The major goals of our course are to:

• Learn different approaches to the study of sport and leisure
• Learn to conduct and interpret research about sport and leisure
• Understand how sport and leisure interact with other social forces, both local and global
• Acquire the ability to evaluate public policies and ethical issues about sport and leisure
• Learn to use library and computer resources to enhance your knowledge of sport/leisure
• Learn to make practical applications of your knowledge and to communicate effectively

Required Reading:

     Jay Coakley, Sport in Society., 6th ed., Times Mirror/Mosby, 1998
     Readings on reserve at circulation desk, Walsh Library
 

Read the Op-ed page in the Sport Section of Sunday's The New York Times.  Leisure information is available in the lifestyle section of most newspapers.  Novels, TV, poetry, movies and cartoons are also good sources of information and insight about leisure and sport.
 

Grading:*

        Two tests = 25% each

Policy on Late Assignments
No make-up exams, quizzes or extensions of deadlines on projects, etc. will be given without my prior approval. Failure to do so will result in a ( F ) Failure = Zero points.  Emergencies must be documented.
 

Policy on Plagiarism
You will receive my assistance to do well in this class and to have no reason for cheating or plagiarism.  For clarification,  consult your Student Handbook.  My policy is: ONE STRIKE AND YOU ARE O_U_T!  If found guilty of plagiarism on the first offense, you will receive an F for the course and the appropriate Dean will be notified.

        Text, Ch. 1

        Canada's Approaches to Leisure
        The Virtual Resource Center for Sports Information
        Sport in Africa
        Dorris Kearns Goodwin on Brooklyn and the Dodgers
 

B.   How Sociologists Approach Leisure and Sport

        Text, Ch. 2

        SocioSite for Sport (bookmark this Web page for future use)
        Leisure Information Network
 

C.  The Olympic Games: Global Promise or Problem?

        Boutilier and San Giovanni.  "Ideology, Public Policy and Olympic Achievement (library)

        Extinguishing the Flame?  (interview on National Public Radio with Olympic Scholars)
        Sydney 2000: Official Site of the Olympic Games
        The International Olympic Committee
        Gold Medal Gunslingers

D.  Socialization into Sport and Leisure: Why Plays and Why?

        Text, Ch. 4

        G. Smith, The Noble Sports Fan (library)
        M. Messner, The Meaning of Success (library)
        Handout in class: "The Wide World of Hopscotch"
 

E.  What happened to children's leisure?

        Text, Ch.5

        Poll of American Leisure Activities
        Child Labor in Nike's Vietnam
        National Consortium on Recreation and Youth Development
 

F.  Deviance in Sport: Drugs, Violence and Cheating

        Text, Ch. 6

        Football Violence in Europe (soccer)
        Initiation Rites/Hazing in College Sport
 

G.  High School and College Sports

        Text, Ch.14

        College Hoops (N.J. Online bulletin board)
        Texas High School Rodeo
        M. Sperber, Myths About College Sports (library)
        H.G. Bissinger, High School Football and Academics (library)
        Handout in class: "Expect college athletes to demand pay"
 
 

H.   The Influence of Power on Sport and Leisure

        Text, Ch.8 (Gender)
        Women's Sport on the Web
        Amy Lewis' Women and Sport Site
        Is Women's Pro Basketball Making It?

        Text, Ch. 9 (Race and Ethnicity)
        Jews in Sport
        K. Simpson, Sporting Dreams Die on the "Rez" (library)
 

       Text, Ch. 10 (Social Class)
       D. Foley, The Great American Football Ritual (library)

        The Federation of Gay Games
        Gay/Lesbian Recreation and Sport
        British Wheelchair Sports Foundation
        The Special Olympics
 

I.  Dollars and "Sense": Economic Controversies

        Text, Ch. 11

        Boycott Nike site
        Sport Stadium Madness: Why it Started,  How to Stop It
        J. Weisman, Big Buck Basketball: Acolytes in the Temple of Nike (library)
        Handout in class: "No Free Speech for Employees, On or Off the Job"
 

J.     Mass Media: Contested Images and Symbols

        Text, Ch. 12

        Klatell and Marcus, Journalism and the Bottom Line (library)
        CBS and the NFL
        Sports sections of U.S. Newspapers
        Sports Radio!
        Sports Interviews: NPR
        Messner et al, Separating the Men from the Girls (library)
 
 
 
 
 
 

K. The Future of Sport & Leisure

        Text  Ch. 16

        Sky High
        Why People Go to the Wilderness
 
 

Research Project:  Working alone or in groups, students will conduct original research on some aspect of sport/leisure.
Topics and research techniques will be discussed in class.  Papers will be 8-10 pages long and I will assist you in various
steps of the research process during the semester.
 

A SPORTING MODEL OF OUR COURSE: I find it useful to think of a sports analogy in making sense of our course. You are the athlete.  The classes, readings, Internet sites and group discussions are your practice sessions. The projects and exams are your "big games" and I am your..... COACH!  In order to get good grades YOU have to "work on your game".   Don't worry if the "ball goes into the net" at times (that's the only way to learn tennis);  it's your overall desire, and practice that makes a good tennis player. Please let me know how I can help you to make this a successful semester.
 

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