The Sport Ethic

Work harder, go faster, and go longer, so you can be better, quicker, and stronger. That, in its essence, is what what we call the “Sport Ethic.” It is the idea that athletes must push themselves to be what they believe to be a “real athlete.” This concept may seem like it belongs on a poster, and it does, because that is what society has determined to be the formula for success. What coach wouldn’t love a player that constantly stayed three extra hours in the gym? Show up early for practice on a Sunday? Play through pain for the good of the team? For an athlete, reaching that “next level” requires these things; it demands them. What we should be asking here is, why?

In an article titled, “Positive Deviance Among Athletes,” written by Jay Coakley and Robert Hughes, the two map out the implications of what happens when athletes over-conform to what we call, the “Sport Ethic.” To examine this, we must take a closer look at their four dimensions of this concept.

1.     Being an athlete involves making sacrifices for The Game.

What this concept really boils down to is the athlete’s commitment to the game. They must put this above all else that they are committed to excellence, and have an unwavering spirit for their sport.

2.     Being an athlete involves striving for distinction.

The word distinction is used here to imply that the athlete desires to remove themselves from the masses, and become better than the rest. This requires motivation and drive, whether that drive comes from internal or external reward—the concept remains that they must truly yearn to better themselves and strive for perfection.

3.     Being an athlete involves accepting risks and playing through plain.

         

This is simple enough; it is the notion that because you are an athlete—you play through any pressures that could possibly hinder your ability to succeed. That includes, but is not limited to: injury, stress, fatigue etc.

4.     Being an athlete involves refusing to accept limits in the pursuit of possibilities.

This dimension of the “Sport Ethic” is one that takes the ideas of sport and personifies it. An athlete should always acknowledge that they must use their skills within the game to reach unseen heights and pursue perfection.

These concepts are simply the things that athletes see as being a real athlete, otherwise known as the “Sports Ethic.” They exist because of the athlete’s willingness to conform. Our society has created a realm to which limits to not a play, and ceilings should not exist. Athletes desire to reach the level to which they can be great, rewards aside, athletes must be driven enough to push themselves to achieve the ultimate success. The willingness to conform can come from number of reasons: fame, money, personal satisfaction, glory, legacy, etc. An athlete sees another athlete in their field, and automatically desires to be better…well that’s what the great ones do. Those who fully embrace theses ideals demonstrate something called ‘positive deviance;’ deviance is often thought as something that is regressing from the norm, but positive deviance is demonstrated here by the athletes full committal to ‘The Game.’

    I myself have fallen victim to this “Sport Ethic.” I only refer to myself as a victim because I suffered the consequences of over-committal. My first two years of college were spent at College of Marin in California, playing basketball. During a tournament near the California-Oregon border, I felt my legs begin to cramp. I felt this, but also recognized that a teammate had previously gone down with a bad ankle sprain in the first quarter—I knew I had to play through it. I felt a rip in my right hamstring, but refused to acknowledge it, and for two years I played colligate level basketball with a tear in the casing of my hamstring muscle. Three years later I was forced off my leg and into surgery. Haven’t played since.

    Being an athlete requires a unique sense of self-identity. It requires that one must constantly push them so that they can better themselves. It becomes less about the game, and more about identity. That reason alone is why the “Sport Ethic” exists. It will always be there, because someone is always better.