July 5th, 2017
A symbol of Muscular Christianity
Lancing College is a school that was founded in 1848 by the Reverend Nathaniel Woodard. It's Chapel is a massive piece of
architecture that dwarfs the school buildings around it. The school's founder was a 'muscular christian':
the building symbolises the importance of christianity to the 19th Century public schools: it's sheer size and location on the landscape made
a real statement about the values that the school stood for (and still does !).
The history of Lancing College
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July 9th, 2017
AMATEUR VALUES
This clip from the film 'Chariots of Fire' highglights the values held by the middle/upper classes that shaped the rules of Amateur sport at the end of the 19th Century.
The Cambridge professor tells Harold Abrahams (athlete)
off for being too professional and not sticking to good old-fashioned Amateur ideals. (He is accused of being too professional because he employs a coach !!).
Note the link between upper class values and what is considered to be the 'proper way' to play sport - to not try too hard, to not be too professional,
to stick within the rules and not really be seen to try, to not place too much of an emphasis on trying to win at all costs.
A Level PE - Home Page
July 15th, 2017
Bare-knuckle fighting
In pre-industrial times, bare-knuckle boxing was a common local attraction at fairs, mops and on public hoilidays. Strong men with an aptitude for the sport roamed the countryside usually in small groups, with a length of rope.
They would attract a crowd and one of them would issue a challenge to the audience for anyone to fight for money.
Spectators would form a circle with the rope ( hence the ring ) into which, to accept the challenge,
an onlooker would throw his hat (hence tossing ones hat into the ring) meaning to accept the challenge.
Should there be no challenges, two of the party would box each other.
In each case there would be a collection and the party would move to the next village.
Travelling fairs might have a boxing booth, in which professionals would challenge the public or box each other, with spectators paying to watch.
A man who showed strength and aptitude would become a champion of his village or locality, and his neighbours would support him in challenges to other local champions.
A “purse “ might be put up for the winner and there would be plenty of betting.
The history of bare-knuckle boxing.
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August 4th, 2017
SPORT AND POLITICS
Forty eight years ago, in 1968, Tommie Smith and John Carlos stood in silent protest after placing 1st and 3rd in the Olympic 200 metres final in Mexico. On the medal stand, as the Star Spangled Banner played, both athletes bowed their heads and raised their fists in a defiant black power salute. Both athletes were expelled from the games and both received death threats.
In 2005, the University of San Jose, California, unveiled a sculpture to commemorate the heroic action of both athletes in raising awareness of racial inequality in the USA. (the US Olympic committee have never issued a public apology for its treatment of the two athletes)
In 2012, the Australian Government passed a motion to issue a posthumous apology to Peter Norman. He was the white Australian athlete who placed second behind Tommie Smith, who wore a human rights badge on the podium and gave his support for the American athletes in their gesture. He was also treated badly after the Games.
In 2016, a short time ago, Colin Kaepernick chose to remain seated during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner before the a National League game, in order to raise awareness of racial tensions in the USA, against a background of the deaths of black men in police-related incidents.
In forty eight years time, in 2064, when people look back on his actions, which have been controversial in the eyes of many americans, will he be remembered as a hero or villain ?
'News article'
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August 22nd, 2017
A LEVEL PAST PAPERS (OCR)
Hot off the press - you will find OCR A level past papers on our new 'Past Papers' page.
(They are papers from the old specification - Units G451 and G453). Much of the material will be covered in the new specification, so the past papers (and mark schemes) are invaluable.
'Link to past exam papers'
A Level PE - Home Page
August 25th, 2017
WORLD ANTI-DOPING AGENCY
The World Anti-Doping Agency's mission is to lead a collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport.
'The WADA website'
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August 30th, 2017
WILLIAM PENNY BROOKES
Baron Pierre de Coubertin took all of the the credit for the Modern Olympic games (the first of which was held in Athens in 1896)
for almost a hundred years before the contribution of Dr William Penny Brookes was finally recognised !!
'The true 'founder'of the Modern Olympics'
'Study A Level PE'
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September 2nd, 2017
THE HEART
A diagram of the heart, with two resources.
'The 'Giant Heart' at the Franklin Institute'
'Hypertension'
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September 9th, 2017
THE VILLAGE PUB
Before the Industrial Revolution, the village pub was the focal point of the community, allowing for drinking, feasting, courtship, the playing of games and sports (especially
cricket) - an important place for 'Popular Recreation'. Not much has changed, perhaps, for teachers of A Level Physical Education !
'The history of the great British pub'
'Blood-thirsty activities in the pub !'
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September 20th, 2017
19th CENTURY SPA TOWNS
Swimming developed as a Rational Recreation in the 19th Century for a number of reasons. The Middle and Upper Classes had taken holidays
to Spa towns since the mid Seventeenth Century, to 'take the waters', bathe and socialise. When Malvern was developed as a Spa town,
people flocked to the area to 'take the waters', be 'cured' of their ills and swim in plunge pools. When the railway network expanded
during the Nineteenth Century it paved the way for holidays at the seaside too, where swimming played an important part !!
Article about 'Taking the waters'
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