AQA · A-Level · Physical Education
Course version: 7582 · Version from Sept 2016
Violence in sport: Spectator
In AQA A-Level Physical Education, the term spectator refers to a person who watches sport rather than taking part.
Checked against the AQA 7582 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 5
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
In AQA A-Level Physical Education, the term spectator refers to a person who watches sport rather than taking part. When studying violence in sport, you must understand the causes, implications and strategies to prevent violence in relation to the spectator. Causes of spectator violence include alcohol consumption, intense rivalries, poor officiating and the anonymity of a large crowd. The implications of such violence can be severe, leading to club fines, bans from competitions and a negative image for the sport. Strategies to prevent spectator violence include strict policing, segregation of rival fans, early kick-off times and banning orders for known offenders.
What earns the marks
- Identifies causes of spectator violence, such as alcohol, intense rivalries, frustration with officials and deindividuation in crowds.
- Explains the implications of spectator violence, including financial penalties for clubs, stadium bans and damage to the sport's reputation.
- Describes strategies to prevent spectator violence, such as segregation, increased stewarding, CCTV and banning orders.
- Distinguishes between the roles and behaviours of spectators and those of performers or officials in the context of sporting violence.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing a spectator with a participant.
Put it right: A spectator watches the event, whereas a participant takes an active role in the competition.
Assuming all spectators are violent.
Put it right: Most spectators behave lawfully, and disorder is associated with a minority and specific risk factors.
Ignoring the implications for the sport.
Put it right: Spectator violence does not just affect the individuals involved; it damages the reputation and financial stability of the club and sport.
Exam tips
- Read the stem carefully to check whether the question asks about the causes, implications or prevention strategies for spectator violence.
- Eliminate options that describe performers or officials rather than spectators.
- Look for the option that links spectator behaviour to a specific cause or control measure, as this is usually the most precise.
Try the lesson
The start of the Violence in sport: Spectator lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which of the following best describes violence performed by a spectator at a sporting event?
Listen
In AQA A-Level Physical Education, the term spectator refers to a person who watches sport rather than taking part. When studying violence in sport, you must understand the causes, implications and strategies to prevent violence in relation to the spectator. Causes of spectator violence include alcohol consumption, intense rivalries, poor officiating and the anonymity of a large crowd. The implications of such violence can be severe, leading to club fines, bans from competitions and a negative image for the sport. Strategies to prevent spectator violence include strict policing, segregation of rival fans, early kick-off times and banning orders for known offenders. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identifies causes of spectator violence, such as alcohol, intense rivalries, frustration with officials and deindividuation in crowds. Explains the implications of spectator violence, including financial penalties for clubs, stadium bans and damage to the sport's reputation. Describes strategies to prevent spectator violence, such as segregation, increased stewarding, CCTV and banning orders. Distinguishes between the roles and behaviours of spectators and those of performers or officials in the context of sporting violence. A common slip: Confusing a spectator with a participant. Instead, a spectator watches the event, whereas a participant takes an active role in the competition. Exam tip: Read the stem carefully to check whether the question asks about the causes, implications or prevention strategies for spectator violence.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Causes of spectator violence
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Implications of crowd disorder
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Strategies to prevent violence
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Spectator
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See every definition
- Causes of spectator violence
- Alcohol consumption, intense rivalries, poor officiating and the anonymity of a large crowd.
- Implications of crowd disorder
- Club fines, bans from competitions and a negative image for the sport.
- Strategies to prevent violence
- Strict policing, segregation of rival fans, early kick-off times and banning orders for known offenders.
- Spectator
- A person who watches sport rather than taking part.
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