The American Dream
…. that anyone can be successful in USA
society regardless of age, gender or
ethnic background.
Land of Opportunity
Rags
to
Riches
Frontier
Spirit
Capitalist
Economy
Link to
Sport
USA – Nature of Sport
Vince Lombardi Football is a great deal like life in that it
teaches that work, sacrifice, perseverance,
competitive drive, selflessness and respect
for authority is the price that each and every
one of us must pay to achieve any goal that is
worthwhile.”
Winning is not a sometime thing, it
is an all the time thing. You don’t do
things right once in a while…you do
them right all the time.”
“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.”
People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football
defenses, or the problems of modern society.”
Nature of Sport
• Win Ethic – high scoring and action packed
games.
• Basketball invented.
• Coming second is not an option.
• Outcome all that matters.
• ‘Winning isn’t everything it’s the only thing.’
• Win at all costs
American Dream
• Prosperity depends on how hard you work
and your own ability, not on class.
• Rags to Riches
• Anyone can be successful irrespective of
gender, ethnic background etc.
American Football
Analyse the game of American
Football
Gridiron
• Original pitch markings.
• Developed at Ivy League Universities.
• 1800s – no universally accepted rules.
History and Development
• Video clip / homework.
• Early days – serious injury and death was
not uncommon.
• Banned in some universities.
• 1869 –First Uni game 25 a side.
• Toughness
• Endeavour Frontier Spirit.
• Courage
Nature of the Game / Physicality
• 1900s developed into a violent,
sensational, hazardous conflict.
• Success depended on physical force.
• A tough collision sport.
• Physical contact allowed by players not in
possession, obstruction allowed.
• Players wear protective clothing.
• Involves intricate planning and tactics.
• http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WO4tIrjBD
kk
Violence / Injury
• 28 players died from direct injuries
between 2000-2005.
• Possible that protective clothing has
increased levels of violence as less
chance of injury.
Commercialism
• Sport = Business
• Professional sport is massive and reflects country's
competitive capitalist nature.
• School sport attracts big crowds and sponsorship –
Friday night football.
• College players receive specialist coaching, facilities etc.
• T.V and sponsorship deals.
• Pro – draft system.
• Multi million dollar contracts.
Positive and Negative Outcomes
• Funding = more chance
of success.
• Equipment
• Few get super rich.
• Money dominates
timings, locations,
players etc.
• Facilities
• Traditional values lost.
• Coaching
• Promotes events.
USA
Learning Objectives;
• Describe the characteristics of the USA
• Explain the nature of sport in the USA.
History
• 200yrs ago was new and young.
• Beyond the border lay land of the Native
Americans
• Fierce fighting over land.
• 19th C – immigrants from Europe.
• Attracted by ‘land of opportunity
• Now 300mill plus!
Capitalism
• 1900s factories and farms producing masses of
materials.
• Increasing wealth and power.
• Became the economic system known as
Capitalism - Individual or shared ownership of
business for profit.
• Encourages people to acquire wealth and
therefore influences nature of sport.
New Belief
Opportunity
Capitalism
Isolation
Frontierism
Why?
Commercial
Lombardian
Entertaining
Violent
American Dream
Incentive
Nature of Sport
• Win Ethic – high scoring and action packed
games.
• Basketball invented.
• Coming second is not an option.
• Outcome all that matters.
• ‘Winning isn’t everything it’s the only thing.’
• Win at all costs
• http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WO4tIrjBD
kk
USA
Describe the characteristics of
the USA
Explain the nature of sport in
the USA
Analyse the game of American
Football
History
• 200yrs ago was new and young.
• Beyond the border lay land of the Native
Americans
• Fierce fighting over land.
• 19th C – immigrants from Europe.
• Attracted by ‘land of opportunity
• Now 300mill plus!
MAP
Capitalism
• 1900s factories and farms producing masses of
materials.
• Increasing wealth and power.
• Became the economic system known as
Capitalism - Individual or shared ownership of
business for profit.
• Encourages people to acquire wealth and
therefore influences nature of sport.
Nature of Sport
• Win Ethic – high scoring and action packed
games.
• Basketball invented.
• Coming second is not an option.
• Outcome all that matters.
• ‘Winning isn’t everything it’s the only thing.’
• Win at all costs
Commercialism
• Sport = Business
• Professional sport is massive and reflects country's
competitive capitalist nature.
• School sport attracts big crowds and sponsorship –
Friday night football.
• College players receive specialist coaching, facilities etc.
• T.V and sponsorship deals.
• Pro – draft system.
• Multi million dollar contracts.
Positive and Negative
Outcomes
• Funding = more chance
of success.
• Equipment
• Few get super rich.
• Money dominates
timings, locations,
players etc.
• Facilities
• Traditional values lost.
• Coaching
• Promotes events.
American Dream
• Prosperity depends on how hard you work
and your own ability, not on class.
• Rags to Riches
• Anyone can be successful irrespective of
gender, ethnic background etc.
• http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WO4tIrjBD
kk
American Football – Gridiron
History and Development -
Characteristics / Nature of the Game -
Violence - Causes
American Football – Commercialisation
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Multi – billion dollar business.
NFL is a group of companies
Some teams are privately owned.
Teams are bought and run as ‘franchises’.
Competition for T.V rights inflates the cost of franchises.
Some move hundreds of miles from their original fan base just for profit.
Super Bowl is the championship game of the NFL.
A showcase – famous performers, T.V rights etc.
NFL has two sections – American Football Conference and the National Football Conference.
Each conference has four divisions, north, east, south, and west.
TASK – Watch the video clip and list a)the characteristics of American Football,
b) signs of commercialisation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3L09liVopc
30sec commercial
break on Super Bowl
Sunday costs $3.0
million!
Justin Timberlake, Rolling
Stones, Paul McCartney and
Janet Jackson have all performed
at the half time show!
Questions –
1) State the current population of the USA and identify two characteristics of the country. (3)
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2) Explain what is meant by the term American Dream and how this can be achieved through sport. (5)
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3) Describe three of the characteristics of American football. (3)
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