PE 6 Comparing America and Britain

1. PE 6 Comparing America and Britain

2. Introduction • In many ways America is the world leader: the way its athletes are treated, the resources available and the way the major sports are funded.

3. The geography of America and its effect on sport • America’s size is of great benefit to its people economically and in terms of leisure. • America is made up of many different lanscapes and climates that affect what Americans can do. • Generally the warm climate and the whole variety available mean that Americans have a broad choice of things to do.

4. It is not surprising therefore that many of the activities/lifestyles, jobs and life skills are centred on hunting, fishing and horse riding. • The idea of the ‘gun lobby’, which agrees that keeping guns is an important part of self defence, dates back to the days of the pioneers, when a man needed to defend himself against all.

5. Geography • Population - 250 million (Britain 60 million) • ¾ live in cities, so population is dense in the cities by very sparse in other areas. • Climate – all types – Very cold (high plateau. Alberquerque - practice area for the Olympic Games.); Semi-tropical (Gulf region); Rainy (central plateau) and wilderness. • Size - 3.5 million square miles.

6. Geography • 51 states. • Each state is about the same size as a European country but with less population. • America has 3 geographical areas: • Highland (Appalachians to the east) • Plateaus (Mid-America) • Mountains (Rockies to the west)

8. Transport • Planes and inter-state buses - The Greyhounds. • Inter-state trains. • Great use of cars –long distances to travel

9. American Sport • American sport is the most technically advanced sport in the world. • Its stars are the wealthiest in the world. • They are world champions in many sports.

10. The development of Americansport

11. American Sport • The American people have an obsession with sport – sport has a strong influence on all social and cultural aspects. • Millions play and pay to watch sport ‘live’ and on television. • Billions are spent on leisure and sport. • Most sports performers earn millions, and clubs are run as commercial companies.

12. American Sport • The interesting thing about sport in America is the fact that the sports are not played anywhere else in the world – this is a good example of how sport reflects the country’s culture. • America’s history and self-belief have underlain sport where ‘world championships’ are held in American football, ice hockey, baseball and basketball that are open to America only!!

13. American Sport • Like many ‘New World’ countries, America has colonial links. • But these were early in the country’s historical development, and for years America developed separately from all, especially Europe. • During this time, many sports developed from European games so that they suited America’s new appearance.

14. American Sport • Ancient games - Baggataway/Lacrosse • European appearance - Baseball • Rationalising period - American football • Independence and separatism - Basketball

15. American Sport • Task • What are the main differences between baseball and rounders?

16. American Sport • In sports like hockey and football, a harder, more attractive game was developed (American football and ice hockey). • Games like these are now associated with America. • These were developed to reflect American society and because of this they have not developed away from America.

17. Task • Compare football in Britain with American football. • Compare the historical and cultural differences that have led to 2 completely different games.

18. American Sport • American sports tend to be games full of incidents to increase the entertainment. American sports reflect their culture, winning is important. • ‘The winning principle’ or ‘Lombardi’s Principle’

19. American Sport Lombardi’s Principle: • Named after the successful coach of the Green Bay Packers in the 50s- Vince Lombardi. • He developed the idea that winning was all-important. • This was completely contrary to the idea of sportsmanship.

20. "There's only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give it everything. I do, and I demand that my players do.""If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you'll be fired with enthusiasm.""Mental toughness is essential to success.""You never win a game unless you beat the guy in front of you. The score on the board doesn't mean a thing. That's for the fans. You've got to win the war with the man in front of you. You've got to get your man."

21. Success demands singleness of purpose.""Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will be judged by only one thing - the result.""Winning is not a sometime thing: it's an all the time thing. You don't win once in a while; you don't do the right thing once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.""Winning isn't everything - but wanting to win is.""It's easy to have faith in yourself and have discipline when you're a winner, when you're number one. What you've got to have is faith and discipline when you're not yet a winner.""I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfilment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."

22. American Sport • It is this idea which encourages every American and promotes the idea of the American dream • The idea of ‘rags to riches’ where everybody can eventually become a hero • The best example of this is the film Rocky

24. American Sport • The industrial aspect of American sport makes it unique. • At all levels, from professional national teams to the high school American football team, they are run as businsesses. • The influence of television is so important and many sports depend on the money produced by the television companies and advertising.

25. American Sport • American sport heroes are millionaires. • Indeed many players are on multi-million dollar contracts. • Many players, like Michael Jordan, make even more money by being sponsored.

28. American Sport • In spite of all the money, there is another side: • Sport in America is elitist. • e.g. in athletics, there is not one amateur club where individuals can train and compete. • Clubs are based in educational institutions like schools and colleges or professional institutions.

29. American Sport • To most Americans, sport is something to watch on television, and something you don’t do after leaving school.

30. American Sport • Television affects the rules of a game, e.g. American football has developed into a ‘staccato- stop go’ game. • The reason for this is to enable companies to advertise their products every 5 minutes. • Many of these aspects are now starting to permeate British sport. • And we are finding it difficult to stop our sport being Americanised.

31. Task • What effect have the factors noted on the sheet ‘Comparing Britain and America’ had on the sports system in the USA?