6 Comparative study of the USA and UK Notes for Teachers This section of the syllabus focuses on the factors that affect participation and improve competence in physical activity as part of a balanced, active and healthy lifestyle in the USA as compared to the UK. Students will be asked to make comparisons about systems, procedures, policies and practice in both countries. Higher marks are only accessed when direct comparisons are made. Taking the syllabus as a whole, students will be asked to compare the USA with the UK and Australia with the UK. Comparisons between the USA and Australia are not required. Chapter Overview As an experienced teacher, you will have your own and the USA differ markedly in the context of culture procedure for delivery but it is advisable to teach one but the concept of intra-mural sport in the USA is topic across all three countries, drawing comparisons as progress is made. Understanding the cultural background of a country is This subject area is both stimulating and exciting. It the area that students find most difficult. Knowledge and will give you the chance to use anecdote and your understanding of this is necessary to access the higher experience to make the topics come alive. For example, levels on the 20-mark stretch and challenge question. can you recall the newsworthy events of the Sydney Try to link cultural determinants to practical situations and the Atlanta Olympic Games or the atmosphere and examples. The Lombardian win ethic which, for when seeing your first Ashes test. Is it the 21-century example, was demonstrated by both teams and their media hype that make these occasions special or is it the coaches during the 2009 Super Bowl could well be a mythology established by historical cultural conflict? legacy of frontierism. If frontierism is the historical base You will find support both from the A2 student book and from the AS socio-cultural text which focuses on the UK but has also good studies both on the USA and Australia. Make students aware from the outset that the syllabus is broad and sometimes complex. Urge them to read as part of their homework. Whether undertaken as voluntary study or stimulated through regular testing in class, additional reading is necessary for success and will make your job easier. Be aware that a direct comparison is sometimes difficult to find but there is always an equivalent. For example, there is no Title IX legislation in the UK but equality is of foremost importance in the delivery of Physical Education and sport. This is endorsed in the recent UK initiative entitled Every Child Matters. Remind students that a comparison is not always a difference but can be a similarity. For example, the UK similar to intra-school sport in the UK. of Lombardianism then the economic system and the aspiration towards the Dream perpetuates the win-atall-cost ethic. The 2009 Super Bowl spectacle was presented over a period of four hours. This extended duration was necessary to include extravagant side show entertainment and lucrative advertisement breaks. This exemplifies that the American Big Four sports are inextricably linked to commercialism and to the cultural framework that has emerged in the short social history of the USA. While this chapter sets out to cover the full USA syllabus, it is discerning about the coverage of the UK syllabus. The selection of particular topics from the UK is deliberate to avoid replication in chapter 7, which compares the UK with Australia. 46 Pearson Education Ltd 2009
A2 PE (for OCR) Teacher Resource File 6 Comparative study of the USA and the UK Learning objectives: By the end of this chapter students should have knowledge and understanding of: the cultural context of sport in the USA and the UK PE and school sport in the USA and the UK mass participation in sport in the USA and the UK sport and the pursuit of excellence in the USA and the UK how to critically evaluate the influence of the cultural context on all of the above. Pearson Education Ltd 2009 47
6 Comparative study of the USA and the UK A2 PE (for OCR) Teacher Resource File 6.1 The cultural context of the USA and the UK Using the headings identified below, explain how historical determinants have shaped the development of sport in the USA and the UK. USA Policy of isolation Marginalisation of UK sports Promotion of Big Four sports baseball, gridiron football, basketball and ice hockey Frontierism UK Nineteenth-century public schools Nineteenth-century notion of amateurism and professionalism Organisation of society Importance of Empire 48 Pearson Education Ltd 2009
A2 PE (for OCR) Teacher Resource File 6 Comparative study of the USA and the UK 6.2 Commercialisation of sport in the USA Sport in the USA is highly commercialised. The following factors have influenced the growth of commercialism in the USA. Arrange these factors in order of importance. Business cartel: Professional sport in the USA is organised as a commercial industry and operates as a business cartel for the sole purpose of profit making. The media: The media outlet of television became inextricably linked with sport and commercial sponsorship. The media pays large sums of money into sports and competes for television rights. In such a large country the media enables sport to be accessible to all Americans. Commercial sponsorship: Large businesses sponsor sport and this operation is linked to the media outlet of television. Capitalism: Capitalism is the economic system that gives wealth and control to the individual. It enables great financial profit to be made. Lombardianism: Capitalism generates intense competition between individuals. In sport this competitive ethic is prominent and is termed Lombardianism. The American Dream: The Dream is the keystone of American culture. It draws together and endorses all cultural forces. Ultimately, capitalism makes the Dream accessible to all citizens. The Dream can be attained through sport. Order of importance: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pearson Education Ltd 2009 49
6 Comparative study of the USA and the UK A2 PE (for OCR) Teacher Resource File 6.3 Social values in the USA and the UK Explain the values identified below that are upheld by USA and UK societies. Value Land of opportunity Pluralism Hegemony Stacking Centrality Lombardian ethic Counter culture ethic Radical ethic Value Democracy Teamwork Individuality Fair play Explanation Explanation USA UK Competitiveness Participation Discrimination 50 Pearson Education Ltd 2009
A2 PE (for OCR) Teacher Resource File 6 Comparative study of the USA and the UK 6.4 School sport in the USA and the UK Compare inter-mural High School sport in the USA with inter-school sport in the UK. Your comparisons should focus on the organisation, status and ethos of sport in both countries. Organisation Status Ethos Inter-mural sport in the USA Played in the High School stadium. Alumni donations (financial support from former pupils) help to finance teams. Gate money is an important source of revenue. Sport has high status and is considered to be more important than Physical Education. The best players are awarded scholarships from colleges (universities). High School sport is a direct reflection of the professional sports scene. Sport is very expensive with media, sponsorship and large crowds. High School sport is organised as a business. Inter-school sport in the UK Competitions and leagues are administered by several agencies, e.g. teachers organising friendly fixtures, local school leagues and NGB competitions. Frequently organised as extra-curricular activities after school. Some sponsorship from businesses may be available but sponsorship is not widespread. The Physical Education teacher is often in charge of the organisation and coaching of teams. Some schools and colleges have developed academies of sport but these tend to be associated with professional sports clubs. The coach is employed on the basis of a contract that is termed hire and fire. Sport tends to be exclusive and elitist. Little media attention is given to UK inter-school sport. Winning is not of overriding importance. Participation is considered more important than winning. Pearson Education Ltd 2009 51
6 Comparative study of the USA and the UK A2 PE (for OCR) Teacher Resource File 6.5 A comparison of intra-school sports in the USA and the UK Fill in the gaps using words from the box below to complete this comparison of USA and UK schools. Intra-school sport in the UK is organised on similar lines to USA sports. Intra-school sport is most prominent in and operates both in the private and statefunded sectors of education. As with the USA, version intra-school sport tends to be, but has the scope to be very. An example of competitive intra-school sport in the UK is the traditional athletics held both in primary and secondary schools. Competitions are usually arranged between school Houses, and although traditional sports such as football and netball continue to be dominant, most schools offer a wide range of activities. In the UK intra-school sport is associated with a participation ethic. Intra-mural sports in the USA have a similar philosophy which is termed the. In keeping with the organisation in the USA the intra-school/college sports leagues in the UK may be organised by teachers or students. Teams are formed on the basis of. Matches are often arranged during timetabled and sports lessons, but also take place during and after school. For students aged 16 18 in further education, intra-school sports may be the basis of an. competitive friendship groups sports day secondary schools radical ethic intra-mural recreational Enrichment Programme PE lunch periods 52 Pearson Education Ltd 2009
A2 PE (for OCR) Teacher Resource File 6 Comparative study of the USA and the UK 6.6 Physical Education and sport in USA High Schools Explain the following terms in the context of Physical Education and sport in the USA. The curriculum crisis in Physical Education Title IX Adaptive Physical Education Outdoor education High School inter-mural sport High School intra-mural sport Physical Education for Progress (PEP) strategy Pearson Education Ltd 2009 53
6 Comparative study of the USA and the UK A2 PE (for OCR) Teacher Resource File 6.7 Organisations and strategies in the USA and the UK Below are listed some of the organisations and strategies that promote mass participation, lifelong involvement and healthy lifestyles in the UK and the USA. Match the name of each strategy or organisation to the correct explanation. Strategy/Organisation Local initiatives Sportsmatch National governing bodies Special interest groups Sport England Strategy/Organisation Intra-mural sports Midnight Leagues Little Leagues The Amateur Athletic Union Inter-mural sports UK Explanation This scheme requires club or community facility organisations to provide initial investment. The sum raised is then doubled by a grant. Groups that tend not to participate in sport are targeted by Sport England. This organisation, along with other home country sports councils such as the Sports Council for Wales, promotes mass participation. These agencies receive central funding to encourage young people to take up sport. The Rugby Football Union, for example, employs local and regional development officers to promote participation. These are important community sport providers. For example, in the Greater Manchester area, Sport for all centres organise basketball, netball, badminton and 5-a-side football for all abilities and age groups. USA Explanation They organise sports on inner city asphalt playgrounds during what may be described as unsociable hours. Basketball is the major game. School sport that involves schools playing against other schools in organised sports competitions. High School sport has high status. Recreational sports that take place within the High School. At this level activities may involve leagues and are open to all students, who form their own teams. They take responsibility for the organisation of junior sports that take place in the community. This organisation coordinates sports leagues and competitions in over 30 sports. It also administers the National Youth Fitness Programme as a part of the President s Challenge. 54 Pearson Education Ltd 2009
A2 PE (for OCR) Teacher Resource File 6 Comparative study of the USA and the UK 6.8 Competitive sports for young people in the USA Write a short essay on the role of Little Leagues in the promotion of competitive sports for young people. Your answer should include at least five directly relevant facts and examples of Little League sports. Write notes for your essay below. Pearson Education Ltd 2009 55
6 Comparative study of the USA and the UK A2 PE (for OCR) Teacher Resource File 6.9 Sport and the pursuit of excellence in the USA Define the following key terms linked with sport and the pursuit of excellence in the USA. College scholarship Special admit programmes Pro draft system WASP domination Tokenism Stacking Centrality The glass ceiling White flight Opportunity (as it relates to ethnic minorities) Provision (as it relates to ethnic minorities) Esteem (as it relates to ethnic minorities) 56 Pearson Education Ltd 2009
A2 PE (for OCR) Teacher Resource File 6 Comparative study of the USA and the UK 6.10 Origins and nature of USA sports 1 The American Big Four sports were either adopted from another culture, adapted from existing sports or invented. Explain the meaning of each category, then identify which of the Big Four sports belongs in each category. Explain briefly the impact of USA universities on each sport. Category Explanation Sport(s) in this category Adaptation Explanation Adoption Invention Impact of universities on development of sports 2 The nature of the Big Four USA sports suit the culture of the New World. Choose the words or phrases that best describe the nature of each of the Big Four sports and write them in the table. Each word or phrase can be used to describe more than one sport. Name of sport Basketball Baseball American gridiron football Ice hockey Words or phrases that describe the nature of the sport sensational violent high scoring collision or impact sport intensive end to end action dehumanising equipment/helmet gladiatorial aura a winner emerges a media commodity Lombardian ethos a business cartel Pearson Education Ltd 2009 57