, cardio-vascular, personality and its social repercussions, and respiratory and cerebral and, in each of these Physical Education needs to integrate areas, criteria help evaluate in which manner nervous and cerebral functions to enable such or such Physical Activity offers man to evolve towards the most perfect genuine training and education possibilities. possible individual and social structure. In my opinion, it is an indispensable For the time being, we retain only the foundation outside of which one cannot care following: any training method and any about Physical Education and Sports with physical activity, which does not answer to the claim of introducing into it some biologically-established educational criteria, educational scientific notions. is inadequate and does not keep the It was therefore out of the question to do promises that one is entitled to make anything prior to establishing these bases. regarding such method or activity on a And we thought we would, by writing this general cultural level. The growing real book, meet objections, critiques, in order to non-involvement of individuals in Physical more firmly assert or have us confirm or Education, for instance, shows how the most correct our fundamental data. We are left current conception has difficulty attracting with the conviction that this work must and holding man’s interest and further serve as a basis for appreciating Physical enveloping it in essential educational Activities on an organic level. We will thus measures. take the liberty of bringing up those exposés to justify our points of view and make them Conclusion accessible to a biological culture, which is necessary to anyone wanting to be in charge Physical Education is dead, defunct, we are of training. told. It is a big mistake, but this opinion is explained by the insufficient human means Search for Personality brought into play under the usual frameworks about Physical Education. A chapter is especially important in this There are here still some extremely first volume: the vanguard note being issued important points to consider and study, and in the field of human synthesis and in our opinion, it remains that any Physical humanization, which is a chapter devoted to Activity failing to meet those obligations is cerebral Activities and psychological deemed inadequate, with any new technical approaches. According to us, this extremely research whatsoever needing to first meet basic and summarily drafted chapter could these general biological criteria.

- 7 - But stemming from this, with the Why make them accept sports? Because observance of Fundamental Bases, to mercantile and commercial appearances innovate is permitted. shown in sports gradually seek to legitimize themselves; to let be accepted all measures Search for a Rational Definition of a that are being proposed, especially the “Human Sport” financial and spectacular ones. In terms of promoting sports, nothing better has been Yet to innovate does not mean to invent found than to speak about educational sports anything for the sake of offering something and sports needed by the masses, as a else. Any new measure must foremost be “universal good.” Last, they claim that inspired by the updated data of our modern sports “shape man.” era. To continue and render the services Well, we raise ourselves radically against expected of it, a new technique in the field the claims issued until now, because as of Physical Education and Sports should much as they may appear legitimate, as encompass the essential elements of the much as the humanitarian goal must be problems at hand, should contribute to solve admitted, so much the measures taken reveal them, and should even suggest new themselves fragmented, rudimentary, in a solutions to the frameworks at issue, ranging word, insufficient. from biological to sociological ones. Competent leaders hold much responsibility, Psychosomatics but one that is quite urgent at the same time, for any innovation to surround itself with Because, in fact, sports is about man, it is guarantees that would procure it the the whole man, the man who is made up of elements recognized by everyone as psychological phenomena, psychic and fundamental elements of Man’s Physical cerebral sensibility, yet also made up of Activities. organic sensibility, which is made of acts The direction adopted from the beginning and will that are in turn made of corporeal of our research has specially been that of a reactions. All this, mixed, is interdependent. complete, integral, biological, mental and It is symptomatic that in modern times, a social Man. All that is Man. new science tends to come to light, which is When we insist on the need to humanize called psychosomatics; psychosomatics is sports, we seemingly follow the mere derived from the Greek: psycho/psyche slogans launched for numerous years that meaning soul/thinking and thus meaning by were clearly championed by Monsieur de way of logic the intellect and somatic, with Coubertin. But the great claim of soma meaning the body and thus all things humanizing sports, that is, of granting it its physical. The psychosomatic view claims to truly human character, that claim only approach the problem of interdependences covered inefficiencies, insufficiencies, and interpenetrations of two fields that deplorable deviations, and opened the path appear, up until now, very distinct in terms to a path of common grounds that have only of the psyche and physical realms. Dare we truly in common the claim to do better than say that this science is only at its infancy ever and better than anyone else for the sake and that it therefore cannot pretend yet to of mankind, but which fail to know how to make systematically valid accounts. inspire themselves from the pragmatic However, it is necessary to recognize that measures entailed under such a claim. Since this science’s starting point in medicine has indeed, under the denominator and the specifically oriented us towards the “human” qualitative measure, we only find dependencies of two systems that are both extremely vague declarations and for the associated and inseparable on the medical most part, a halo that attempts to cover a level, the psychic life on the one hand, and large majority of third parties to make sports the organic life on the other hand, especially accepted by the masses. with regards to the viscera (the abdominal as

- 8 - much as the thoracic viscera), the digestive world, and the entire outside world: the conditions like the respiratory phenomena, natural and physical geographic context as and especially the cardio-respiratory well as the social psychic context; it is that phenomena with important neuro-vegetative entire whole that is concerned with the syndromes ranging from anxiety to psychometric act; and therefore, it is palpitation. In medicine, all these possible to say that to render more human, phenomena give us pause to reflect as they to humanize physical activity, or physical establish extremely serious aetiologic and activities, it is foremost to give them back therapeutic problems. It is thus normal that the status they deserve and that they must we reach the limit, up until now inseparable, have in all personality behaviors. This can of the psyche and the organic and that we reach quite far, because there exists a whole demonstrate the necessity to not consider psychic and psychological discipline, which one without the other. depends on the motor expression of personality. Psychosomatics and Physical Activities I vividly remember one of the great truths of personal discipline that I learned when I But Physical Activities make us approach a was a student and that came from a great completely different side of psychosomatic master of pedagogy: “To direct oneself, it is relationships – no longer between Psyche always necessary to do as though acts were and functional organic data (considered like already inscribed in thinking and to act functions as opposed to being considered according to the goal of thinking, as if this like organs). Rather, Physical Activities hope had already been realized.” The fact of compel us to reconsider the status of the acting as if this were possible, as if this were psychomotor act in the personality as a already inscribed in reality creates, in turn, whole, as a means of expression, as also an equivalent state of mind equivalent to being at the onset of numerous those acts. The optimist acts spontaneously psychological complexes. with optimism, but the pessimist must act as an optimist in order to receive in counter Psychosomatics and Personality effect an optimistic excitement that rectifies his fundamental pessimism. The action is It is time to rethink the remarkable work of not just the consequence of a thought but, in Wallon (de l’acte à la pensée, Bibliothèque turn, it creates a state of mind, it acts on a de Philosophie scientifique, state of mind; and consequently, the Fammarion/From Act to Thought. Library behavior of an individual on a psycho-motor of Scientific Philosophy, Flammarion) level is not indifferent to his personality whom we can have the honor of introducing since it is interested in a two-fold manner: this important chapter. the translating action of his thinking and the If we want to apply psychosomatic notions inspiring action of his state of mind. to physical activities, we now need to Therefore, on a psychosomatic level, closely review the precise spot of physical activity is understood as integrating psychometric functions in personality as a the individual as a whole (the integration of whole, and especially, in its psychic his thoughts, intentions, states of mind, behavior. We must proceed, in a way, to a personal perception of the world) to the recycling of these functions in personality as exterior motor activity. a whole. More than the visceral functions, which are Not All Physical Activities are Beneficial to only accidentally involved with psychic the Personality abilities, psychometric functions are constantly intricately involved with psychic To say very loosely that sports activities behavior itself. That is the very problem of shapes personality, is to neglect looking at relations of the individual with the outside the different aspects of these activities,

- 9 - because it is evident that, according to the about advertising items, etc. In reality, the conditions through which the motor psychology of the sportsman only becomes behavior is being exercised, the effect on the accessible through one’s behavior towards balancing of personality is totally different. his or her environments. Thus we must The human educational coefficient of motor accept the capital importance of social behaviors thus first depends on the psychology. This chapter will include an conditions in which personality is called to important part of considerations to consider function during this or that physical activity. about sports activity, and it will be easy to The choice of activities and conditions in end with several quick ideas psychologically which they exercise themselves thus speaking. But it is really necessary to insist prevails and it is dangerous to consider the on the fact that sports are always a social motor behavior, in physical activities for activity and psychology, always, integrates instance, as always educational. itself into sociology. It was to be later proven, in terms of sociology, that one nowadays considers that Intricacy of Phenomena sports do not always carry a beneficial influence on personality. The ethical and After having considered these formal psychic climate in which sports are problems, we must concern ourselves with exercised is more important than sports the very structure of applied sports and the technique itself; but it should be said that relationships between that structure and physical activities offer varied possible organic and psychosocial behavior. The influences, since certain activities, games structure of sports is deemed a function of and sports lend themselves more or less the effects of personality, and personality well, more or less integrally, to the total must always be considered on these two educational effect. We will thus be able to levels, corporal and psychosocial at once. analyze the components of individual The structure of a sports is made of behavior in physical activity. everything that is characteristic to it and In this field, sheer physical conditioning considers at the same time the fields (or plays, of course, a fundamental role. geographical sites of execution), the means Conditioning, and consequently, the putting (tools of performance), the rules of the game at disposal of the organism is, before (framing the social conditions of everything else, a question about the performance), the means of control physical body and we study elsewhere what (encompassing the individual in the criteria are to be applied for a physical individual’s momentous social complex), activity to meet a human definition of and we will need, consequently, to fundamental body elements. But, naturally eventually closely examine to what extent and foremost, there is psychology and the the sport-inclined group, and particularly the psychic state. team, can be viewed as a microcosm and as a mini group, and fall under the purview of Psychology and Social Environment actual knowledge of group psychologies and, in the name of these relationships, can From this point of view, the more we study verify the nature of the utilitarian qualities psychological problems in sports, the more of the sports that are being considered. It we read the works performed in this area, will then be easy to introduce a sport in and the more we remain convinced that function of these different appreciations. social psychology is the expression of an extremely important reality, spilling far Is there Justification for a New Sport? beyond on a sheer psychic domain. Indeed, the psychology of the individual takes on When consulting the list of sports meaning only in relation with his social registered in national and international environment: friends, societies, reactions competitions, and when we add to them the

- 10 - small particular sports without international Physical Activities still offer us enormous titles yet, and last when we consider activities and promise us some substantial Physical Activities (optional gymnastics achievements. It is enough to question what classes, for instance, which are not of this field still holds in terms of technical competitive nature), one is hard-pressed to possibilities: the elements to which one must imagine, and even accept, that the claim be able to attribute adequate educational could be made about the lack of choice. values. These are the justifications for a There is something for all tastes, or so it novelty. seems? Is there a need to speak about justification? But if we replace this small discreet The list of usable physical exercises is statistical look with a serious analysis of the crowded with small games of medium value, social functions of these different if of not really bad value. Truly, it is disciplines, one cannot but concludes that regrettable to observe that the time spent for there are some gaps. these games is time lost for the major These gaps appear only in light of a broad part…lost for the good cause. and general vision of things. If we must approach very diverse chapters, which range The Goal to Pursue from biology to sociology, it is that it appeared to us indispensable to establish an But we believe there is a cause to defend. appraisal by successively taking all points of We claim that the hours spent on a field, in a view starting from which one can issue a gymnastics hall, must be useful to the judgment on Physical Activities (Physical utmost; and this responds to a double Education and Sports). We commonly viewpoint. consider that each of those points of view is First, from the point of view of the the job of specialists and we have a tendency performer who generally has little time to let them speak while listening to them in a available, compared with the total hours of discreet and sometimes distracted fashion! the performer’s free time in life; the time But each of those viewpoints, covering a during which one can enjoy towards set of more or less specialized research, physical exercises is extremely limited. enlightens our judgments, forges us with an From the point of view of the teacher: in opinion and results in observations. Let us the minimum of such available hours, it is say that the most convincing insights, and indeed necessary to engage into maximum the most troubling ones, come from the effectiveness. Here is a concern that appears comparison that needs to be made between of relatively little common concern in the what can be and what is in reality most people environment in charge of Physical often. All studies to which we refer, that Education and Sports. We have the feeling emanate from biology, physiology, that educators (instructors and coaches) are psychology, sociology, social psychology merely contented with giving advice and and technique, all form a basic orders, more by routine than by real interest, documentation without which no value and that the sense of their mission truly judgment can be drawn. escapes them. The experience that is acquired in 40 years Indeed, the goals that are prescribed in of practical contact with all these Physical Education and Sport are extremely disciplines, the impressions felt in meeting diverse, from a simple pastime to an with men who have programs, goals to educational exercise, by means of games of pursue, ideals to defend, and the anxieties nature oftentimes infantile, where ease of being raised by a certain social realism that performance meets again with the lack of watches the world of sports evolve adrift, interest. Generally, people who are would all leave us deeply discouraged in the expected to manage the physical activities of absence of the hope of there existing the general population behave using means something else. that grant them a certain experience in fields

- 11 - that have long devoted a kind of tradition to new discoveries and knowledge that new the physical realm. Each generation sciences pass on to us, which are as many transmits its own knowledge to the next specializations that are imposed by the mass generations. And it took a lot of good will of facts arising from human knowledge and initiatives to reach what we received through the ardor of modern researchers. ourselves. That past is what made us No discipline in human activity escapes discover the truths of today. We are but this generalized push that demands the even more responsible for such truths in a assimilation of new notions, new scientific future in which our current society ventures. elements, new tendencies and ways of life In noting at what speed technology with one’s times in a century. The permeates all economic and social systems, electronic era cannot leave the sector of we cannot curb the need to align our Physical Education and Sports indifferent. discipline to the general evolution. Aligning It is up to us to react! also signifies the application to our field, the

- 12 - APPENDIX

THE TCHOUKBALL CHARTER

Tchoukball excludes any striving for when they react collectively within the prestige, whether individually or as a team; game. rather it is a sport in which players pursue excellence through personal training and Thus, in Tchoukball: collective effort. • there is a collective achievement within Tchoukball is open to players of all a team. This binds the players together, degrees of ability (natural or acquired) and it teaches appreciation and esteem for skill. Inevitably one will encounter players the values of others, and it creates a of every possible ability/skill level during feeling of oneness in the common effort play. Every player must adapt his own play of a small group. and attitude (technical or tactical) to the circumstances of the moment because each • there is an acceptance of the attitudes of player - teammate or opposing player - is the opposing team with whom one must due proper respect and consideration. engage in opportunistic play while resisting any hostile undercurrents. On a individual level: the attitude of a player is paramount for it implies respect for • each player’s major concern is to strive himself/herself, for his/her own teammates for beauty of play. The universal and for opposing team players regardless of experience of sport can be summed up whether any are stronger or weaker players by the expression: “elegant play begets than one’s self. elegant play.”

On a team level: no outcome, whatever This attitude is the basis for social it might be, should never impact one’s sense interaction of Tchoukball: it encourages one of importance, individually or as a team, and to aim for perfection while always avoiding it should never lead to sectarian rivalry. any negative conduct toward the adversary. From victory one can derive satisfaction and even joy, but never exaggerated pride. The This basic premise is more than just the joy of winning should provide rule of a sport - it is a rule for conduct at all encouragement. Arrogance in victory times, a psychological component of carries with it the struggle for prestige, behavior, the basis of an individual’s which is a source of common conflict personality. among humans and condemned within the sport of Tchoukball. The aim of Tchoukball is therefore the avoidance of conflict, with one main goal in Tchoukball requires total dedication: mind: fair play that does not compromise the one must keep constant watch on the level of play but rather links the two teams movement of the ball and the other players - together in common activity. The beauty of both objectively and with empathy. As one one team’s play makes possible - and participates individually in the sport, one reinforces - the beauty of play by the other subjects oneself to the group’s needs. The team. result is that in the course of a game, different personalities come together as one Tchoukball provides social exercise through physical activity. By pooling the

- 13 - resources of all, everyone participates, with without any feeling of belittlement. the more adept players accepting Winners should not convey any feeling of responsibility for teaching the less adept; arrogant domination. Rather, a sense of therefore, there is no real individual healthy satisfaction on the winner’s side is champion, but rather a collective striving for like a handshake to encourage the adversary perfection. When one says, “let the best to continue to train properly. man win,” it should mean that a person achieves his/her best through adequate For these reasons, the notion of “victor” preparation. This being so, it is appropriate should give way to the simpler more that the results reward the efforts which appropriate one of “winner.” Play as a players have undertaken, individually and as means of perfecting one’s performance is a a team. basic desire that every activity should include and develop. It is toward this goal Within these limits, a victory can and that every Tchoukball team must work, should bring satisfaction and meet with an whether it is in the smallest, friendliest adversary’s respect. Victory should inspire match or the most important meeting “at the in an adversary a desire to do as well, summit.” Remember, no set of rules can replace a player’s respect for one another and the Spirit of the Game

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