Includes bibliographical references (p. 513-537) and indexes.

1. The sociology of sport : what is it and why study it? -- About this book -- About this chapter -- What is the sociology of sport? -- Why study sports as social phenomena? -- What is the current status of the sociology of sport? -- What are sports? -- Summary : why study sports? -- 2. Using social theories : what can they tell us about sports in society? -- What are theories and why do we need them? -- Theories used to study sports in society -- Is there a best theoretical approach to use when studying sports? -- Summary -- 3. A look at the past : does it help us understand sports today? -- Understanding history while studying sports in society -- Sports vary by time and place -- Contests and games in ancient Greece : beyond the myths (1000 B.C. to 100 B.C.) -- Roman contests and games : spectacles and gladiators (100 B.C. to A.D. 500) -- Tournaments and games in Medieval Europe : separation of the masters and the masses (500 to 1300) -- The Renaissance, Reformation, and Enlightenment : games as diversions (1300 to 1800) -- The Industrial Revolution : the emergence of organized competitive sports (1780 to the present) -- Summary : can we use history to understand sports today? -- 4. Sports and socialization : who plays and what happens to them? -- What is socialization? -- New approaches to socialization -- Becoming involved and staying involved in sports -- Changing or ending sport participation -- Being involved in sports : what happens? -- What socialization research doesn't tell us -- Summary : who plays and what happens? 5050 |a 5. Sports and children : are organized programs worth the effort? -- Origin and development of organized youth sports -- Major trends in youth sports today -- Different experiences : informal, player-controlled sports versus organized, adult-controlled sports -- Sociological questions about youth sports -- Recommendations for changing children's sports -- Prospects for change -- Summary : are organized youth sport programs worth the effort? -- 6. Deviance in sports : is it out of control? -- Problems faced when studying deviance in sports -- Defining and studying deviance in sports : three approaches -- Research on deviance among athletes -- Performance-enhancing substances : a study of overconformity in sports -- Summary : is deviance in sports out of control? -- 7. Violence in sports : how does it affect our lives? -- What is violence? -- Violence in sports through history -- Violence on the field -- Violence off the field -- Violence among spectators -- Summary : does violence in sports affect our lives? -- 8. Gender and sports : does equity require ideological changes? -- Participation and equity issues -- Ideological and cultural issues -- Summary : does equity require ideological changes? 5050 |a 9. Race and ethnicity : are they important in sports? -- Definitions of race, ethnicity, and minority group -- Racial classification systems and the use of race logic in sports -- Sport participation among racial and ethnic minorities in the United States -- The dynamics of racial and ethnic relations in sports -- Summary : are race and ethnicity important in sports? -- 10. Social class : do money and power matter in sports? -- Social class and class relations -- Sports and economic inequality -- Social class and sport participation patterns -- Economic and career opportunities in sports -- Sport participation and occupational careers among former athletes -- Summary : do money and power matter in sports? -- 11. Sports and the economy : what are the characteristics of commercial sports? -- The emergence and growth of commercial sports -- Commercialization and changes in sports -- Owners, sponsors, and promoters in commercial sports -- The legal status and incomes of athletes in commercial sports -- Summary : what are the characteristics of commercial sports? -- 12. Sports and the media : could they survive without each other? -- Characteristics of the media -- Sports and the media : a two-way relationship -- Images and messages in media sports -- The profession of sports journalism -- Summary : could sports and the media survive without each other? 5050 |a 13. Sports and politics : how do governments and globalization influence sports? -- The sports-government connection -- Sports and global political processes -- Politics in sports -- Summary : how do governments and globalization influence sports? -- 14. Sports in high school and college : do varsity sport programs contribute to education? -- Arguments for and against interscholastic sports -- Interscholastic sports and the experiences of high school students -- Intercollegiate sports and the experiences of college students -- Do schools benefit from varsity sport programs? -- Varsity high school sports : problems and recommendations -- Intercollegiate sports : problems and recommendations -- Summary : are varsity sports educational? -- 15. Sports and religion : is it a promising combination? -- How do sociologists define and study religion? -- Similarities and differences between sports and religions -- Modern sports and religious beliefs and organizations -- The challenges of combining sports and religious beliefs -- Summary : is it a promising combination? -- 16. Sports in the future : what can we expect? -- Major sport forms in the future -- Future trends in sports -- Specific forecasts -- The challenge of making the future -- Summary : what can we expect in the future?