Guttman's 7 Characteristics

Question 1

List all 7 of Guttman’s characteristics:

Answer 1

Secularism
Equality
Specialisation
Rationalisation
Bureaucratisation
Quantification
Records

Question 2

Talk about secularism in modern sport

Answer 2

Sport is separated from church and religion
Sport shows traits of a religion
Individual players are religious
Religion can affect participation in sport s(Saudi Arabia)

Question 3

Talk about equality in modern sport

Answer 3

Equal opportunities now compared to ancient periods but can the same be said for modern sport in isolation?

There are fewer explicit barriers to entry in modern sport but some still exist

Question 4

Talk about specialisation in modern sport:

Answer 4

Professionalism of sport - now a career, but not in all sports?
Socialisation within sport:
- equipment 
- clothing
- technology
- facilities

Sport can evolve from specialisation - position less basketball

Rob Cross in darts

Question 5

Talk about rationalisation in modern sport:

Answer 5

Standardisation in sport

• athletics equipment weights and sizes
• pitch sizes

How rationalised are other elements however? Ticket prices, transfer fees?

Are players viewed as gods still?

Standardised equipment vs personal choices (rackets, trainers etc)

Question 6

Talk about bureaucratisation in modern sport:

Answer 6

NGBs
Rules, regulations, committee structures

Even more so now with links to technology

Modern sports ran as modern bureaucratic businesses

Question 7

Talk about quantification in modern sport:

Answer 7

Statistical data used to aid and analysis performance more so than ever before. Ancient Greece was more about the man and the athlete than the how and the why

What about impact that cannot be quantified? Pressure?

Question 8

Talk about records in sport:

Answer 8

Important as that is how we compare eras
Justify all-time greats
Widen - cricket
Olympic and world records; the emphasis put on these (a al Paula Radcliffe)

even used in recreational activities - park run