DOCUMENT RESUME .ED 377 127 SO 024 610 AUTHOR Degelman, Charles, Ed.; Hayes, Bill, Ed. TITLE [Violence in Sports]. INSTITUTION Constitutional Rights Foundation, LosAngeles, Calif. PUB DATE 94 NOTE 17p. AVAILABLE FROMConstitutional Rights Foundation, 601South Kingsley Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90005. PUB TYPE Guides Classroom Use Instructional Materials (For Learner)(051) Guides Classroom Use Teaching Guides (For Teacher) (052) Collected Works Serials (022) JOURNAL CIT Sports & the Law; v8 n1-2 Win 1994 EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Athletics; Citizenship Education;Elementary Secondary Education; *Law RelatedEducation; Social Studies; *Violence ABSTRACT This teaching resource presentsarticles that draw on young people's natural interest in sportsto stimulate their involvement in law-related education.An article on violence in sports explores the causes of thisviolence--the physical contact inherent in many sports, the desireto win at all costs, the urging of coaches, and the negligenceof referees--as well asmeasures proposed to restrain players, includingsafety equipment, fines and suspensions, criminal charges, and civilpenalties. In a lesson plan that follows, students are assignedthe roles of either referees, league administrators, or criminalprosecutors and asked topropose solutions to several hypotheticalviolent episodes. In the coach's column, a regular feature, Andy Schwichdescribes the charitable activities of Dodger's pitcher OrelHershiser and his nomination for the Roberto Clemente Award foroutstanding achievementon and off the field. An article on the outreachactivities of Los Angeles sports teams describes a midnight basketballleague, educational support programs, and community youth supportprograms. In an interview, retired Los Angeles Raider'ssafety, Mike Davis, describes his activities as executive directorof the NFL Youth Education Town, which encourages inner-city athletesto focus on their education. (JD) ********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRSare the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** CRF THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS FOUNDATION iter 1994volume 8number 1 & 2 rr;:"I ;1' ip:1 --±e/ ' ')fA. irrcro''" 71 r li tl s. 1 111111111k U.S. DEPARTMENT OF SOUCAT1001 Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 1. ,This document has been reproduced as recur ad from IM parson or cogemzation fr originating it 30,4 - 1:1 Minor chimp's have been mad* to improve 777,.44 reproduction quality Points of view or opinions stated in this docu- ment do not necessarily represent official 0£R1 position or pokey "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTEDBY (Y) (Eby TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." ...2` 1),- e 1±`-r ,,,, r 1 ',.. ' A Z.. l'b. 4 (..1' $7;.6. 1106..:41 (3 , .., .......,..,.. ;-:-.4,;.0 ---- - : _, -----' .....414.). .... 4Ii iilie-A4la- -,-VZiir. Yr..... $1'.--. 44.....7;;,..".".'-E'S.";..,.. s As;;.......:"Aveassesiorsvar '7"T"c."'.. T ' - -.'....-46.4r, 4 : 44, -VW 47:440; - -7. --cm...,*. ^V; (The BettmannArchive.) h i I ssu' e Violence in Sports Coach's ColumnReaching Out For the Long Run GOALS LessonsWhat Do You Think?Puzzle Violenceespecially youth violenceis a serious problem in America. Violence plagues our cities and affects millions of lives each year. In this double issue of Sports & the Law, we explore some basic questions: Whatcan be done about violence on the playing field? What can sports contribute to solving the underlying causes of youth violence? Can sports figures serve as positive role models for young people? "Violsnce and Sports" looks at violence on the playing field, and explores the causes of sports violence, and possible solutions for reducing it. "Reaching Out" describes efforts that some L.A. pro teams are making to cu!'. youth violence. Sports & the Law's interview with former L.A. Raiders player Mike Davis reveals why this Super Bowl hero works so hard to give back to the community. In his "Coach's Column," Sports & the Law Project Director Andy Schwich reviews Orel Hershiser's response to fame and social responsibility. Violence in Sports: example, football, America's most popular sport, re- quires blocking, hitting, and tackling. While these ac- Why is Violence a Part of the Game? ti ies are violent and possibly criminal off the playing field, they are acceptable under the rules of Violence plays a part in professional and amateur the game. sporting events every day in America. Players taunt, spear, take cheap shots, and swing fists. To Boxing is another sport prone to violence. Former win, coaches teach dirty tactics and encourage vio- heavyweight champion Joe Frazier once said about lence. Referees sometimes let excessive play go un- an opponent: "I don't want to knock him out.I want punished. Fans yell, fight, to hit him, step away, and throw objects at each and watch him hurt. I other and the players. want his heart." In Television highlights the 1962, the welterweight violence on the evening championship bout be- news and in newspapers. tween Benny "Kid" Paret and Emile Griffith Violence in sports is L tee nothing new. History pro- was so brutal that it vides many examples of vi started a movement to games that were morevio- ban boxing altogether. lent than the games we On national television, Griffith pummeled play today. Boxers in an- '4 cient Greece wore no pro- Paret. Before the refe- tective gear and fought ree stopped the fight, their matches to the Griffith landed more death. The Romans went than 20 crushing blows even further and pro- Violence is a natural part of many sports, such as football and boxing. But,to Paret's head. Paret moted bloodshed as a violence also occurs in sports like baseball, where batters sometimes rush slumped unconscious spectator sport. Thou- the mound after being hit by a pitch. (UPI/Bettman.) against the ropes and sands of gladiators fought to the death in Roman later died from his inju- ries. A string of ring deaths followed Paret's death, arenas. The ancient Mayans and Aztecs played a causing several states to consider abolishing boxing. ball game in which the losing team's captain was be- headed. The native North Americans played baggat- Violence in sports is not limited to football and away, a predecessor to the modern game of lacrosse, boxing, but exists in other popular sports such as which often left broken bones, bloodied bodies, and hockey, baseball, basketball, and soccer. In many of death in its wake. these games, some contact is necessary and accept- able within the rules. But it is often difficult to distin- Even though sports violence has existed since guish between violence and normal rough-and- early recorded history, people are beginning to exam- tumble play. The line often blurs between foul and ine the problem more closely. To understand the fair play. problem and come up with possible solutions, it is im- portant to consider the many factors that may con- A second factor that contributes to sports violence tribute to violence in sports. is the pressure to win. As career opportunities and First, violence is a natural part of many sports. pay expand, competition grows. Some players will Contact sports are especially prone to violence. For do almost anything to win. In the quest for victory, violence becomes glorified in the minds of some great not having to worry about Lemieux.I think it players. Don Atyeo, a prominent sports author, certainly helped us [win]." wrote in his book Blood and Guts: "It is the over- Referees, like coaches, can encourage sports vio- whelming pressure to win at all costs that lies at the lence. Referees often ignore overtly aggressive play. heart of the escalating level of violence within the Tackles, blocks, body checks, and other legal blows games themselves. When the single-minded pursuit are acceptable forms of contact. But officials some- of victory is wedded to the games of physical con- times tolerate aggression that the rules prohibit. The tact, violence is the inevitable result . " hockey fist fight, late hitting in football, high tackling Intimidation, domination, and revenge often enter in soccer, and the brush-back pitch in baseball have into a player's mind. Some athletes visualize their op- been ignored by referees and umpires. Especially in ponents as beasts. This allows them to act aggres- playoff and championship games, referees tend tc sively without attaching any feelings of responsibility or concern for another human being. Many athletes admit they develop ha- tred for their opponents. Vince Lombardi, former coaching great of the Green Bay Packers, said, 'To play this game you must have fire in you, and nothing stokes fire like hate." As athletes feel pressure to be stronger and faster, some turn to drugs. The abuse of both legal and illegal painkillers, stimulants, and anabolic steroids is a major concern in sports today. Some people believe that drug abuse increases the level of violence in Fans contribute to sports-related violence. In 1993 after Montreal won the National today's games. Hockey League championship, riots broke out in downtown Montreal. Coaches also contribute to the problem (UPI/Bettman.) of violence in sports. Aggressive behavior is employ a "let the players determine the outcome" often learned on the practice field where players will philosophy, and are less strict in calling penalties. do anything to please their coach. Many coaches fa- Spectators may also contribute to sports-related vor players with a "killer instinct." Harvard psychia- violence. Fans send messages of approval to players trist Chester M. Pierce states, 'The coach must have when they cheer "bone crushing" hits and raucous his men feeling that they not only can kill but that brawls. Sports psychologist Jeffrey Goldstein of Tem- they should kill." ple University has found that "people watching an ag- Some coaches admit that there is little regard for gressive sport are likely to become aggressive safety or respect for the opposing team, even in prac- themselves.