2.1.c. Ethical and socio-cultural issues in physical activity and sport - Ethics in sport — OCR GCSE Physical Education
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2.1.c. Ethical and socio-cultural issues in physical activity and sport - Ethics in sport explained
2.1.c. Ethical and socio-cultural issues in physical activity and sport - Ethics in sport covers 2 specification points, including • the value of sportsmanship • the reasons for… and Be able to apply practical examples to these….
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Open a point below for its explanation and revision guidance.
know and understand: • the value of sportsmanship • the reasons for gamesmanship and deviance in sport.
Sportsmanship is conduct that respects the rules, opponents and officials even when winning matters: shaking hands, kicking the ball out when a player is injured, or admitting a ball touched the hand. Its value lies in fair contest, safety, respect and a positive image that encourages participation. Gamesmanship is bending the rules or using psychological tricks without technically breaking them, such as distracting an opponent at a serve or feigning injury to waste time. Deviance is behaviour that breaks the rules or accepted norms, such as doping, deliberate fouls or abusing officials. Reasons include pressure to win, financial reward, desire for fame, weak detection or punishment, and copying role models. Teach learners to separate the three concepts and to give a reason for each behaviour.
be able to apply practical examples to these concepts.
This criterion asks you to take the ethical concepts of the Ethics in sport topic — such as fair play, sportsmanship, gamesmanship and deviance — and attach each one to a real sporting situation you can describe. A strong answer names the concept, then gives a concrete example that shows the behaviour in action, for instance a player who calls a foul on themselves in snooker (fair play) compared with a footballer who feigns injury to waste time (gamesmanship). Practise building a bank of examples from different activities, then test yourself by matching each example to the correct concept and explaining briefly why it fits, so the link is clear rather than assumed.
Your focus
- Define sportsmanship and explain its value in sport
- Distinguish gamesmanship from deviance with examples
- Give reasons why performers use gamesmanship or commit deviance
Show all 6 objectives
- Match a named ethical concept to an accurate practical sporting example
- Explain why a chosen example demonstrates the concept
- Distinguish between closely related concepts such as gamesmanship and fair play
2.1.c. Ethical and socio-cultural issues in physical activity and sport - Ethics in sport exam tips
Marking Points
- Defines sportsmanship as fair, respectful conduct that upholds the rules and the spirit of the contest
- Explains the value of sportsmanship such as respect, safety, fair contest and positive role modelling
- Defines gamesmanship as bending rules or using psychological tricks without technically breaking them
- Defines deviance as behaviour that breaks rules or accepted norms, such as doping or abusing officials
- Gives a reason for gamesmanship or deviance such as pressure to win, financial reward or weak punishment
- Names the ethical concept and pairs it with a specific sporting situation that genuinely illustrates it
- Explains why the chosen example fits the concept rather than merely describing the incident
- Distinguishes gamesmanship from fair play by showing the intent behind the behaviour
- Selects an example from a recognisable activity and keeps the detail accurate to that activity
Examiner Tips
- 💡Check whether the stem asks about sportsmanship, gamesmanship or deviance before choosing
- 💡Reject options that describe a behaviour without matching it to the correct concept
- 💡Look for the option that gives a plausible reason rather than just a description
- 💡Eliminate options that treat fair play and cheating as the same thing
- 💡Read the stem carefully to see which concept is being tested before choosing an option
- 💡Reject options that describe a different concept even if the example sounds sporting
- 💡Keep a short list of two or three examples per concept from activities you know well
- 💡Check that the example and the concept match in intent, not just in appearance
Common Mistakes
- Treats gamesmanship as identical to deviance; distinguish rule-bending tricks from clear rule-breaking
- Describes sportsmanship only as winning gracefully; include respect for opponents and officials
- Gives no reason for deviant behaviour; link it to pressure, reward or weak sanctions
- Assumes all rule-breaking is accidental; separate deliberate deviance from honest mistakes
- Labels any rule-breaking as deviance; reserve deviance for behaviour that seriously breaks agreed codes or norms
- Treats gamesmanship and fair play as the same thing; separate them by whether the performer seeks an unfair advantage
- Gives a vague example with no named activity or performer action; specify who does what in a real situation
- Assumes one example proves understanding; practise several concepts with different activities