Assessing the sociology of sport: On the hopes and fears for the sociology of sport in the US

Abstract

On the 50th anniversary of the ISSA and IRSS, David Andrews, a foundational scholar in the cultural and critical study of sport, considers his hopes and fears for the development of the sociology of sport in the US. Reflecting on the field’s trajectory, Andrews notes growth, diverse scholarly outlets, seemingly unresolvable “tussles” between structural functionalist and conflict theory approaches, increasing “sports creep” across culture, and the broadening of the sociology of sport beyond the “sociological” in a traditional sense. A key challenge for sport sociologists is the tendency to operate in perilous isolation in their disciplinary homes; a related challenge comes from its common seating in kinesiology as it has emerged as a de facto science of physical activity. In looking ahead, Andrews sees the sociology of sport in the US at a crossroads where impressive levels of research productivity may mask the field’s increasing marginalization. The present situation calls for a broad stocktaking of the sociology of sport as a project and new tactics for internal and cross-disciplinary dialogues that will help reimagine and situate the field.