the sociology of sport P5IP

SOCL215-1203B-18 P2IP

Colorado Technical University

Connie Hutson

2 September 2012

Basketball

SOCL215-1203B-18 P2IP

Colorado Technical University

Connie Hutson

2 September 2012

Basketball

Basketball started in 1891. Dr, James Naismith, set out the sport. He was a physician education instructor and a professor at the International Young Men’s Christian Association Training School in Massachusetts. This was during the winter period. He wanted to come up with an indoor activity that will ensure his students maintain their high level of fitness without going outdoors. During the initial days, the ball had to be retrieved from the basket each time a basket was made. The use of a closed basket proved to be too inefficient, which lead to the use of open baskets at the bottom. Currently, an open net attached to a metallic rim is used. The initial sport involved passing the ball without dribbling. This was due to the asymmetrical nature of the ball. During the 1950s, dribbling was incorporated into the basketball game due to improved nature of the balls. The sport started to be more popular among the black, American society (McClellan, 2010).

Basketball has enjoyed a massive support in the United States to become a second sport after the American football. The sport has become the second high rated sport after the American football in terms of support. The sport enjoys a massive fan support all over the country. In addition, the game is hugely popular due to the nature of space needed to create its court. The sport has become a daily normal support where almost all people can play it (McClellan, 2010). Due to the exceptional support this sport has in the American society, basketball fits into the contemporary American society. Both the young and the old in the society play basketball. Basketballs’ influence on society is predictable due to the nature of the professional players. The players are celebrities in the society, which means that they can influence the society, negatively or positively.

Basketball reflects most of the cultural traits in the United States. It reflects a movement from segregation to integration in the society. This was evident when the African Americans were not allowed to play in the country league until in 1950s. From 1950 onwards, the African American society has actively participated in the sport. The sport is highly covered in the media as it is reported about forty-seven percent of the Americans watch each basketball game on the media. This exposure by the media has made to be a truly luxurious and well paying job in the American society. In addition, it has led to the spread of the sport to other continents (McClellan, 2010).

In the past, the sport was used to represent the African American race. The sport was enormously popular in the African community. After the 1950s the sport became integrated where all the communities started to participate in it. The sport is exceedingly common especially in young urban youths. Due to the demanding nature of the sport, only the young people can participate effective in it. In addition, the middle aged can play for leisure (McClellan, 2010). Basketball is a sport that has made sure the social values in the society are realized. Basketball has also made certain that people from different races and ethnics come together to enjoy its extreme value. For example, the selection of teams is based on talent and not a race.

Resource

McClellan, R., (2010) Basketball Minneapolis, MN Bellwether Media