![]() |
Dr. Val Farmer | ||
Rural Mental Health & Family Relationships | |||
9. Role of Sports in SocietyLoginArticlesSports Fanatics, "Get A Life" (February 1996)
Yea team! Most spectator sports are a positive, healthy expression of energy and involvement. The entertainment is sedentary and social. It is a part of our cultural conversation and helps unify a community. Studies have shown that watching TV s In Sports, Winning Is Not The Only Thing (July 1996)
The July 1996 "APA Monitor," published by the American Psychological Association, summarizes the effect of sports and competition. Here are some interesting findings. Are sports good for children? Phys Readers Give Pros and Cons On Athletics (September 2000)
This column has the thoughtful comments of a father who coached teams ove the years and saw the good they can do. He outlines how good coaches approach their relationships with the team. A second comes from an unhappy parent who feels non-athletes have a hard time in rural communities. Father Expresses Concern About Impact Of Sports (October 2000)
This article describes a father's reaction on how sports affects family and church participation. He also notes the improvement in his sons life once his son stopped playing football. He shares a letter he wrote to his teenage son explaining he and his wife's reasons for asking him to drop football. Glory Of Championship Football Elusive (October 2004)
This article looks at H.G. Bissinger's book and movie "Friday Night Lights" as a cautionary tale on the dangers of success for high school athletes who become the focus of community adulation. Are You A Fan Or A Fanatic? (January 2005)
This article explores the motivations of people sho become obsessed with their local and national sports teams. Concepts such as "Basking In Reflected Glory" are explained as bolstering self-esteem in vulerable individuals. When Do Sports Stop Being Fun? (April 2009)
This article describes how the emphasis on winning distorts a child's feelings about sports, expecially after age 12 and above. This article has some recommendations for coaches and parents on how to handle sports participation in a positive way. YOU CAN LOSE A GAME BUT YOU CAN’T LOSE A PARTY
From the moment we arrived, in our BYU colors, we were greeted with respect courtesy and hospitality. We heard an expression about the importance of victory and winning at Ole Miss, "You can lose a game but you can't lose a party. "The people went out of their way to express their appreciation for having come to Oxford. They were proud on their community and University and hoped we were getting a positive impression. They wished us a good game. There wasn't a rude or unkind remark mentioned before or after the game. The hospitality was consistently genuine. |
|||