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This lesson covers sportsmanship, gamesmanship, and deviance in sport as required by the OCR GCSE PE specification (J587, Section 2.3). You must understand the definitions, be able to give sporting examples, and discuss the factors that influence whether performers behave with sportsmanship or resort to gamesmanship and deviance. This is a key ethical topic in OCR Paper 2.
Definition: Behaviour that shows fairness, respect, and good grace in sport — playing by the rules and in the spirit of the game.
| Characteristic | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fair play | Competing within the rules, even when the referee is not watching | A football player admitting the ball came off them for a throw-in, even though the referee gave it to their team |
| Respect for opponents | Treating the opposition with dignity and courtesy | Shaking hands before and after a match |
| Respect for officials | Accepting the referee's decisions without argument | A tennis player accepting a line call without dispute |
| Gracious in defeat | Accepting a loss with dignity and congratulating the winner | A losing boxer embracing their opponent after the fight |
| Gracious in victory | Winning without excessive celebration or arrogance | A goal scorer not celebrating when scoring against their former club |
| Helping injured opponents | Stopping play or offering assistance when an opponent is hurt | A footballer kicking the ball out of play when an opponent is injured |
Definition: Behaviour that is designed to gain an unfair advantage by bending the rules or using unsporting tactics, without technically breaking the rules.
Gamesmanship is not the same as cheating — it does not involve breaking the rules outright. Instead, it exploits grey areas and uses psychological tactics to unsettle opponents.
| Tactic | Sport | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Time-wasting | Football | Deliberately taking a long time over throw-ins, goal kicks, or substitutions when winning to reduce playing time |
| Sledging | Cricket | Making verbal comments to distract or unsettle the batsman |
| Feigning injury | Football | A player pretends to be hurt (simulation/diving) to win a free kick or get an opponent booked |
| Unsettling the server | Tennis | Taking excessive time to receive a serve to disrupt the server's rhythm |
| Deliberate fouling | Basketball | Intentionally fouling an opponent who is a poor free-throw shooter (Hack-a-Shaq strategy) |
| Distracting the penalty taker | Football | A goalkeeper moving, talking, or gesturing before a penalty kick |
| Slow play | Golf | Taking an excessively long time over shots to frustrate an opponent |
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Pressure to win | High stakes (prize money, promotion, sponsorship) create an incentive to gain any advantage possible |
| Win-at-all-costs mentality | Some athletes and coaches prioritise winning over fair play |
| Commercialisation | The financial rewards for success encourage performers to push ethical boundaries |
| Lack of punishment | If gamesmanship is not penalised by officials, performers continue to use it |
| Cultural norms | In some sports and cultures, gamesmanship is seen as a legitimate tactical tool |
Definition: Behaviour that significantly breaks the rules, norms, or laws of sport. Deviance goes beyond gamesmanship — it involves cheating or criminal behaviour.
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