Week 10 Wall
Can we consider team sports part of governmentality? Why?
Photo Credit: University of Maryland Digital Collections, 2011
Can we consider team sports part of governmentality? Why?
Photo Credit: University of Maryland Digital Collections, 2011
nkular93, 
alexwickett, and 5 others are discussing.
SteveMoody 2:59 pm on November 7, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The short form answer is ‘Yes’, sports teams can be considered part of governmentality. I will speak directly to ‘National’ teams though (ie, Team Canada). Professional sports and leagues are much more about commerce and the business possibilities they represent, and much less about the power of government.
When dealing with professional sporting leagues and teams the governments position is much more one of economic cooperation, rather than a regional defining nationalism. If an element of the nation, say a city, requires a new arena (*Edmonton* *cough*cough*) they government may be brought in to help finance, or facilitate a deal where a particular team can benefit from national or international relations. This again represents the governments place in the economy though.
National Sports teams in Canada represent a much more signigicant hand of the government in our regular lives. National teams typically need to receive government funding and are often affected by governments decisions on national policy and international relations. If the Canadian government is in a spat with some other nation, our national hockey teams match against that country becomes a political touchstone, a measure of the power of Canadian Values against the Values of our opponents. Have our nations worked to develop courteous and professional athletes, by which the remainder of Canada may be judged in absentia? Or did our athletes behave like blowhards and create an image of Canada that most Canadian’s would not want perpetuated?
Governmentality also plays into what sports teams are honoured and which are not. There is no question that the performance of our Hockey team would be a point of national pride for our government, while the fortunes of our soccer or Rugby teams would be more of a sign of shame or lacking priorities.
A great example pertaining to this is the funding question that comes up each Olympics, about how much money the Federal government puts into funding our international athletes. We always lag behind compared to the US, Australia, Russia and China, all nations who consider physical competition to be a hallmark of their international standing. Governmentality plays strongly into sports teams as it allows the government to take an active role and position in the communal society/social lives of the citizens its rules. If the government is involved in your favourite sports, when those sports bring you pride, then the government gets the bonus knock on effect of that positivity.
millyzhu 8:38 pm on November 7, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Yes, we can consider team sports part of governmentality because the two share similar qualities. Upon British North America’s state formation, one of its aims was to take more control of its citizens, and the society at large. One of the ways the state was able to have this control was to create and expand organizations and institutions of which desired morals will be taught and regulated. Some of the institutions that were expanded were schools and penitentiaries in Canada. Both of these institutions were used to communicate values, conformity, and discipline in hope of creating a certain type of population, which were regulated by authoritative figures whose orders were followed, and if orders were not followed, then punishment would await. Likewise, team sports have these elements as well. In team sports, certain values are taught (eg. sportsmanship and rules of the game). If these values were broken, then there would be punishment. For example, while competing in a team swim relay, if the first swimmer were to dive before the whistle was blown, then they would be either criticized or disqualified. Also, disciplinary measures may be taken to make sure such that an early start will not happen again, perhaps through extra training. In the same way that in schools (eg. private schools in Canada) and penitentiaries there are uniforms to conform individuals into one, the same applies in team sports with team wear (eg. jerseys, gears). Moreover, in team sports, there are coaches that act as the authoritative figures who make and regulate the rules, much like wardens and police officers in penitentiaries. Therefore, team sports can be considered part of governmentality in that control is asserted by some authoritative figure(s) upon its subject, or “follower”.
Tina Loo 3:17 pm on November 22, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Great!
enorthwood 10:47 pm on November 7, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I think certainly it can. Sports teams are a direct reflection of the governments unique but pressing ability to instill discipline in us. In light of this weeks lecture about the school systems and prison systems, I think these few ideas have overlapping concepts that fall under one huge expectation: you follow the rules. Sports teams are people that work together under the same set of rules and try to work within those boundaries, however, they’re also very intensive when it comes to discipline. It takes time, focus and effort to become good at a sport, and it’s certainly a form used by the government in order to keep focus on pretty much anything that isn’t a rebellion. I think these kind of activities promote competition to become better, and designate team captains etc. When you designate a team captain, doesn’t it look shockingly familiar to choosing someone to run a country? You as a member of the team look up to the captain, and you seek them to basically be captain of the country, as your captain would run your team. They make decisions about what plays you put forward, and whats best for the team to succeed as a whole. In comparison to our contemporary government, this makes reasonably a lot of sense. Going back to the idea of repression, sports teams are a way to teach discipline. No one tells us that we have to line up when we buy something in a store, but we do. No one tells us that we have to play by the rules in a game, but we do simply because we fear that we will not be apart of the “team” or what’s socially acceptable if we do not abide by those rules. In light of Bentham’s prison idea, we are self regulating. Sports teams are no exception to continue to keep us abiding by the rules, and continue to regulate ourselves in our every day lives.
Tina Loo 3:18 pm on November 22, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Yep, discipline is the key point of comparison!
kenthen 11:27 am on November 8, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
In most sports movies or if one has ever played a competitive level of sports one of the creed or mantra’s one will most likely hear is, “were going to break you down and build you up to make you the best you we can use!” If that phrase right there doesn’t encompass the context of govern mentality then I’m not sure what would. Lets look at the prison system in Canada or anywhere in the world, the main form is punishment under the guise of rehabilitation or treatment but we are punishing and making the offender pay for debts to society. Now if we take a look at sports, amateur sports we see the youth wanting to play for fun and for their enjoyment . However as adults we have been conditioned to attain and meet expectations under the guise of “doing the best we can” or “just do it” slogans. In essence we are breaking the youth down and building them up under our own desires and needs to fulfill our expectations. THEN if they don’t meet our high standards either because they are unable to or they get injured we as a whole push them aside to let them rehabilitate or seek out treatment. However the worst that any youth can do though, is show promise and get the adults excited that we possibly may have the next Sidney Crosby or Michael Jordan and then the kid just not care! This too our society is blasphemous and it goes against the grain of what we stand for not only as a country but as a society. Why have a capitalist society of we aren’t going to be competitive at an early age, why waste gifts and time on someone who has it in them to be the NEXT great one and to have them throw it all away, LETS punish them with a public slogging and perhaps we can change their temperance and make them adhere to our ways of govern-mentality. Which is to be the best we can be by all means necessary.
Now in terms of the education system
Nest is the education system, in the early years of education it was seen as a key to ruling, character builders and as keys to social and political stability. Now if we look at team sports especially again in the amateur ranks that is exactly what we try to do to the young kids. We rule over them with rules. positions, plays, diagrams, conditioning, and screaming to get them to play to our benefit. Now i say this tongue in cheek because I often wonder at hockey rinks across Canada if the kids are excited to win just for the sheer enjoyment of competition and camaraderie or do they strive to win to gain affection from us as adults and parents? Of course character building is a huge one because in our country the last thing we ever want is someone who doesn’t have character that resembles everyone else in our country. But is it building character when in reality we are being programmed to look, act and behave exactly as the next guy and the next and the next etc? Now for social and political stability of course sports and education create a social stability through the teachings of fair play, sharing etc. Govern-mentality stand to reason that we behave to the norms of society, as does most ruling bodies of any sports league. Of course we know that politics is a huge part of education and sports almost to the point of detriment when you consider strikes, lockouts and over zealous parents.
Don’t get me wrong I love team sports and always will, as the country of Canada, the education system and even the prisons. But sometimes we get too wrapped up in what we want that we forget that sports, education, the government and even the prison system are here to serve us as a society. To give us outlets for our voices, pent up energy, teachings and desires to learn, we forget the mentality of those services is designed by us for us. It should not be the other way around as it so often is.
cprimus 1:22 pm on November 8, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I really want to participate in this week’s blog but I honestly don’t understand the question at all so I have nothing to contribute. Hope everyone has a great weekend!
alexwickett 4:08 pm on November 8, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Team sports can be considered to be a reflection on governmentality because not only do they present a great example of rule and regulation following, but they also function as their own mini society. As we discussed in lecture this week, the government implemented more regulated school systems and penitentiaries. These institutions promoted uniformity, and obedience that were key for the government to control the population and prevent uprising. Education was pivotal to Canadian society at the time as it prevented idleness and kept people used to following a schedule and participating in a daily routine. Sports teams effectively do similar things. Parents put their children on sports teams to keep them occupied to keep them out of trouble as well as for the purpose of exercise and fun. Sports also require a certain amount of dedication, discipline, and ability to follow rules that are all crucial aspects to having a properly functioning population. If you are unable to be governed, it is likely you will not be able to be coached to success on a team. Additionally, sports teams themselves can act like a smaller version of a government. Teams can elect a team captain who functions as the body who is responsible to the players. The players’ interests are conveyed through the team captain to the coach and the parents, who are still responsible to the players, but not chosen by them necessarily. Further, all the decisions made are fuelled by the already existing rules of the sport, or the sport’s constitution. With all this in mind, it is fair to say that sports teams do function as a part of governmentality.
nkular93 5:14 pm on November 8, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I’m not really sure as to how to address this question but I will go with saying that yes, team sports can be considered as a part of governmentality in that they both have the ability to instill discipline and that they both need to follow a set of rules and guidelines to conduct themselves. Teams need to instill discipline among their members in order to function as a whole and progress towards something. Each member is responsible for their own part or role in the team and, therefore, discipline is required in order to complete those tasks. The same could be said for the government in that they are responsible for establishing an agenda and carrying out the legislation that they create. The government needs to be disciplined in order to carry out their responsibilities without wavering.
The government creates laws and carry out activities pertaining to the social, economic, and political sphere and by following a specific set of guidelines and rules. A parallel can be drawn between the government and team sports in that many team sports also function in the same way. A large part of teams and sports conduct is the following of particular rules and guidelines to play the sport. If the rules and guidelines are not followed or broken, there are consequences and backlash, either by the players or the public who is watching the sport. The same could be said for governmental conduct. If governments did not consider the laws that they themselves created and involved themselves in misconduct of any kind, there will be backlash by the members of the government and the public. So in a way, both are accountable to their members. Players are accountable to their team and political actors are accountable to members of the government and the public.
Tina Loo 3:19 pm on November 22, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
You got it!
Tina Loo 3:20 pm on November 22, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
GENERAL COMMENTS: Great job everyone. Most of you made very insightful links between team sports and governmentality. The public education system, police, and penitentiaries all were concerned to enforce certain values and morals and in the case of schools and prisons, to build character. Some of the most important values were deference to authority and industriousness (instead of idleness). These are what team sports do: they discipline their participants and create responsible people in the same way that education, policing, and the penitentiary did.