Ethics in Sport (OCR GCSE Physical Education (PE)): Revision Note

Sportsmanship, gamesmanship & deviance in sport

• Ethics is a set of moral principles based on what is deemed right and wrong, not simply what is legal or illegal

  • Anyone taking part in sport must take personal responsibility and conduct themselves in a way which is fully compliant with the rules and the expected behaviours of the sport

  • Bending or breaking the rules can have serious consequences for performers and the reputation of their sport

• Sportsmanship

  • This is the appropriate and fair behaviour while participating in sport

  • It involves respecting others, including the opposition, and acting graciously upon winning and being magnanimous in defeat

  • E.g. shaking hands at the start and end of a match, helping a rival player up if they are down injured, or a player calling the ball 'in' at a tennis match, even though the line judge called it 'out', thereby giving the point to their opponent

• Gamesmanship

  • This involves 'bending' the rules in a dubious way as to not be punished or disciplined for rule-breaking

    • this is often to gain an advantage over other competitors

    • whilst not cheating, it is not in the spirit of the game

  • E.g. purposefully time wasting to prevent the opposition scoring in hockey or simulating contact in the penalty area to try to win a penalty in football

• Defiance

  • This is behaviour that is cheating, immoral, and often illegal

  • E.g. taking performance enhancing drugs, match fixing or deliberate dangerous fouls with intent to harm

  • Tends to happen when:

    • sportspeople place too high a priority or importance on winning over anything else

    • There is significant pressure from coaches, teammates and fans

    • Additional pressure from the media and sponsors

    • Financial pressure which causes a 'win at all costs' mentality

    • Lack of moral code