The document summarizes a sociological observation of a basketball game. It describes the setting of the game at an indoor arena, the participants as two teams competing for a conference title with a range of ages, and most players being black. It notes that the game seems to bridge racial differences. It also describes the large number of energetic fans in attendance, mostly male and of various ages. The players wore matching uniforms and most fans wore casual sports attire. Fans were observed cheering and chanting to support their teams. The atmosphere was dynamic with fans cheering and entertainers performing.

1. Sociological Observation of a Sporting Event
Student Name: Connie Hutson Event: Basketball Game
Date of Observation: September 09,2012
CharacteristicObservations/CommentsSetting or
EnvironmentThe setting for the basketball game is at the
Oklahoma arena. This indoor setting is incredibly lively, and all
the components, such as the lighting, sound systems and the
seating are well organized. ParticipantsThere are two teams
competing for the Western Conference title. There is a great
disparity in the ages of the participants, with the youngest
player being 19 years of age whereas the oldest is 31 years of
age. Many of the players, approximately 75%, are black whereas
the rest are either White or Hispanic. I have observed that the
game plays a major role in bridging the racial gap between the
players, because they work harmoniously and seem to
understand each other exceptionally well, regardless of their
racial differences. Attendees/
FansThere are many attendees (approximately 30,000). Most of
them are energetic, and the mood is exceptionally electrifying.
There are various entertainers that are dancing and amusing
people, before the game starts and during the short intervals,
when the teams break in- between the quarters. Most of the
fans are male which are from all age brackets; there is also a
substantial number of females, especially young females below
the age of 30. There are also some media personalities who
have come to provide coverage of the event. Dress/Attire/
StyleThe players have their matching shorts and sleeveless t-
shirts. Most of the fans are dressed in casual sporting attire,
most notably- tracksuits and t-shirts. Behaviors ObservedThe
fans are very buoyant and intermittently resort to singing and
chanting to motivate their team. There is also a high level of
interaction, with fans supporting the same event. Through

2. watching this sport, I have come to the realization that
basketball is a unifying sport. The fans, although they do not
know each other, interact with each other as they share the
proceedings of the game. Ambiance/
AtmosphereThe atmosphere is incredibly dynamic, with the fans
cheering their teams, and singing songs of praise whenever their
teams make a basket. Apart from the fans, there are also a
number of female entertainers dancing and performing for the
crowd during the intermissions. SymbolsThere are many
symbols inherent in this basketball game. The referee mainly
uses hand symbols, to inform the players and the fans of
decisions unfolding, as the game continues. The fans have also
come with many banners showing support for their teams. Other
ObservationsThere is some distinctive knowledge and/or
language that characterize this sport. Most of the fans, as well
as all the players, are familiar with the language, which
includes a number of rules that govern the game.
© Colorado Technical University 2011
1
Sociological Observation of a Sporting Event
Student Name: Connie Hutson Event: Basketball Game
Date of Observation: September 09,2012
CharacteristicObservations/CommentsSetting or
EnvironmentThe setting for the basketball game is at the
Oklahoma arena. This indoor setting is incredibly lively, and all
the components, such as the lighting, sound systems and the
seating are well organized. ParticipantsThere are two teams
competing for the Western Conference title. There is a great

3. disparity in the ages of the participants, with the youngest
player being 19 years of age whereas the oldest is 31 years of
age. Many of the players, approximately 75%, are black whereas
the rest are either White or Hispanic. I have observed that the
game plays a major role in bridging the racial gap between the
players, because they work harmoniously and seem to
understand each other exceptionally well, regardless of their
racial differences. Attendees/
FansThere are many attendees (approximately 30,000). Most of
them are energetic, and the mood is exceptionally electrifying.
There are various entertainers that are dancing and amusing
people, before the game starts and during the short intervals,
when the teams break in- between the quarters. Most of the
fans are male which are from all age brackets; there is also a
substantial number of females, especially young females below
the age of 30. There are also some media personalities who
have come to provide coverage of the event. Dress/Attire/
StyleThe players have their matching shorts and sleeveless t-
shirts. Most of the fans are dressed in casual sporting attire,
most notably- tracksuits and t-shirts. Behaviors ObservedThe
fans are very buoyant and intermittently resort to singing and
chanting to motivate their team. There is also a high level of
interaction, with fans supporting the same event. Through
watching this sport, I have come to the realization that
basketball is a unifying sport. The fans, although they do not
know each other, interact with each other as they share the
proceedings of the game. Ambiance/
AtmosphereThe atmosphere is incredibly dynamic, with the fans
cheering their teams, and singing songs of praise whenever their
teams make a basket. Apart from the fans, there are also a
number of female entertainers dancing and performing for the
crowd during the intermissions. SymbolsThere are many
symbols inherent in this basketball game. The referee mainly
uses hand symbols, to inform the players and the fans of
decisions unfolding, as the game continues. The fans have also
come with many banners showing support for their teams. Other

4. ObservationsThere is some distinctive knowledge and/or
language that characterize this sport. Most of the fans, as well
as all the players, are familiar with the language, which
includes a number of rules that govern the game.
© Colorado Technical University 2011
1
The Field Of Sociology of Sport
I looked at sports from the ‘conflict perspective’, since I
consider this the most helpful speculative perception when
observing the sociology of sports. For clarifying my answers, I
have chosen the following framework to follow:
The Social Endeavor of Sports
How do I describe sports? Well, sports are the physical
activities that are either unplanned or structured, which are
embarked on to preserve healthiness and ability, along with
providing enjoyment for partakers and observers. Along these
lines, sports do not merely encourage healthiness; they motivate
participants to drive their physiques and capabilities towards
showing their potentials of attainment. The element of sports
being entertainment too, motivates businesspersons towards
financing structured athletic undertakings. When individuals
devote themselves to sports, they harvest the compulsion to
keep an eye on certain ones. This lets them sense reassurance,
like an admirer looking up to a celebrity, or getting the
sensation similar to fitting in. Since sports generate publicity
and enthusiasm, a subgroup amongst admirers, associations and
sports events develop throughout time. Every spectator sport
devises particular guidelines, principles, and kinds of
participants and supporters. Affiliation and commitment to

5. sports can generate prospects that yield worthy revenue to
businesspersons. A number of businesspersons are also
enthusiasts of the sport, and many capitalize on it, for their
simple love of the game (Unknown Author, 2011).
Social Necessities and Sports
It is this love of the game that insinuates the significance
of a sport not merely from the physical, but likewise from a
societal and psychological perspective. People sense the
necessity to fit in, like having a position in an assembly
reassures the existence of additional persons that can deliver
camaraderie, funding, companionship and approval. Though
numerous persons frequently say they do not need someone to
be content, people are societal creatures and association to
certain sports, or being a supporter and follower gives a person
the sense of belonging. In the validation of the individuality of
a person, belonging is essential. This is especially true when
the person is striving to find out whom they are. Certainly, a
sport makes available physical health and improves
spiritedness, which is an imperative part in our continued
existence (Johnston, R.H., 2006). Still, this assists individuals
in forming their own individuality. For example, an individual
might comment, “I am a football enthusiast; immediately, this
produces a definite distinctiveness.
Conflict Perspective of Sports
Even though copied from socialism, the sociological perspective
of conflict theory has numerous features that can effortlessly
clarify the activities of sports. If society is the setting for
opposition in assets and control, then sports delivers to people
the playing fields for additional competiveness by means of
definite guidelines and criteria, which command just how
competition must be organized. Individuals that participate in
the sports are completely mindful that they are in a competition,
that additional athletes are also striving to achieve the
incentives accessible in recognition, in societal status and/or
financial success. Ponder the game of Golf; golfers would like
to grasp the number one spot held by Tiger Woods up until his

6. dishonor related to private matters. When he was discredited,
individuals vied to conquer this number one niche for the
recognition, the grandeur and the assets. The best pro-golfers
get the booty, which makes the winning position the idyllic spot
to inhabit. The money, commendations, and recognition can
merely be transferred to the best golfers that are in persistent
conflict, by way of competitions and tourneys, to check who in
the midst of them is the very best (Nagpal, L. 2009).
Resources:
(Web)
Johnston, R.H., Time to Speak Up, 2006 retrieved from
http://www.angus.gov.uk/ccmeetings/reports-
committee/recreationcultural/2003/.%5C264App.pdf
Nagpal, L., Sports and its importance, 2009 retrieved from
http://www.indiachildren.com/growing/10to15y/sports.htm
Unknown Author, What is sports, 2011 retrieved from
http://thesaurus.com/browse/sport
Basketball
Basketball started in 1891. Dr. James Naismith, set out the
sport. He was a physician education instructor and a professor
at the International Young Men’s Christian Association
Training School in Massachusetts. This was during the winter
period. He wanted to come up with an indoor activity that will
ensure his students maintain their high level of fitness without
going outdoors. During the initial days, the ball had to be
retrieved from the basket each time a basket was made. The use
of a closed basket proved to be too inefficient, which lead to the
use of open baskets at the bottom. Currently, an open net
attached to a metallic rim is used. The initial sport involved
passing the ball without dribbling. This was due to the
asymmetrical nature of the ball. During the 1950s, dribbling
was incorporated into the basketball game due to improved

7. nature of the balls. The sport started to be more popular among
the black, American society (McClellan, 2010).
Basketball has enjoyed a massive support in the United
States to become a second sport after the American football.
The sport has become the second high rated sport after the
American football in terms of support. The sport enjoys a
massive fan support all over the country. In addition, the game
is hugely popular due to the nature of space needed to create its
court. The sport has become a daily normal support where
almost all people can play it (McClellan, 2010). Due to the
exceptional support this sport has in the American society,
basketball fits into the contemporary American society. Both
the young and the old in the society play basketball.
Basketballs’ influence on society is predictable due to the
nature of the professional players. The players are celebrities in
the society, which means that they can influence the society,
negatively or positively.
Basketball reflects most of the cultural traits in the United
States. It reflects a movement from segregation to integration in
the society. This was evident when the African Americans were
not allowed to play in the country league until in 1950s. From
1950 onwards, the African American society has actively
participated in the sport. The sport is highly covered in the
media as it is reported about forty-seven percent of the
Americans watch each basketball game on the media. This
exposure by the media has made to be a truly luxurious and
well-paying job in the American society. In addition, it has led
to the spread of the sport to other continents (McClellan, 2010).
In the past, the sport was used to represent the African
American race. The sport was enormously popular in the
African community. After the 1950s the sport became integrated
where all the communities started to participate in it. The sport
is exceedingly common especially in young urban youths. Due
to the demanding nature of the sport, only the young people can
participate effective in it. In addition, the middle aged can play
for leisure (McClellan, 2010). Basketball is a sport that has

8. made sure the social values in the society are realized.
Basketball has also made certain that people from different
races and ethnics come together to enjoy its extreme value. For
example, the selection of teams is based on talent and not a
race.
Resource
McClellan, R., (2010) Basketball Minneapolis, MN Bellwether
Media
© Colorado Technical University 2011