DoRevision Sign up free

Sportsmanship, Gamesmanship and Deviance

Where is the line between clever competing and cheating? Learn the difference between sportsmanship, gamesmanship and deviance, and why athletes at the top sometimes cross the line.

⏱️ 16 min 🎯 14 activities Teachers Not yet rated Students Not yet rated

Revise this, the fun way

Play it interactively, earn XP and build a streak, free.

Start revising free

What you'll cover

Where is the line? 🤝

Every sport has written **rules** and unwritten **etiquette**. Most athletes compete fairly, but the pressure to win can push some over the line. This module sorts three kinds of behaviour: **sportsmanship**, **gamesmanship** and **deviance**.

Three kinds of behaviour 🔑

Learn to tell these apart:

Fair, sly or foul? ⚖️

The three sit on a scale from fully fair to clearly against the rules.

Name it 🎯

What is gamesmanship?

  • Gaining an advantage without breaking the rules, against their spirit
  • Always playing fairly and respecting opponents
  • Breaking the rules and being banned
  • Trying hard but losing the match

Match the term 🔗

  • Sportsmanship
  • Gamesmanship
  • Deviance
  • Etiquette
  • Playing fairly and respecting the rules
  • Bending the spirit of the rules to gain an edge
  • Breaking the rules and accepted norms
  • The unwritten customs of fair play

Why cross the line? 💡

At elite level the pressure is huge. The chance of prize money, sponsorship, fame and the win-at-all-costs mentality can tempt athletes into deviance such as match-fixing, deliberate violence or cheating. The rewards feel high, but so do the risks.

Reasons to deviate ✅

Which THREE are reasons an elite athlete might commit deviance?

  • The chance of prize money and sponsorship
  • The desire for fame and status
  • A win-at-all-costs mentality
  • To enjoy the sport for its own sake
  • To improve their general fitness

What happens next 🪜

An interactive activity.

Complete the sentence 🧩

Playing fairly and respecting your opponents shows _____. Wasting time to unsettle a rival is _____, which bends the spirit of the rules without breaking them. Fixing a match for money is _____, which breaks the rules and can lead to a _____ and a damaged _____.

sportsmanship gamesmanship deviance ban reputation fitness etiquette victory trophy teamwork

True or not? 🖍️

An interactive activity.

Consequences 🔀

  • A ban
  • A fine
  • Lost sponsorship
  • Bringing the sport into disrepute
  • The athlete cannot compete for a set time
  • The athlete must pay a sum of money
  • Companies end their deals with the athlete
  • The image of the whole sport is harmed

Sort the behaviour 🧭

An interactive activity.

From fair to foul 📊

An interactive activity.

Explain the difference ✍️

An interactive activity.