Sport Controversy

Words: 802
Pages: 4

We should not be surprised that racial, culture, and social differences could exist among any sport team, high performing group, business, military unit, or any other situation or venue where two or more people have gathered together. Sport is a reflection of society, which is so dynamic and complex that no one has been able to determine the best way to approach such melting pot issues (issues as related to different peoples, styles, theories, etc., that are mixed together). Even eye contact in conversations with a coach can be misconstrued. Clothing, choice of food, and/or religious practices are other issues that can erupt in conflict creating divisiveness (Schinke, Blodgett, McGannon, & Parham, 2014). If an athlete from a collectivist …show more content…
Founding fathers fought over the same type issues we are faced today; therefore, it does not surprise me when our congress erupts in dismay over some of the same issues that have hovered over our society for over 200 years. Perhaps our system survives because no one person or organization can rule with a complete majority in opinion without controversy (i.e., the storming stage of group development). Perhaps this is what brings teams together in the end (i.e., forming, storming, norming, and …show more content…
56), which seems to support the mindset of being inclusive of all athletes as well. Transformational leadership can also influence followers’ values, needs, awareness, and performance (p. 57). Transformational leadership could increase reflexive awareness where the team captain, for example, could model a better or more complete understanding of how to interact with athletes who are different in regards to races, cultures, and social differences; thereby decreasing any chance of marginalizing an athlete who was different, especially if the coach and other leaders embraced reflective practices (p. 328). That is, practices where one conducts introspection and reflective practices as a positive step in recognizing cultural diversity within the sport context (p. 328). Transformational leadership also enhances performance by accentuating the enjoyment of sports regardless of the extrinsic rewards (p. 60). This indicates a link to self-determination theory as well. If coaches create a positive and mastery environment that promotes development toward the intrinsic side of the continuum, then perhaps athletes would be more inclusive of others. It does seem that today’s younger generations are more accepting than in the past. Time heals. Transformational leadership has also been shown to increase occupational safety as well as