MANGALORE: Success in sports is directly related to the economic resources available to these sports.
The current status of sports worldwide is that professionals manage the show, leaving the sportsperson to concentrate only on the performance. In India, sports facilities are available but in limited locations, and, more importantly, sparingly when we consider the sheer magnitude of the population currently in this country. The reach of facilities to sportspersons in rural areas is very poor, and this also is made deprived with low support of funds by required authorities. Lack of sports facilities in schools and overlooked long-term athlete development have also impacted the development of a robust support system for sports over the years. Additionally, about 57% of schools in India don’t have a proper playground, and the basic amenities for sports are a luxury for such schools. There is also a lack of professionalism among sportsmen’s support staff, leading to a below-par performance in many national and international events. Today, most events in India have support sports personnel from foreign countries as they are well-trained and professional in approach.
Women sports in India have not been given much importance. Lack of good sponsorship, lack of family support and gender discrimination in sports are affecting the development of sportswomen in India. Females have been underrepresented in sports events. Women’s involvement in sports is still a developing aspect. The various constraints such as educational qualification of the parents, community, tradition, religion and personal constraints are discouraging women participation in sports.
Sports psychology is the most significant aspect in one’s individual outcome. Sports psychology pertains to factors such as anxiety, motivation, encouragement, personality, concentration, mental imagery, confidence and goal setting, etc. In order to give importance to these aspects, sports science and physical education are given much importance. Coaches, friendly environment and physical education teachers have the first three ranks in the motives for athletes to choose their sport branches.
Success in sports is directly related to the economic resources available to those sports.
Lower income families use their available resource and encourage their children to participate in sports activities, whereas the affluent families aim at a more organized form of opportunity. Parents from affluent families or rural settings reported that their children are engaged in physical activities for at least for 5 days a week and 60 minutes each day, whereas lower income families’ children spend more time for physical activities. Schools, because of lack of funds for sports activities, cut the budget on sports that lead children to pay-to-play fee, which the lower income families find difficult to pay. Thus lower income families’ children’s participation reduces. Children’s participation in sports has decreased because of sports fees that also include equipment, uniforms and additional team fees.
There do exist some programs for lower income families to fund their money. Parents are unaware that such programs exist. The privatization of sports has also led to a decline of locally run institutions which help the lower income people. The cost in the private institutions is high, which affects the lower income group. There is a quick increase in participation in sports by higher income people and there is a decline in the participation of the lower income people.
The effects of energy expenditure during sub maximal exercise are affected by mechanical and muscular factors. The athlete’s equipment such as footwear, track surface, and bicycle components on economy and muscular efficiency also affects his or her performance. The sports injury preventions framework can be designed were the researchers can identify various injuries and prevention can be adopted by sports participants’ coaches and sporting bodies so that the athlete can be injury free. Sport science is a scientific process which guides practice of sports and aim to improve the sporting performances.
A family is the most potent of socialization institutions, thus sports involvement is affected by family members. It is evidential that families’ sports culture is a chief factor in an individual’s sporting interests where family social class and demographics are some sub-factors. “Parenting style” impacts upon the effectiveness of parenting practices in relation to children’s sport and physical activity. For an elite athlete the coaches and peers act as the most important aspect of motivation. A good relationship between the coaches, peers and the athlete is important when it comes to motivation. The social agents also play a role in the athlete’s life: instruction and leadership to coaches; emotional support, collaborative and/or competitive behaviours for peers and for parents, and a diminished role relative to when the athletes were younger.
Sports infrastructure also plays a major impact on sports performances. One of the reasons for the downfall of sports in India is because of the lack of facilities. The concern comes to higher education institutions due to budgetary problems. The people who take part in sports live a better and healthier life. Education and motivation alone are not enough for a sportsperson, but also needed is a well-established infrastructure.
Opportunities do knock quite frequently and are available. The need of the hour is met by identifying such opportunities on a timely basis and using them. This starts right from talent scouting at an early age, grooming, conditioning and preparing the sportsperson for the sport to marketing, branding, media handling and promoting the sportsperson. There is immense talent in India’s youth that has not come to the limelight due to poor community development; India has well-built, energetic youngsters in the tribal and fishermen communities. These youth have never been able to shine because of the lack of awareness, their livelihood as most are the sole bread earners, and the shortage of basic amenities in most rural areas. Due to all this, most of the youth in India, especially the rural youth, have always preferred livelihood over sports.
This mind set can definitely be changed by identifying rural talent and sponsoring their training, along with a decent stipend that can take care of their living. Strongly focused programs need to be offered for coaching, mentoring, and sports management, including athlete psychology, understanding the audience, and athlete branding. The support staff should be trained to take care of the needs of the sportspersons and the events well, which leaves the sportspersons to concentrate only on their performance, which means there is no compromise. The sportspersons are gold nuggets that must be unearthed from the talent scouting, cleansed, refined and brought to shape so that they are precious and shining.
Ren Trevor Dias is Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce, MAHE Manipal.