Sportsmanship, Gamesmanship and Deviance

This lesson covers three related concepts that are central to the Edexcel GCSE PE specification: sportsmanship, gamesmanship and deviance. You need to define each, explain the differences between them, give sporting examples, and evaluate their impact on sport and its stakeholders.

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Key Definitions

Term	Definition
Sportsmanship	Behaving in a fair, respectful and honest way during sport; playing by the rules and showing respect for opponents, officials and the spirit of the game
Gamesmanship	Attempting to gain an advantage by using tactics that are not strictly against the rules but go against the spirit of fair play
Deviance	Behaviour that goes against the accepted norms and rules of sport; breaking the rules or engaging in illegal/immoral conduct

graph LR
    A["Sporting Behaviour Spectrum"]
    A --> S["Sportsmanship<br/>(Fair, ethical)"]
    A --> G["Gamesmanship<br/>(Bending the rules)"]
    A --> D["Deviance<br/>(Breaking the rules)"]
    style S fill:#27ae60,color:#fff
    style G fill:#f39c12,color:#fff
    style D fill:#e53935,color:#fff

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Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship is the ethical foundation of sport. It means competing fairly and showing respect for everyone involved.

Examples of Sportsmanship

Example	Sport	Why It Matters
Shaking hands before and after a match	Football, rugby, tennis	Shows mutual respect
Kicking the ball out of play when an opponent is injured	Football	Prioritises welfare over advantage
Applauding an opponent's good performance	Cricket, tennis	Recognises excellence regardless of rivalry
Admitting a foul or infringement	Any sport	Honesty and integrity
Helping an injured opponent	Any sport	Humanity and respect
Respecting the referee's decision even when you disagree	Any sport	Upholding the authority of officials

Why Sportsmanship Matters

• Sets a positive example for young participants and spectators
• Maintains the integrity of the sport
• Improves the experience for all involved (athletes, officials, spectators)
• Builds respect between competitors and promotes healthy rivalries
• Attracts sponsors — companies want to be associated with fair play, not controversy

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Gamesmanship

Gamesmanship sits in a grey area — it is not technically cheating, but it deliberately tries to gain an unfair psychological or tactical advantage.

Examples of Gamesmanship

Example	Sport	How It Works
Time-wasting	Football	Taking a long time over goal kicks, throw-ins or substitutions to protect a lead
Sledging	Cricket	Verbal comments designed to distract or unsettle the batsman
Grunting loudly	Tennis	Distracting the opponent during shots
Faking an injury	Football	Stopping play to break the opposition's momentum
Deliberate fouls	Basketball, football	Fouling to stop a dangerous attack (e.g. the "tactical foul")
Bouncing the ball before serving	Tennis	Using delays to unsettle the returner
Slow play	Golf	Taking an excessively long time to putt, disrupting the opponent's rhythm

Why Gamesmanship Is Controversial

Argument For	Argument Against
"It's just part of the game" — clever tactics	Goes against the spirit of fair play
Not technically against the rules	Ruins the spectacle for fans
Shows tactical intelligence	Sets a bad example for young people
All competitors know it happens and can prepare	Can escalate into genuine deviance

Exam Tip: Edexcel frequently asks students to distinguish between gamesmanship and deviance. The key distinction: gamesmanship bends the rules but does not break them; deviance breaks the rules or laws of the sport.

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Deviance

Deviance means behaviour that goes against the accepted norms, rules or laws of sport. It includes cheating, violence and the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

Types of Deviance

Type	Examples
Rule-breaking	Deliberate handball (Maradona's "Hand of God"), diving to win a penalty
Violence	Zidane's headbutt in the 2006 World Cup final; Roy Keane's tackle on Alf-Inge Haaland
Doping	Lance Armstrong using EPO; Ben Johnson using anabolic steroids
Match-fixing	Deliberately losing or influencing the score for gambling purposes
Corruption	Officials accepting bribes; FIFA corruption scandals
Discrimination	Racist abuse, sexist comments, homophobia on or off the pitch

Causes of Deviance

Cause	Explanation
Pressure to win	High financial rewards and intense competition drive some to cheat
Win-at-all-costs mentality	Cultural emphasis on winning over fair play
Financial rewards	Prize money, sponsorship deals and contracts are so large that the temptation to cheat increases
Lack of punishment	If sanctions are weak, the risk-reward calculation favours cheating
Peer pressure	"Everyone else is doing it" — especially relevant in doping
Media pressure	Intense scrutiny can lead to desperate measures

Consequences of Deviance

Consequence	Detail
Bans and suspensions	Athletes may be banned from competition (e.g. Lance Armstrong's lifetime ban)
Financial penalties	Fines, loss of sponsorship deals, repayment of prize money
Damaged reputation	The athlete, team or sport loses credibility and public trust
Legal action	Criminal charges for violence, fraud or corruption
Reduced participation	People may be put off a sport that is associated with cheating or violence
Loss of records	Performances achieved through doping may be stripped from the record books

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The Relationship Between the Three Concepts

graph TD
    A["Sport Participation"] --> B{"Behaviour Choice"}
    B -->|"Fair and Ethical"| C["Sportsmanship"]
    B -->|"Bending Rules"| D["Gamesmanship"]
    B -->|"Breaking Rules"| E["Deviance"]
    C --> F["Positive Outcomes:<br/>Respect, integrity,<br/>role model"]
    D --> G["Grey Area:<br/>Tactical advantage,<br/>poor spirit"]
    E --> H["Negative Outcomes:<br/>Bans, fines, damaged<br/>reputation"]
    style C fill:#27ae60,color:#fff
    style D fill:#f39c12,color:#fff
    style E fill:#e53935,color:#fff

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Strategies to Promote Sportsmanship and Reduce Deviance

Strategy	Detail
Fair play awards	Recognising and rewarding ethical behaviour
Stricter punishments	Longer bans, heavier fines, lifetime suspensions for repeat offenders
Education	Teaching young athletes about ethics, fair play and the consequences of deviance
Role models	Promoting athletes known for sportsmanship as examples to follow
Technology	VAR, Hawk-Eye and goal-line technology reduce opportunities for cheating
Drug testing	WADA and UKAD conduct random and competition testing
Codes of conduct	NGBs publish clear expectations for behaviour
Respect campaigns	The FA's Respect campaign promotes positive behaviour from players, coaches and spectators

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Common Exam Mistakes