Reflection

Throughout my life I have never been a serious sports fan; I couldn't name you more than three football teams, I've never been to a professional baseball game, and yes, I only watch the super bowl for its food and commercials. Sport, Learning, and Australian Culture, however, has seriously increased my interest in sports through its informative classes and hands-on activities. I now love watching rugby; I often go to friend’s apartments or bars to watch the games. Here I am encouraged to yell at the television and whoop when Australia gains a try. I also loved going to the ANZ stadium games on our field trips, which I didn't anticipate. Going to the games was actually my favorite part of the course. I really loved feeling like I was a part of the game. Watching sports here is such an experience in itself; the other fans make it so much fun to care about. Their passion is contagious! In this way, the class has opened my eyes to the fantastic world of sports. It is now my mission to find a sport in the United States that I can become passionate about. Hopefully it will be as much fun to cheer for them as it is to cheer for the Wallabies, Sydney Swans, or Rabbittohs!

Of all the sports we studied, rugby union was my favorite to watch. While rugby union is very popular in Australia, it is not very popular at home in the United States. It is, however, a growing sport in the States; many universities have men and women club teams and we do have a national team (which I only found out recently). I was lucky enough to play on my university’s women’s club rugby team my first year of college. I quit because I found that I did not have enough time to commit to the sport, but this class has renewed my interest and I am planning on joining again when I get home. I love the fast pace of the game and the constant action. The ball is constantly being passed in rugby union where the ball is rarely passed in American football. This makes it so much more fun to watch.

While rugby union was my favorite of the rugby sports, AFL was also a ton of fun. Who knew a rugby ball could be bounced so flawlessly on a grassy field? I was completely amazed when I first saw footage of AFL in class. It seemed unreal, especially because I had never heard of any sport like it. When we went to the Sydney Swans game, I was astonished and impressed at how fluidly the players ran up and down the field, bouncing and kicking the rugby ball. The AFL athletes were the most in shape men I have ever seen. I was very impressed by them. Rugby league was my least favorite of the rugby games, probably because it reminded me too much of American football. The predetermined number of downs made the game a little slower than AFL and rugby union, and because of that I found it a little boring.

In addition to the rugby games, I was glad that this class exposed me to sports that I never would have come in contact with otherwise. Cricket, lawn bowling, and netball are not played popularly in the United States, and therefore I never would have had the opportunity to play them. Cricket was my favorite of the three but the rules were hard for me to wrap my head around because it seemed deceivingly similar to baseball, yet had very different rules. The downward throws threw me off, as well as the three poles that stand behind the batter. Just the fact that the game can go on for days is so foreign to me! This was one of my favorite in-class activities because I found the sport so bizarre.

It has been evident that sport in Australia is a huge part of its culture; you can't walk down the street without seeing someone in a sports jersey. Australians are so passionate about their designated teams and I was fortunate enough to be submerged into the culture through this class. The number of women who make up the fan base also surprised me and made me feel included when cheering for the teams. In the United States, most sports fanatics are male, but I have met so many college aged females here who are very passionate about sports. It is something that affects all Australians. I envy this because I do not see sport as something that affects all Americans.

It was refreshing to see firsthand how involved children are in Australian sport. Our field trips to children’s games illustrated the encouragement put forth by parents and coaches. The girls and boys seemed to be having a great time and the parents seemed laid back and just happy that their children were having fun. This is a very different atmosphere than that in the United States. At home during children’s games parents are often shouting at their children, scolding the referees, and yelling at the coach because they are so obsessed with their child winning the game. The parents often push their children to the edge which causes the kids to burn out early. The fun loving atmosphere in Australia seems constructive and encouraging, and I was envious that I did not grow up playing sports in this way. This seems especially important now that the obesity epidemic has reached an all time high in the United States and in Australia. Positive encouragement at a young age is an effective way to teach new generations how to live a healthy life.

Sport, Learning, and Australian Culture was a class that truly opened my eyes to new sports and a new culture. The class helped me see similarities and differences between my native sports and Australia’s, and it allowed me to submerge myself into Australia’s unique culture. I had a great time learning and participating in Australian sports, and I would definitely recommend this class to any study abroad student interested in understanding Australian culture.

Rugby World Cup: Australia vs. New Zealand

Last Sunday I went to a local pub to watch the Australia vs. New Zealand Rugby World Cup game. The bar had the game largely projected on one wall, and had a giant TV broadcasting the game on the opposite wall. We got there two hours early to get good seats and the bar was still packed with people. By the time the game started there was barely any standing room left! I thought that it was a great representation of how important sport is here in Australia. The game was not so great, mostly because New Zealand crushed us, but I really enjoyed the intense atmosphere of all of the fans. I was, however, extremely surprised at the number of New Zealand fans in the bar; I would say they made up almost half of the people there. The bar also got pretty rowdy at times when the Australian and New Zealand fans started arguing and cheering for their respective teams. I could barely hear myself think! It was definitely an experience and it encourages me to go to bars to watch football games when I get back to the United States; it seems to make the game much more fun.

Surfing in Jervis Bay

My study abroad program took all of its students to Jervis Bay for a camping trip last weekend. I didn't know until we got there that Jervis Bay is well known for its great surfing spots. We were fortunate enough to get a half day surfing lesson there. It was so much fun and everyone was able to get up on a wave at least once. There were three Australian instructors; all were in their mid-20's and fit the laid back, surfer stereotype. I was surprised to see that the surfing lifestyle portrayed in the Bra Boys documentary really did exist among regular people like these instructors (not the criminal aspect, but more in the relaxed, life-loving way). One instructor told me he was an elementary school teacher but was allotted two weeks vacation at fairly frequent intervals. It's during these two week vacations and summers that he bums around teaching surf lessons at Jervis Bay. After the surf lesson, they had a few people leave their boards at the beach so that the instructors could catch some waves between sessions. I found that the surfing lifestlye was very prominent.

Bra Boys

I found the Bra Boys documentary to be very interesting; I never would have though that a surfing gang would be so rough. In fact, I never thought there were surfing gangs at all. Its even scarier that their location, Maroubra, is right next to Coogee, where I have been many times. I have never seen a surf competition or been involved with surfing in the United States, so I cannot compare, but it really struck me when they said that the Australian surfing world is envied outside of Australia, but looked down upon in Australia. I found this to be very accurate. Surfers from Australia were very cool-seeming when I was young, and many aspired to be professional surfers like them. Surfers in general were definitely role models to young kids.

I also found the relationship between surfers and police to be very interesting and corrupt. While the Bra Boys did often get themselves into trouble by starting fights or protecting their territory, the police are supposed to be indifferent to who you are, and treat everyone fairly. I found it unneccessary that the police made these surfers their target while there were other bad characters in town, evidenced by the surfer's parents who were robbing banks and doing drugs. The Bra Boys were no angels in this relationship either, becuase they did target the police sometimes as well, but the relationship goes back much further than the Bra Boys. I really got a kick out of the ridiculous laws that the government came up with to try and deter the surfers from surfing.

I thought this was the best movie/documentary shown to the class yet, and I really enjoyed it.

Lawn Bowl

We went on a lawn bowling field trip this Sunday and it was so much fun! I loved that we played barefoot, it made the atmosphere much more relaxed. I didn't realize, however, that this game was so country club. It seemed that the game was for upper class people and I was surprised at how nice the bowling club was. Even the people there were all dressed in while polo shirts and white shorts. Needless to say, I felt a little out of place in my gym shorts and college hoodie sweatshirt. Country clubs in the U.S. are very fancy and exclusive like this club was, but the sports played at country clubs in the U.S. are most likely golf and tennis. It was interesting to see that a game like bachi, which is a very informal beach game, was being treated as an upper class sport.

I found the game itself to be very difficult! I love bachi, but this was a whole different mindset. Because the balls were weighted to one side I could never gauge where my ball was going to end up. Usually it was on the lawn next to us. I still enjoyed the game very much, and enjoyed it even more when my team won the horses arse trohpy!

Rugby and Tent Boxing Lecture

The lecture last week was both inspiring and curious. I loved the Rugby documentary because it showed the hard work and dedication the team put in to succeed, and it also clearly showed the integration of those with aboriginal descent in sport. The documentary seemed to capture an underdog story.

I found the lecture about tent boxing to be very strange but interesting. Violence makes me queasy so I was not a fan of the general idea of children fighting in front of a large crowd for entertainment purposes, but the culture is so different than that of the United States that I couldn't help but find it interesting. Traveling around with a circus to fight random civilions would never be a popular aspiration in the United States, but it seemed very common in Australia for some time. I found it particularly troubling how the circus leaders would take advantage of the children boxers by not treating them fairly, and abruptly shipping them home when they were done with them. I am glad that the tent boxing movement is over because it just seems too violent for children and young adults.

Swans vs. St. Kilda

I found this AFL game to be very entertaining and unique. The rules of the game are completely unlike any other sport to which I have been exposed. I loved the fast paced nature of the game and the frequency at which the ball changed possession. I immediately noticed the difference in build of the AFL players compared to the rugby athletes. The AFL players were much taller and lankier than the rugby players, but perhaps equally toned. The players' speed was also very impressive. I was surprised to see the coaches on the field during play time, and was impressed that they managed to stay out of the way during play. The coaches were running all over the field shouting instructions. I can't imagine this being allowed in the United States. I was also shocked to see that the game did not stop for injured players! The medics ran onto the field while the game was still in play. Every US sport stops the clock for injuries so I was very surprised by this.

I also noticed that the game field was a very round oval. I have never seen this type of field and I thought it changed the whole atmosphere of the stadium. Additionally, it created much more running for the players compared to the rugby game fields.

While we learned that AFL is not as popular in Australia as Rugby Union or Rugby League, I was impressed by the number of people who attended the game and also by the enthusiasm shown by the crowd. Both the Swan and St. Kilda fans were very passionate about the game. More so, I would say, than the fans at the Rugby League game last week.

Field Trip Report: Rabbitos vs. Parramatta and Children’s Finals Rugby League Games

Key Area 1 The Event

The event was held at ANZ Stadium which hosted the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, and holds up to 83,500 people (ANZstadium.com). I was extremely impressed by the facilities due to the cleanliness of the stadium and the reasonable concession stand prices. In the United States, stadiums are incredibly dirty. In fact, I felt as if I could eat off the ANZ stadium ground in comparison. The stadiums in the U.S. also take advantage of the fact that its spectators have no where else to eat or drink by raising the prices unreasonably. I noticed that the beer sold at ANZ was about the same price as you would find at a bar whereas in the U.S., a beer at a stadium is almost double what you would pay at a bar.

I was also surprised by the fact that young children were given the opportunity to play at ANZ Stadium. I was never given the opportunity to play in a large arena like that when I was playing sports as a child, but I know I would have loved the opportunity. This gives me a hint at the importance of children’s sport in Australia; Stadiums hosting young teams seems to signify that they want to encourage participation by giving the kids a great experience. The stadium and coaches may also be doing a little recruiting, in that they may want to give children a taste of what it would be like to play professionally. A dream of playing professionally could easily be born from an experience playing in a large arena as a child. This hints at the importance of professional sport in Australia.

There were few parents around my section in the stands, but from across the stadium I could see standing parents cheering. I did not notice any fights or arguments among the parents or coaches, which is embarrassingly common in the U.S. (especially during a final game). The attitudes of the parents seemed to be laid back and calm. This impression was supported by the actions of our other lecturer, Chris Curry, whose daughter was playing at halftime. When her daughter came out to play I noticed that she calmly watched from afar. This strengthened my impression about the laid back nature of the games. The coaches were also calm and collected, which I have never experienced first hand at any sporting event, young or old. I was especially surprised by this, seeing as it was the finals. In the United States there is great pressure to win from the coaches and parents.

           

Key Area 2 The Competition

The reaction of the adults previously described combined with the ANZ stadium location of the games makes me believe that the participation in Australian sport during youth is important, but the winning and losing factor is not necessarily central. The atmosphere sent the message that sport is for fun and is not just about winning. Even when the games were over I could not tell who had won or lost because both teams ran happily off the field. When the announcers echoed the winners, they filmed the team jumping and cheering as they were handed their plaque. When the announcer announced the second place team, however, the team was cheering just as much as they accepted second place. My experience in the United States has been that there is always a clear distinction between the jumping, cheering winning team and the feet-dragging losing team whose heads hang with shame. These incidences are indicators that the kids just play to play. That being said, I did not notice any rivalry or foul play between teams, but only friendly competition.

The encouragement on participation in these early years is supported by Georgakis and Russell who found that in the developmental years of 6-12, emphasis should be placed on participation, social aspects, sport sampling, and fun (Georgakis, Russell, 2011). Sticking to these coaching techniques may help to avoid sport withdrawal from young children.

As mentioned above, the winning team was given a plaque, not a trophy. I found this to be an Australian difference from the United States. To young children in the states, the best prize is the tallest trophy: the bigger the better. If a child was handed a plaque in the U.S., I’m not sure they would be satisfied because it is lacking the height and shininess of a typical trophy.

The children playing were fairly skilled at the sport. I acknowledge that these were the finals, and therefore the best teams in the league, but my sports teams at that age always contained one player who picked at the grass or seemed to be distracted by the sky. I was, therefore, impressed by the children’s focus, enthusiasm, and skill.

Key Area 3 Learning

Participating in any children’s sports teams can definitely reap social and physical benefits for the players in the future. I believe that this concept is fairly universal across cultures because aside from the fact that it gives children great exercise, it also teaches kids how to work as a team, deal with success and failure, and builds self-confidence through an increase in skills and abilities. It also stresses the importance of physical activity. One study suggests that being physically active as a child provides social benefits such as the ability to “acquire new skills, interact with others, meet challenges, develop team skills, and potentially improve self-esteem and self-confidence” (Hardy, Kelly, Chapman, King, Farrell, 2010). It has also been concluded that “children who participate in organised community or school-based sports are more likely to be active and to participate in physical activity as adults” (Hills, Nayha, Temmelin, 2003). For these reasons I find it very beneficial for children to participate in sporting events like those watched on Monday.

Participating in physical activity from childhood through adulthood is becoming increasingly important as obesity around the world in at an all time high. According to the Australian Statistics Bureau, 2.5 million Australian adults were obese in Australia in 2004, and 4.9 million adults were overweight. It is calculated that combined, that is 54% of the population (Health and Ageing Inquiry into Obesity in Australia, 2008). Additionally, the percentage of 15 to 17 year-olds who were overweight or obese increased from 9% to 16% from 1990 to 2005 (Health and Ageing Inquiry into Obesity in Australia, 2008). It was also found that 26% of boys and 24% of girls, aged 5-16 years old, were overweight or obese in New South Wales in 2004 (Health of Children in Australia: A Snapshot, 2005).

These statistics emphasize the importance of children’s sport because exercising at a young age increases the probability that someone with exercise as an adult. One study found that “participation in sports at least once a week in females and twice a week in males was associated with a high level of physical activity in adulthood” (Hills, Nayha, Temmelin, 2003). The skills and habits learned as a child best prepares you for lifelong exercise. For these reasons, I believe that there are great benefits in participating in children’s sport, as seen on Monday.

Children’s sport can also benefit girls specifically. I believe that girls playing sports, especially a rough one like rugby, reflects the message that girls can do what boys can do. Too often in society girls are complimented on looks, charm, and manners, but in the stadium, the girls that stood out were rough, brave, and fast. It’s good for girls to aspire to be more than just pretty. According to Burroughs and Nauright, “there has always been resistance from the male-dominated public culture to support and promote female physicality as equally as male physicality. Sport is perhaps the most significant site where the gender order is maintained in both societies” (Burroughs, Nauright, 2000). The authors also note that female athletes are often criticized for being too manly and their sexuality is frequently questioned. The athletes have been known to retaliate by promoting a more sexual side of themselves through nude photo-shoots and calendars. In the early 1990’s, girls were still expected to act ‘lady-like’ on the field and non-contact sports were encouraged. Today, women’s sport comprises only 1.2% of all coverage in Australia. (Burroughs, Nauright, 2000). This demoralization and disinterest of female athletes is disappointing, but the enthusiasm for the young girls that I saw at the game on Monday gave me hope that times are changing.

While these women’s sports statistics of Australia are unsatisfactory, women’s football is not even offered in the United States. Girls’ teams do not exist, especially not at the young age that girl’s rugby is played. Girls in the U.S. are viewed as too fragile to play football. The only way I have ever seen women’s football played was a “powder puff” football game that was hosted by my high school. The game is designed for high school boys to watch high school girls be thrown around in the mud. Compared to the United States, Australia is light years ahead in the Women’s ballgame department. Therefore it was encouraging to see the young girls playing rough and tough at the stadium.

 

Works Cited

1. "ANZ Stadium - About Us." ANZ Stadium. Web. 10 Aug. 2011. <http://www.anzstadium.com.au/AboutUs.aspx>.

2. "Australian Bureau of Statistics on Health and Ageing Inquiry into Obesity in Australia." Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2008. Web. <http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/haa/obesity/subs/sub085.pdf>.

3. Burroughs, A. and Nauright, J. 2000). Women’s Sports and Embodiment in Australia and New Zealand. In J.A. Magan and John Nauright (Eds) Sport n Australasian Society: Past and Present, London: Cass

4. Georgakis, Steve, and Katrina Marie. Russell. Youth Sport in Australia. Sydney: Sydney UP, 2011. Print.

5. Hardy, L. L., Kelly, B., Chapman, K., King, L. and Farrell, L. (2010), Parental perceptions of barriers to children's participation in organised sport in Australia. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 46: 197–203. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2009.01661.x

6. "Health of Children in Australia: A Snapshot, 2004-05." Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2008. Web. 10 Aug. 2011. <http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mf/4829.0.55.001/>.

7. Hills, Andrew P., Simo Nayha, and Tuija Tammelin. "Adolescent Participation in Sports and Adult Physical Activity." Science Direct (2003). Library Authentication - The University of Sydney. Web. 10 Aug. 2011. <http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy1.library.usyd.edu.au/science/article/pii/S0749379702005755>.

Mini League Grand Finals

This Saturday I attended the Mini League Grand Finals at Erskineville Park. As I entered the park I was immediately reminded of my own days playing on children’s sports teams; the parents were actively supporting the kids by cheering them on, food was being sold at concession stands, and the referees and coaches were shouting and instructing. Oranges were even brought onto the field as a half time snack, just as they do in the United States. As I paid closer attention, however, I began to notice slight differences between these Australian Mini League games and my own experiences on children’s sports teams in America. Firstly, I was shocked at the amount of tackling that was allowed at such a young age. In the United States, touch football is played until middle school because tackling is viewed as too rough for children. That being said, I was also surprised at the small amount of tears coming from the players; although they were being violently thrown to the ground, I only saw one player cry. Even then he was back on his feet and playing again within five minutes. I can’t help but think that if this game was played in America too many children would be benched with tears to finish a game. I was then surprised that the tackling was not just boy on boy, but girls were thrown into the mix as well. Co-ed teams do exist in the states at a very young age but no hard contact would be allowed on the field. Therefore, the toughness of the game both surprised and impressed me.