Social Change and Sport: A Sociological Evaluation

This study aims to discuss the relation between social change and sports from a sociological point of view. This study is descriptive in its aim, periodic (discussion) in the length of time it covers and theoretical based on literature in its technique. “Social change” is a value judgement-free concept which does not indicate a direction but determines the new situation, the difference occurring in the society compared to the former era or situation. Every society changes in time; however, it could at times be ‘’positive’’ (in the direction of development, progress, etc...) and ‘’negative’’ at other times (in the direction of regress, deconstruction, etc…). As a social institution, sport, while affecting some social institutions (family, education, economics, politics, religion, communication, healthcare, law), is also affected by them. The process of social change has affected, moreover, has determined sports. As a social event, phenomenon, and institution, sports gains its meaning in the society that it takes place; and it both gets affected by the changes in the society and affects these changes there. It could be the ‘’reason’’ and the ‘’result’’ of social changes. Radical changes in the sports and even in the rules of branches of sports are made depending on the changing social needs, preferences and expectations. Although there isn’t an obligatory relation between ‘’social progress’’ and ‘’sports’’ theoretically, it can be said that the process of social progress contributes to sports and vice versa.