Sociology of Sport and Active Recreation

This unit invites students to think sociologically and historically about sport and active recreation. Key sociological themes and issues are covered, enabling an understanding of the contemporary social world, how it has developed, and how it shapes sport and active recreation. Through this knowledge, students are encouraged to critically examine some of the pressing social challenges concerning sport and active recreation in both the Global North and the Global South.

The ideas developed in this unit are essential to an understanding of sport and active recreation planning, programming, management, leadership, and marketing, all of which are fundamental processes utilised in the rest of the course. How can sport "make a difference" in society beyond the playing field? Why are sports considered gendered and labelled as boys’ or girls’ sports? How do different sports organisations and cultures experience and respond to violence, racism, and performance-enhancing drug use? How do professionalisation and commercialisation reshape amateur and community expressions of sport?


Case studies will be used and relevant sociological theories and concepts put to work. Assessments and exercises will allow students to focus on a chosen aspect of sport, and on particular sports of their interest.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Critically analyse historical and sociological perspectives on sport and recreation in contemporary Australia;
2. Reflect on the development of sport as a significant social and cultural force in Australian life;
3. Appraise sociological theories, concepts and methods to analyse and think creatively about empirical problems in relation to the development of contemporary sport in a range of local and global contexts; and
4. Debate sociological ideas about sport and active recreation effectively in oral and written formats.