SPMT 3314-1
History of American Sport
Spring xxxx
Class Session:
Instructor:
Office:
Office Phone:
E-mail:
Office Hours:
Course Description
This course explores the historical evolution of American sports from colonization to globalization. The course
examines sport experiences in colonial America, the antebellum health reform movement, sport and social changes
during the progressive era, and the rise of modern sport. Emphasis will be given to the place of sport in the
university and the development of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
The following topics will be explored in order to better understand the context of modern intercollegiate sport and
its place in the university.
1.
2.
3.
The influence of religion on sport participation during the first 150 years of the United States.
The attempt to acculturate Native American children through the use of sports and the boarding school.
How social reforms such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Educational Amendments of
1972 reshaped the landscape of sport.
Course Objectives
As a result of completing this course, students should be able to:
1. Detail how American sport evolved as a result of the political, economic, and religious power structures
during major historical periods;
2. Describe the impact of Native American tribes on American sport and the impact of American sport on
Native American tribes;
3. Discuss the impact of Title IX and school desegregation on modern sport;
4. Describe the impact of television and the internet on American sport;
5. Effectively use a variety of resources to explore a current issue in American sport from a historical
perspective;
6. Evaluate the appropriateness of a source for use in scholarly research; and
7. Understand the elements involved in writing and presenting a scholarly research paper.
Required Reading
1. Carlisle vs. Army
Anderson, L. (2007). Carlisle vs. Army: Jim Thorpe, Dwight Eisenhower, Pop Warner, and the forgotten story
of football's greatest battle. New York, NY: Random House.
2. Jim Thorpe
Bruchac, J. (2006). Jim Thorpe: Original all-American. Boston, MA: Walden Media.
3. Sports in American History
Gems, G. R., Borish, L. J., & Pfister, G. (2008). Sports in American history: From colonization to globalization.
Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
4. Air Ball
Gerdy, J. R. (2006). Air ball: American education’s failed experiment with elite athletics. Oxford, MS:
University Press of Mississippi.
5. Satchel
Tye, L. (2009). Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend. New York, NY: Random House.
Course Units
The course will be divided into 5 major sections with each having specific topics
1. Sporting experiences from colonialism to the Gilded Age
a. Colonial sporting experiences
b. Sports pastimes in the America Revolutionary era
c. The health reform movement
d. Growth of the American team sport
e. Expanding forms of sport in the Gilded Age
2. The Progressive Era
a. Social reform
b. The rise of sport in relation to the growing economy
c. War and sport
d. The Modern Olympics
3. Sports Heroes and popular culture
a. Heroes in the Golden Age
b. Sport and ethnicity
c. The Commercialization of Sport
4. Sports in the Modern Era to the globalization of American sport
a. Television and sport
b. Sport as business
c. Sport and the Civil Rights Movement
d. Gender roles redefined
e. Medicinal influences on the athlete
f. The rise of new sports
5. The historical evolution of intercollegiate sport
a. Club and intramural sports
b. Teddy Roosevelt and the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the U.S.
c. NCAA from 1906 – present
d. Institutionalization of sport
e. The call for reform of intercollegiate sport
Evaluation
Your final course grade will be determined using the following criteria:
Examinations
Discussion Leadership
Paper Proposal/Presentation
Electronic Concept Map
Final Paper Outline
Research Paper
Participation
Total
200 points
100 points
150 points
100 points
50 points
250 points
150 points
1000 points
1000-940 =
A
799-770 =
C+
939-900 =
A-
769-740 =
C
899-870 =
B+
739-700 =
C-
869 -84 =
B
699-600 =
D
839-800 =
B-
599 & lower
F
Examinations
The first examination will cover the historical development of American sport from colonization through the Gilded
Age (course unit 1). It will be worth 100 points (10% of final grade). The second exam will focus on the Progressive
Era through Globalization (course units 2-4). It will be worth 100 points (10% of final grade).
Class Discussion Leadership
Each student will be assigned to a group of 3 or 4 at the beginning of the semester. Each group will lead class
discussion once during the semester over one of the required course readings. The class discussion will be worth 100
points (10% of final grade).
Important note: Class discussion leadership CANNOT be made up. As a result, groups will self-select dates to lead
class discussion. Do not pick a date to lead class discussion that you will be out of town for a school related activity.
If there is a family or health emergency the day you are to present, you will be able to make-up the work.
Paper Proposal and Virtual Presentation
Each student will turn in a one-page, single-spaced proposal for the research paper, which is due at the end of the
semester. I will review the paper proposal and provide feedback within one week. In the proposal you are to describe
the topic you have chosen, keywords you are using in your literature search, your understanding of dimensions of
the subject, and the main books and/or journal articles with which you plan to explore the topic. The proposal will
be worth 75 points (7.5% of the final grade).
The proposal should include the following sections:
• A description of the topic and its place in American sport
• The evolution of the topic over time
• Main themes or issues in the scholarly literature
• Preliminary conclusions about the topic and areas for additional exploration
As the world continues to become more globalized it is important to understand how, why, and when to effectively
use technology. To that end, each student will create a 5-minute virtual presentation of the paper proposal. The
proposal will be uploaded onto T-Learn to be shared with members of the class discussion group. In addition to
critiquing his/her own proposal, each student will evaluate the proposals of his/her group discussion members.
Group members are expected to provide constructive feedback regarding appropriate use of sources and how
effectively the proposal addresses the required elements of the assignment. The purpose of this assignment is to
give students an opportunity to either explore new technology and/or become more comfortable with its use in a
scholarly setting. The presentation will be worth 75 points (7.5% of the final grade).
Electronic Concept Map
You will create a detailed, electronic concept map of the literature review section of one selected article you find
during the first library session. The library technology liaison will create an electronic lesson (which will be viewed
in class and posted on T-Learn) detailing the specific elements required for the concept map. This assignment will
help the student better understand the procedures and techniques involved in writing an effective literature review.
The concept map is worth 100 points (10% of the final grade).
Research Paper
You will write a medium-length research paper that is 12-17 double-spaced pages, on a topic in sports history.
Students should consult the instructor prior to selecting a topic. Plan to explore such topics historically, with an
effort to:
 Describe the origins of the topic in American sport.
• When did this topic become important?
 Detail the evolution of the topic over time up to the present.
• How has this topic been addressed over time?
• What are the seminal moments of this topic’s evolution?
 Highlight related scholarship.
• What does the scholarly literature say about this topic?
• How have other researchers explored this topic in their research?
 Present ongoing dilemmas or areas rife for future research or scholarship.
• How does the literature inform the field at present?
• What areas could be explored more fully?
A detailed outline of the paper is due ten (10) days prior to the due date. The outline is worth 50 points (5% of
the final grade) and the research paper is worth 250 points (25% of the final grade).
Sample topics include:
• Participation in sport as a right or a privilege
• The corporate influence in intercollegiate athletics
• Compare and contrast NCAA Division I and III athletic models
• Title IX and its impact on American sport
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its impact on American sport
The influence of college football in decision making at American universities
The impact of Indian Boarding Schools and their sports teams on Native American tribes
Intercollegiate athlete as employee
The place of intercollegiate athletics in the American university
The athlete as hero
Impact of mass media on American sport
Sport and technology
The Olympic movement
The NCAA’s role in the development of American sport
American sport and the African-American athlete
The influence of the National Basketball Association in American sport
Participation
It is expected that students will take responsibility for their learning by:
• Being prepared for each class – having completed readings;
• Contributing to class discussion;
• Critically engaging course content;
• Raising questions or comments about readings; and
• Demonstrating respect for their peers.
Furthermore, students are required to attend two library sessions (one will focus on research methods and the other
will focus on the web-cam proposal and creating the concept map). These sessions are an important part of the
research process and should not be missed. A research worksheet is due the class session following the first
library visit. The assignment will be posted on T-Learn and critiqued by discussion group members.
An annotated bibliography is to be submitted on four (4) articles, five weeks after the second library session.
The bibliography will be posted on T-Learn and critiqued by discussion group members.
Participation is worth 150 points (15% of the final grade).
Attendance
Class will meet two days a week. Each student will be permitted two unexcused classroom absences. Absences in
excess of two (2) will result in a lowering of your participation grade by 10 points per absence. Excused absences
must be made in advance of the class. Students with 5 or more unexcused absences may be dropped from the
class. In addition, medical documentation must be provided for absences due to illness and injury, and proper
notification is required for all Trinity sanctioned events. These excuses may be presented following the missed class
provided the instructor is notified in advance of the absence
Trinity University’s Academic Honor Code
The values of honesty, scholarship and the pursuit of excellence are central to the mission of Trinity University. The
Academic Honor Code is the system through which Trinity students uphold these values by assuming individual
responsibility for integrity. An environment that encourages personal responsibility facilitates one of the highest
aims of education, the free pursuit of knowledge.
At its core the Academic Honor Code is based on trust. Because trust is the bond that forms among all members of
the Trinity community, it cannot exist independently or in a vacuum. Thus, it is essential that all members of the
Trinity community conduct themselves in such a way that exemplifies integrity. Trinity students are trusted and
expected to be honest in their academic work. Any violation of the Academic Honor Code destroys the value of the
work, erodes the spirit of trust, and negatively impacts the mission of the University.
Students who are under the Honor Code are required to pledge all written work that is submitted for a
grade: “On my honor, I have neither given nor received any unauthorized assistance on this work” and their
signature. The pledge may be abbreviated “pledged” with a signature.
Cell phone and laptop use/Eating in class
Respect your classmates’ desire to learn in a distraction free environment. Turn off your cell phones prior to coming
to class. Text messaging during class sessions is also inappropriate. Additionally, it is expected that laptops be
solely used for taking notes or presentations, not browsing on the Internet. Students who abuse the use of computers
will be asked to turn them off.
No eating in the classroom please. I ask this in an effort to keep desks, floors, and classrooms clean and presentable
for teaching and learning.
Writing Style
The style guide used for writing your research paper is the APA, 5th edition. Grammar, style, and clear and concise
writing count in the paper, as does content, format, and thoroughness. Sources should be plentiful and primarily
scholarly in nature. You should have very few citations from newspapers or other popular press (Newsweek, etc . . .)
sources.
You will be provided a grading rubric for the paper. See this link for great information regarding citations:
http://lib.trinity.edu/research/citing/index.shtml
Be wary of information you find on the internet, as material can be outdated, simplistic, or in some cases, erroneous.
Please note: Wikipedia is NOT an acceptable citation.
Class Schedule
Date
Reading
Deliverable/Other Info
Thursday, 1/14
Course Introduction
Getting to Know Your Group
I Have a Dream
Tuesday, 1/19
Colonial Sporting Experiences
Gems – Chapter 1
Email me by start of class Tuesday,
indicating you have successfully logged
onto T-Learn for this course.
Sport pastimes in the American Revolutionary Era
Gems – Chapter 2
Add/Drop ends
Thursday, 1/21
Tuesday, 1/26
The Antebellum Health Reform Movement
Gems – Chapter 3
Thursday, 1/28
The Antebellum Health Reform Movement
Gems – Chapter 3
Tuesday, 2/2
Growth of American Team Sport
Gems – Chapter 4
Thursday, 2/4
Expanding forms of sport in the Gilded Age
Gems – Chapter 5
Tuesday, 2/9
The Progressive Era
Jim Thorpe: All-American – Chapters 1-15
Exam #1 - Gems – Chapter 1-5
Distributed today
Thursday, 2/11
Using the library for research
We will meet in the Coates library lobby today
Exam #1 - Due today
Tuesday, 2/16
The Progressive Era
Gems – Chapter 6
Jim Thorpe: All-American – Chapters 16-30
Library Assignment Due Today
Thursday, 2/18
The Progressive Era
Gems – Chapter 6
Jim Thorpe: All-American – Chapters 31-40
Tuesday, 2/23
Sports Heroes and Popular Culture
Gems – Chapter 7
Thursday, 2/25
Sports Heroes and Popular Culture
Gems – Chapter 7
Tuesday, 3/2
Sports Heroes and Popular Culture
Class Discussion Leadership
Satchel – Chapter 1-6
Thursday, 3/4
Web-cam instruction and
creating the electronic concept map
(Bring an article with you)
Tuesday, 3/9
Sports Heroes and Popular Culture
Class Discussion Leadership
Satchel – Chapter 7-11
Thursday, 3/11
Sports in the Modern Era through Globalization
Gems – Chapter 8
Electronic Concept Map Due
Tuesday, 3/16
No class – Spring Break
Be safe and have fun!
Thursday, 3/18
No class – Spring Break
Be safe and have fun!
Tuesday, 3/23
Sports in the Modern Era through Globalization
Gems – Chapter 8
Thursday, 3/25
Sports in the Modern Era through Globalization
Gems – Chapter 9
Last Day to Withdrawal
Paper Proposal Due
Web-Cam Presentation Due
Tuesday, 3/30
Sports in the Modern Era through Globalization
Gems – Chapter 9
Web-Cam Critique Due
Thursday, 4/1
Tuesday, 4/6
Thursday, 4/8
Tuesday, 4/13
We will meet in the Coates library
Room 103
The Evolution of Intercollegiate Sport
Gems – Chapter 4
Selected readings posted on T-Learn
Exam #2
Course Units 2-4
Critique Reflection Due
The Evolution of Intercollegiate Sport
Gems – Chapter 4
Selected readings posted on T-Learn
Class Discussion
Carlisle v. Army
(Florida State Academic Scandal)
Thursday, 4/15
The Evolution of Intercollegiate Sport
Gems – Chapter 4
Selected readings posted on T-Learn
Tuesday, 4/20
The Evolution of Intercollegiate Sport
Gems – Chapter 4
Selected readings posted on T-Learn
Thursday, 4/22
Library Day
Tuesday, 4/27
Class Discussion
Air Ball
Thursday, 4/29
The History of SPMT 3314
Course Evals
Saturday, 5/8
Research Paper Due
Paper due at 12midnight
(submit electronically please)
Annotated Bibliography Due
Final Paper Outline Due by
Midnight (submit electronically)