Writing Assignment

Leadership and Sports Ethics

MSA 624 Unit # 7 Part 1

Women in Sports and Ethical Considerations for Intellectual Property in Sports

Format for Unit sessions

• Introduction of the Unit

• Unit Topics

• Christian worldview applications

• Major points for the week’s learning

2

Introduction to Unit

• This week, we look at ethical considerations of women in sports.

• We will also explore the Biblical principle of respect.

• Finally, we will examine ethical considerations for intellectual property in sports.

3

Topics we’ll cover

• Ethical considerations of race in sports

• Biblical principles of diversity

• The ethical duties of sports agents

4

Unit Objectives

• Consider principles of respect from the Bible

• Discern sports ethics issue of women in sports

• Review ethical considerations for intellectual property in sports

• Solve sports ethics cases

5

Questions for Reflection & Study

• What are 3-5 ethical leadership principles from the New Testament?

• What are sports ethics issues and solutions for women in sports?

• What are sports ethics issues and solutions surrounding intellectual property?

6

Biblical Foundation

• James 2:1-1-13 We are to show respect to everyone

▫ Don’t show favoritism, particularly due to position, race or gender. That is wrong.

▫ Treat all with respect no matter what their race, gender or position

▫ Look to do good to all those you work with

7

Biblical Foundation (cont.)

• Proverbs 4 Follow wisdom

▫ Wisdom personified as a woman

▫ Do not follow bad examples. Be your own person and don’t follow the crowd, particularly when they are disrespecting others

▫ Foul talk has no place in ethical leadership, particularly talk that denigrates others

▫ Avoid sexual harassment: “Let your eyes look straight ahead” (Proverbs 4:25).

8

Women in Sports Leadership

• Many changes in culture with women holding leadership positions in business, politics, law and education (for example)

• In sports world, women have become: announcers, participants, sports lawyers, team executives and sports agents

9

Women in Sports

• More girls participating in youth sports

• Colleges and universities are promoting women’s sports at an increasing rate

• Growing interest in female sports by fans

10

Ethical Issues with Women in Sports

• Women’s sports have historically had fewer resources at many levels of sports:

▫ Publicity

▫ Medical services provided

▫ Travel expenses

▫ Scheduling

▫ Operating expenses and provision of equipment

▫ Number of and payment to coaches

▫ Access to facilities and quality of facilities

11

Ethical Issues with Women in Sports

(cont.)

• The general rule is that if only one team is available, women can also try out and play

▫ Seems to apply primarily to non contact sports

▫ If women have ample opportunity to compete on their own, courts appear less likely to allow women to compete with men in contact sports

12

Title IX

• No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in , be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance

• Applies to primary and secondary schools as well

• Objective was to give women an equal opportunity to develop and apply their athletic skills

13

Title IX (cont.)

• Is limited to federally funded educational programs

• Applies to admission policies of institutions of vocational, professional, graduate and undergraduate education

• Applies to policies and practices including athletic programs

• Many problems (and debate) have arisen in regard to the scope of the statute’s application

14

Title IX (cont.)

• The Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) department of the federal government passed Title IX as regulations in 1972

• Permitted an athletic department that receives federal funds to maintain separate teams for each sex if selection is based on competitive skill OR is sport involved is a contact sport

15

Title IX (cont.)

• The competitive skill exception applies in most cases so schools are then allowed to field male and female teams in the same sports

• If no team is sponsored for one gender in a particular sports and women have had a history of limited opportunities in that sport, women must be permitted to try out for the men’s team

16

Title IX (cont.)

• Under Title IX, contact sports include:

▫ Boxing and wrestling

▫ Rugby

▫ Ice hockey

▫ Football

▫ Basketball

▫ Other sports in which purpose or major activity involves bodily contact (which might include baseball or soccer)

17

Biblical Perspectives on Respect

• 1 Peter 2:17

▫ Show proper respect to everyone

▫ But, especially show respect to God

▫ Honor proper authorities

▫ Genuine concern for others is closely associated with respect

18

Biblical Perspectives on Respect

(cont.)

• 1 Thessalonians 5:22

▫ Avoid every kind of evil

▫ Sexual harassment via word or action is unacceptable for a SMP

▫ A SMP must speak out when he or she sees it occurring in others

▫ A SMP must also be aware that false accusations do occur so be careful to hear from all sides before making a decision (see also Proverbs 18:17)

19

Biblical Perspectives on Respect

(cont.)

• 2 Corinthians 10:7-18

▫ We must not look only at appearances (the surface) when we view people

▫ Words need to be backed up in action

▫ People should be compared with equitable groups

20

Ethics and Intellectual Property

• A major issue for sport franchises, owners, players and universities

• Applies to trade secrets, infringing a company’s trademark or a copyright, and knock-off goods

21

Ethics and Intellectual Property

(cont.)

• The theft of sports intellectual property, particularly in the form of knock-off goods has become a “sport” in itself in the U.S. and also internationally

• A seller of black market goods can become difficult to detect and apprehend

• Operation Gridiron swept the streets of unlicensed NFL goods during the 2007 Super Bowl

22

Ethics and Intellectual Property

(cont.)

• Teams need to police their marks: logos and trademarks

• The licensing of intellectual property is big business so must be protected

• Civil and criminal penalties are in place for the infringer and thieves

23

The Internet and Legal Challenges

• “Real time” game casts

• Fantasy websites using player statistics

24

Review

• Considered principles of respect from the Bible

• Discerned sports ethics issue of women in sports

• Reviewed ethical considerations for intellectual property in sports

• Solved sports ethics cases

25

Questions for Reflection & Study

• What are 3-5 ethical leadership principles from the New Testament?

• What are sports ethics issues and solutions for women in sports?

• What are sports ethics issues and solutions surrounding intellectual property?

26

Recap of Unit

• We looked at ethical considerations of women in sports.

• We also explored Biblical principle of respect.

• Finally, we examined ethical considerations for intellectual property in sports.

27

References

• Thornton, P.; Champion, W. and Ruddell, L. (2011). Sports Ethics for Sports Management Professionals. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

28

What next?

• Take the Unit Quiz

• Complete your detailed reading

• Answer the discussion questions

• Complete the writing assignments

29

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This concludes Unit 7 Part 1