The Sports Ethic

A common topic of interest in sports society is the one of ethics and how games should morally be played. Sports Ethics are interrelated sets of norms or standards that are used to guide and evaluate ideas, traits, and actions in a sports world (Coakley 163). It is important for athletes to follow these rules in order to maintain stability in his/her chosen sport, because in their absence the structure of sports falls apart while no one can distinguish what is right from wrong. Looking specifically at the four general norms can explain how sports ethics are actually formed. The first is the athlete's dedication to the game and the respect he/she gives to the sport, following all ethics. Next is an athlete's strive for distinction which symbolizes winning and the importance of sports. Third is the culture of risk athletes play. They put themselves in such harms way that it is only right to go about it ethically, because anything else might be barbaric. Finally is the athletes rejection of all obstacles on the path to success, wanting to beat the odds at any moment. These four dimensions give sports the respect they demand which forms the ethics around them. From personal instances I can say I have experienced the first of these dimensions the most in my life. While growing up I developed an immense love for the game of baseball and began to respect it as much as anything. As soon as I heard stepping on the white-chalk foul line would bring upon bad luck I watched my every step on those fields. Till this day I refuse to step on any foul line, out of respect for the game. That does not mean change cannot happen though, because inevitably sports must adapt to new morals and values that begin to shape society. Sports is often an excellent representation of how evolved people are, just look at how the NFL is getting safer as our country looks negatively upon head injury and future brain damage. Sometimes there "is a need for new guidelines to replace the old ones"(Hughes and Coakley 323). Until then sports must be played within its ethics and wait for change to come naturally as society changes.

Coakley, Jay. Sports in Society: Issues and Controversies, Tenth Edition. New York City: McGrawHill, 2009. Print.

Hughes, Robert; Coakley, Jay. Positive Deviance Among Athletes: The Implications of Overconformity to the Sport Ethic. Sociology of Sport Journal. 1991