This document discusses violence in sports and proposes solutions to combat unnecessary violence while preserving competition. It addresses two forms of unnecessary violence: hazing and brawling. Hazing is portrayed as a misguided attempt to foster team bonding, but competition naturally creates bonds without harm. Brawling also serves no purpose and can result from imbalances in psychological states. The author argues these forms of violence should not be tolerated and suggests alternatives like sportsmanship training to promote positive behavior. Failing to address sports violence undermines benefits to health, relationships, and personal growth that competition provides.

1. Violence in Sports1
Combatting Violence in Sports While Preserving the Beauty of Competition
Jacob García
PSY 101
Dr. Weber
October 11, 2013

2. Violence in Sports2
Combatting Violence in Sports While Preserving the Beauty of Competition
Participating in organized sports is widely popular in the United States. In fact, in a study
conducted by Michigan St. University, over 35 million children participated in competitive
sports this year. Along with significant health and fitness benefits, the beauty of competition
allows children to learn many of life‟s core elements, such as teamwork, camaraderie,
sportsmanship, and the importance of community.Competition also provides a means for
establishing lifelong friendships that otherwise would not have been so readily
available.Competition even goes as far as to unite different cultures and establish a common
bond.
Nevertheless, the sports culture in the United States has grown so large, dominant and
glorified that we have become oblivious to the critical issues and public health problems arising
in the field of sports.A central issue of concern is the fact that unnecessary violence in sports is
being overlooked or simply ignored. The attitude that certain forms of sports violence are “part
of the game” runs rampant across the country.This paper will provide insight regarding
unnecessary (psychologically motivated) types of violence in sports. It will also examine the
rationale typically given for these unnecessary forms of violence, while also exploring the
solutions towards combatting these violent acts. Ultimately, this paper will shed light on the
consequences that will result if we fail to acknowledge and combat violence in sports.
Hazing is one form of unnecessary violence that is widely ignored and that can be
combatted without losing the beauty of competition. As defined by Fields(2009), hazing is
“sports-related violence perpetrated by member(s) of a sports-related group against individual(s)
seeking inclusion within, admittance to, or acceptance by that group” (32). Fields statesthat 80%
of collegiate athletes experienced some form of hazing (33).Hazing is largely viewed as a

3. Violence in Sports3
method of fostering teamwork and cohesion. It is a misguided effort encouraged by both coaches
and players to create relationships that appear to be sincere. From first-hand experience in
playing three varsity sports in high school, hazing is heavily encouraged. Coaches and older
players occasionally engage in crusades against younger players, forcing them to do extensive
manual labor as part of a “rite of initiation” and a “tradition throughout the history of the
program.”Hazing may also consist of engaging in humiliating and downright absurd acts in order
to show or convey the idea that one will put the team above one‟s personal well-being at all
costs. However, what those who promote hazing fail to acknowledge is that the competition itself
creates these highly coveted relationships. Giving all one‟s efforts and dedicating oneself
towards the goal of the team is what forms lasting bonds. Hazing simply fakes these relationships
and, as a result, has absolutely no purpose in sports other than to promote unnecessary
(emotional and physical) violence.
Another form of violence is the practice of brawling—fightsamong players, fans or
coaches. In some cases, brawling is not only prevalent in the sports culture, but it is actually
glorified. Fields (2009) agrees when he states, “Perhaps more than any other sport, ice hockey,
especially in the National Hockey League, seems to pride itself on the fights (unlike most other
sports, fighting does lead to automatic ejections from the game), and the attendance at NHL
games between teams with a history of fighting increases” (34). As a sports enthusiast, countless
hockey fans have explicitly told me that the only reason they go to hockey games is the
possibility and thrill of seeing a fight.
However, we cannot fool ourselves: brawling is not specific to hockey. From my
experience in high school sports, players, post-practice, engage in locker room fights with a
blatant desire to portray the image of masculinity. Go to any football practice, from high school

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to the professional level, and you are certain to witness a team brawl. The brawls are even
encouraged by the coaches. One of the most famous examples of brawling in the history of
sports in the United States is the infamous act of barbarity and complete chaos that took place on
the basketball court between the players on the Pistons and Pacers and even the fans in
attendance in 2004. While hazing may be a more commonly accepted practice and thus more
difficult to combat, brawling is just as detrimental and even more nonsensical. What purpose
does brawling in sports serve? Perhaps it demonstrates masculinity. I view it as a cop-out in
handling stress and adversity. There are many other ways that stress can be dealt with, such as
opting to be taken out of the game or taking a step back and thinking of the consequences of such
actions. Thus, brawling in sports is completely unnecessary.
A view that was presented as rationale given for brawling in sports somberly states that
there may be aspects fundamentally characteristic of competition that might be out of our
control. Kerr (2009) cites an approach known as the “reversal theory” in hopes of understanding
what leads to brawling in sports. Kerr states, “Reversal theory posits that aggressive and violent
behavior is based on metamotivational states, metamotivational state combinations, and the
reversals that may occur between them” (45). Essentially, a balanced or preferred combination of
these metamotivational states (such as excitement, modesty, anxiety and anger) leads to positive
emotions. An imbalanced combination may result in violent, on-field behavior. The grand
question that comes out of this approach is critical: How can we ensure that an imbalance of
metamotivational states does not occur?
Fields (2009) explores such possible solutions towards combatting brawling and hazing.
In order to ensure that an imbalance of these metamotivational states, and thus brawling, does
not occur, he advises the adoption of required sportsmanship clinics and policies that

5. Violence in Sports5
demonstrate no tolerance towards brawling (34). Fields also notes that the possibility for an
imbalance of the metamotivational states will be drastically reduced if fans do not encourage
such violent behavior, which in turn, will not insight the players to engage in violence. Fields
states, “…positive spectator behaviour has predicted positive player behaviour…and negative
coach and spectator behaviour has predicted negative player behaviour” (34). Furthermore, in
regards to hazing, Fields suggests, “Teams could replace hazing with positive teambuilding
experiences like community service, mentoring, travel and outdoor recreation” (34). These
positive team building exercises could replace the concept of hazing and could help fosterthe
lasting bonds and relationships that naturally result from participation in sports and competition..
The consequences of hazing and brawling range much farther than the immediate
physical toil and, perhaps, emotional distress. In fact, Anderson (2008) controversially argues
that violence in sports extends far beyond the athletes engaged in such violence. Anderson states:
“As a highly segregated, homophobic, sexist, and misogynistic regime, sport not only contributes
to the gender order, but it also reproduces a conservative and stabilizing form of masculinity…”
(260). Anderson goes on to claim that due to the segregation of sports, men form sexist views of
inferior athleticism and objectify women (259). Fields (2009)also elaborates on the consequences
of violence in sports when he states, “In addition to the direct morbidity and mortality resulting
from incidents of sports-related violence, fear of sports-related violence may dissuade some
individuals from participating in sports activities… decreasing adolescents‟ physical activity
level which, in turn, could have a long-lasting impact on their general health and quality of life”
(32). Thus, by ignoring violence such as hazing and brawling, the lasting benefits that
competition provides is undermined. The learning and growing environment that sports innately
offer morphs into an environment that weakens self-esteem and general well-being.

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The issue of violence in sports cannot be taken lightly. It has been largely ignored and
simply dismissed as “part of the game.” However, under no circumstances should we tolerate
deliberate physical and emotional harm, such as brawling and hazing. These forms of violence
are not part of any “game” and are completely unnecessary. Furthermore, blaming an act of
violence on a conditioned behavior acquired through participating in sports is preposterous. As
Standen (2009) humorously remarks, “…an athlete has never successfully claimed that his
particular conditioned-behavior characteristics of learned violence allow him, like a „battered
spouse,‟ wider latitude in justifying criminal conduct” (619).We must ensure that we take the
appropriate steps in order to combat violence in sports. We must come to the realization that
hazing is a fake attempt at establishing lasting relationships, and that many cases of brawling
result from an imbalance of the “metamotivational states.” Thus, we must stress the importance
of sportsmanship and the alternatives for dealing with stress and adversity, rather than simply
letting our emotions run rampant. Only in this manner do we ensure that the beauty of
competition (lasting relationships, health benefits, and connection of cultures) is not
overshadowed by barbaric, childlike and unnecessary violence in sports.

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References
Anderson, E. (2008). “I used to think women were weak”: Orthodox masculinity, gender
segregation, and sport. Sociological Forum, 23 (2), 257-276.
Fields, S., Collins, C., Comstock, R. (2009). Violence in youth sports: hazing, brawling, and foul
play. Br J Sports Med, 44, 32-37.
Kerr, J. (2009). Analysis of recent incidents of on-field violence in sport: Legal decisions and
additional considerations from psychology. Wiley-Liss, Inc., 35, 41-48.
Standen, J. (2009). The manly sports: The problematic use of criminal law to regulate sports
violence. The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology. 99 (3), 619-641.