Abstract
Sociology of sport as a branch of applied sociology is a rapidly developing field despite being quite new in the world and Turkey. The main research problem in the study is that individuals who are stigmatized in the society in various ways do not have many opportunities to cope with the problems they experience. The purpose of this article, which is based on a broader study is to demonstrate the process of constructing a new identity on the formerly stigmatized individuals with sport as a game. This study is based on a holistic perspective along with the methodology of the Grounded Theory. The Grounded Theory methodology embraces the same sport, aiming to do data collection and analysis together, and have the potential to produce a bottom-up theory and practice. For example, the data collected systematically by the athlete or trainer during training or competition can turn into a training program for the development of the athlete or team. On the other hand, in Grounded Theory applications, social phenomenon is discussed in the natural environment of daily life where it takes place. In understanding the process of constructing the athlete identity, considering the time and space in the natural environment should be stated as another important relationship between sport and Grounded Theory methodology. Research findings revealed that the “attraction of the game” is the core concept as a result of open, axial and selective coding. In addition, it has been revealed that this situation is possible with games and sports (Sport4.0) specific to disabled people in parallel with the production and training (Education 4.0), which is described with the metaphor of “tailoring”, which is not similar to apparel production.
Highlights
Social sciences in general, and sociology in particular, have a very old relationship with sports
In order to reveal the processes of stigmatization of individuals, how they are stigmatized in traditional education, and the processes of change that have occurred in their identities after starting sports, the grounded theory was used during the evaluation of empirical findings
The driving force behind the new characteristics that people have acquired due to their new athlete identity is the ability to participate in the game, in other words, the attraction of the game
Summary
Sociology in particular, have a very old relationship with sports. The first sports psychology studies are the psychological theory of sport thesis written in Breslau by Benary (1913) before sociologists According to Joakley and Dunning (2000), sports sociology as an academic research area began with Heinz Risse (1921), a student of the Critical Theory representative Theodor Adorno, known as the Frankfurt School. With the pressure of the Nazis, silence prevailed in the 1940s. Even famous sociologists such as Adorno, Elias and Hokheimer left Germany. In 1961, Antony Giddens and Eric Dunning, who wrote a thesis at the London School of Economics, returned to sports sociology. According to Heinemann (2020: pp. 403-422), sociology of sports is considered as unintended consequences of commercialization and professionalization of sport in Germany
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