Aggression in sports

There are sports where the rules have to be policed by the players in order for the game to survive. The nature of aggression in high aggression sports requires that there is an outlet for the frustrations of players. Someone has to “draw the line” as to what is acceptable as far as aggression without ignoring it and letting it fester inside people until they are able to find an outlet for it.

Distinct aspects of the effects of aggression in sport can be observed by watching ice hockey and observing how aggression is accepted and condoned within the confines of the sport. Ice hockey attempts to maintain a balance between the aggressive nature of the sport and the civility of the people who play it. It is recognized that a certain degree of aggressiveness is necessary to play the game. As with any game of this nature, administrators and players are faced with the problem of keeping aggression levels at or under an acceptable norm.

Competitive game play in ice hockey incorporates many acts of aggression. This aggression is instrumental aggression; it is committed en route to accomplishing a

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Administration succeeds sometimes in keeping most of the violence off the ice between the players. Frustration levels have a tendency to rise in such high level competition.

Administration believes that excessively aggressive actions can be controlled by fining and suspending offenders. There are also instances where a player’s aggression is not focused towards winning the contest, but is aimed towards injuring another player.

Problems arise when there is displaced aggression. Again there needs to be some kind of outlet for this stress. Hostility felt during the game time situations does not just dissipate. The mentality is to take a player out of the game when he gets out of hand and let the person cool down. Every year there are more and more examples of displaced aggression of players in the forms of domestic abuses, altercations with fans and even homicides. Referees do not let players fight like they used too and they call more penalties. Players will stay within the confines of professional courtesy when they know that the unwritten rules will be physically enforced. Players have to look to other sources besides the game to release the tensions and anger initiated by the game.

This is the evolution of the “cheap shot”. Random acts of violence were followed by the perpetrator being pulled aside by someone on the other team who proceeded to beat the tar out of them.

Common topics in this essay:
, ice hockey, acts violence, displaced aggression, professional courtesy, aggression aggression, unwritten rules, instrumental aggression, heat moment, policed players, aggression players,

Approximate Word count = 877
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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