Module Information

Module Identifier
LA37920
Module Title
Sport: Law and Society
Academic Year
2017/2018
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2
Other Staff

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture 30 x 1 Hour Lectures
Seminar 4 x 1 Hour Seminars
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment 1,500 word reflective report on Panel Presentation  35%
Semester Assessment Group Poster Presentation  30%
Semester Assessment Assignment  1,500 written assignment on a question relating to the topic chosen for the poster presentation  35%
Supplementary Assessment 1,500 word reflective report on Panel Presentation  Panel Presentation will be lecture captured to enable access after event - if element failed  35%
Supplementary Assessment Group Poster Presentation - if element failed  30%
Supplementary Assessment Assignment  1,500 written assignment on a question relating to the topic chosen for the poster presentation - if element failed  35%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Critically evaluate the social and legal issues related to sporting activities, such as doping, branding and offending behaviour.
2. Understand the differences between the existing private and legal regulation of sporting activities and the policing of such arrangements and/or events.
3. Provide a critical overview of contracting within professional sports, potential civil liability and the issues associated with sporting contracts.
4. Distinguish between prosocial and illegitimate use of aggression and/or violence in sport and sport related activities and events.
5. Independently research, design and present a coherent argument and appropriate responses to conflicting points of view related to a specific area of sport law.

Brief description

The benefits and prosocial elements of sporting activities are well understood and promoted within society. As such, the aggressive, violent, criminal and illegal elements associated with organised sport have long been overshadowed. This module introduces students to some of the more contentious and controversial issues associated with modern sport and provide them with the opportunity to critically examine the legal, commercial, criminological and psychological theories sporting activities. It identifies the legal and social problems inherent within organised and professional sports and explores the regulation of these issues.

Aims

This module aims to look at the social and legal implications of business, discrimination, negligence, corruption, violence and organised crime associated to sport and sporting activities. It will consider the professional regulation of sporting activities through professional bodies. The policing of drug taking in light of anti-doping regulations and the prosecution of offenders will be considered using high profile case studies. An understanding of aggression and violence associated with sporting events and supporters will be considered in light of the causes and policing of such harms.

Content

  • Module Overview and 'What is sport?'
  • Consent in sport
  • Professional bodies and the regulation of sport
  • Drug-taking (doping) implications and regulations
  • Race, gender and discrimination in sport
  • Player safety and negligence liability
  • Sports contracts
  • Television deals, sponsorship and ticketing
  • Sport Related Aggression and Violence
  • Security and Policing at Major Sporting Events
  • Sport as a Deterrent to Crime
  • Module Consolidation & Review
Seminar One: Consent in Sport
Seminar Two: Race, Gender and Discrimination
Seminar Three: Contract and Sponsorship
Seminar Four: Security and Policing at Sporting Events

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number
Communication Students will demonstrate their skills in literacy and communication in two main ways: through their written assessed work and through the group work related to the seminars and poster presentation. Oral communication will be developed both in seminars and in the poster practical.
Improving own Learning and Performance Interactive lectures and seminars will encourage the critical and lateral thinking of students. Tasks and exercises set in seminars and for the presentation will facilitate application of academic concepts to real life settings
Information Technology All module content will be made accessible through Blackboards. Students will be encouraged to use electronic journals and other media resources as part of their research for both the seminars and assessed work. Students will be submitting their written assignments through Turnitin.
Personal Development and Career planning Both law and criminology are areas intrinsic within sporting activities and the regulation of such and this module will provide students with a greater insight in to the extent in which they are related. Independent study in preparation for lectures, seminars and the presentation will develop autonomy in students' learning. Group work will equip students with the communication skills to engage with others in the workplace.
Problem solving Identify problems and apply legal rules and principles to problem solve.
Research skills Students will develop their research skills through recommended readings linked to the lecture and seminar series and their independent research skills in their preparation for their assessed work.
Subject Specific Skills
Team work Group work will be conducted in the seminars and it will also be assessed formally in the poster presentation element of the assessment. Students will be encouraged to work in groups as a participant who contributes effectively to a group's tasks.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6