Social Issues in Sport

Study the role, impact, and influence of sport in society.

The fifth edition of Social Issues in Sport provides updated content and fresh perspectives on critical issues in sport, making it an invaluable resource for students, educators, and professionals. It delves into current trends in sport and examines complex ways that sport interconnects with politics, economics, religion, race, gender, and more. The textbook is intended for those exploring sport objectively for the first time, aiming to understand the role sport plays in society and in their personal lives.

Updates include the following:

• New statistics on youth sport participation and trends in youth team sports, including a new focus on mental health and coach training
• Examinations of high-profile coaching scandals, deviant behavior, and violence in sport, as well as strategies for promoting fair play and ethical conduct
• Conversations surrounding the importance of diversity and inclusion and efforts to address racial and economic disparities, visibility of women’s sports, and gender issues in sport
• Information on the increasing attention given to NIL policies
• Advancements in adaptive sport technology and inclusive fitness programs

The text’s approachable presentation style, full-color design, and ample learning tools are designed to stimulate critical thinking and enhance student engagement. To enrich the reading experience, students will find learning objectives, chapter introductions, key terms, chapter summaries, discussion questions, and engaging sidebars throughout the text. New to this edition are interviews with seasoned sport professionals, providing practical real-world insights on a variety of topics. Related online learning tools delivered through HKPropel include case studies for each chapter, all-new video interviews featuring author Nalani Butler, flash cards, supplemental video lectures, and chapter quizzes.

Part I defines terms and establishes the purpose and importance of studying sport in society. Part II explores sport as an institution and delves into how it functions in relation to other institutions such as schools, colleges, and the Olympics. Part III focuses on the interaction between culture and sport and lays out the significance of social issues in the sport world, including sporting behavior, ethics, and morals; race and ethnicity; gender; and social class.

Social Issues in Sport, Fifth Edition With HKPropel Access, offers an accessible pathway to understanding the multifaceted roles of sport and physical activity in society. Students will gain an appreciation for how sport has developed as both a component and reflection of our society.

Note: A code for accessing HKPropel is included with all new print books.

Ronald B. Woods, PhD, is an adjunct professor of health science and human performance at the University of Tampa. He was a professor of physical education and men’s tennis coach at West Chester University in Pennsylvania for 17 years and was inducted into the West Chester University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Woods also spent 20 years with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and was the first director of player development charged with developing top junior players into successful playing professionals. He was honored by the International Tennis Hall of Fame with their Tennis Educational Merit Award in 1996. In 2010, Woods was inducted into the USTA Middle States Tennis Hall of Fame.

Woods has been a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) for over 40 years. He has served as the president of the USPTA middle states division and as a member of the national executive committee. He was honored by the USPTA as National Coach of the Year in 1982 and named a Master Tennis Professional in 1984. In 2012, Woods was inducted into the USPTA Middle States Hall of Fame.

A lifelong member of SHAPE America, Woods was a member of the U.S. Olympic Coaching Committee for eight years and the Coaches Commission of the International Tennis Federation.

B. Nalani Butler, PhD, is an associate professor of sport management at Kennesaw State University. Butler is a former college student-athlete who continued her scholarly journey through the completion of a doctorate at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. During her tenure in Knoxville, she volunteered her time as a graduate student representative for the Center for Sport, Peace, and Society, which works closely with the U.S. State Department on issues involving sport diplomacy. More recently, Butler’s international experience involves being a part of the International Olympic Academy’s International Session for Educators, where she worked with scholars around the globe to develop communication and understanding, using sport as a vehicle for peace and understanding.

Butler’s past experiences in the sport industry include working with the Cincinnati Reds (MLB) team, USA Bobsled and Skeleton, the Georgia State University athletic department, and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). She is an editorial board member of Engaging Sports and a former board commissioner for the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA). Butler’s experiences working, traveling, and playing sports have helped her to shape a scholarly professional trajectory, focused on exploring social issues in sport, locally and globally.