The Impact of Sports on Society

The Impact of Sports on Society

In the Early Days

Sports have had a social impact on society since the first Olympic Games in Greece in 776 BC. Initially, the original purpose of sports was competition and camaraderie. In some parts of the world, sporting events were accompanied by religious ceremonies. At the other end of the spectrum, jousting events were accompanied by social gatherings. They also provided a way to train knights for warfare.

Increasing the Presence of Sports in Society

From the mid-1700s to the late 1800s, the role of sports in the U.S. took on a recognizable form. As people began to populate urban areas, clubs and facilities were built to accommodate the demand for sports.

• The Philadelphia Cricket Club was founded in 1854. It was established to play a variety of sports.

• Mary Ewing Outerbridge introduced tennis to the United States in 1874. She brought a lawn tennis kit from Bermuda to Staten Island, New York.

• The Newport Casino hosted the first U.S. National Lawn Tennis Championships on its grass courts in 1881.

• The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, was founded in 1882. It was opened to serve golfers and accommodate the country-club lifestyle.

• Basketball was invented in 1892 by Dr. James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts.

• Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William Morgan in Holyoke, Massachusetts. It was developed for less athletic individuals as a way to get exercise without the contact in basketball.

As transportation improved from carriages to trains and automobiles in the early 1900s, society became more mobile. The income for many improved. Some city dwellers had more leisure time. It was possible to travel further to compete or watch sporting events. As a result, the demand for facilities increased, sports became more popular, and there was a need to establish uniform rules for sports. Trade associations were formed to support participants, teaching professionals, and coaches. The role of sports in society had increased to the point that comedians recognized it.

To illustrate the latter points, the USPTA was formed in 1927 to advocate for tennis teaching professionals. Their profession was worthy of standards, education, and recognition. In the late 1930s, Abbott and Costello performed one of the great sports comedy routines, Who’s on First. 

Sporting competition has existed for thousands of years in other parts of the world. Their impact is a relatively new phenomenon in the United States, and the social benefits of participating in sports have been in place for a small percentage of that time.

Impact of Increased Mobility and Access to Information

Increased mobility, information, and data have helped drive the growth of sports. As a result, their impact on society is evident at more levels: local, regional, national, and international.

Obviously, sports have become more commercialized. That is a double-edged sword. 

FIFA data illustrate the growth of sports. Globally, there are more than 240 million registered soccer players. They play at more than 300,000 clubs. FIFA estimates that five million fans will attend 104 events in North America for the 2026 World Cup. Television and digital viewership are projected to be six billion.

On a much smaller scale, the ITF has reported that there are 106 million tennis players in 199 countries. It is reported that 1.1 million spectators attend the U.S. Open, with viewership of 2.5 to 3.5 million for the finals.

Technology, Research, and Coaching

Technology and research have changed the way sports are marketed, played, and coached. Improved equipment and training tools have made sports easier to learn and allowed athletes to participate at higher levels.

Coaches are the “boots on the ground” who have helped sports expand their reach and impact on society. Trade associations have created coach certification programs to teach them about all aspects of sports.

Over time, the mindset of coaching has evolved from a militaristic or coach-centric approach to an athlete-centric philosophy. In an environment that is more friendly to the athletes, sports have provided a stage where athletes can create an identity, excel, and learn life lessons.

The Impact of Sports on Society

This short synopsis points out the importance of sports to society.

• Sports have brought people together and created a community. It may have been at the Olympics in Greece, jousting matches in the feudal era, or at the NCAA WCWS (Women's College World Series - softball). Despite the many attributes of the Olympics, its mandate for political neutrality has proven difficult to manage. The Olympic Games have become a geopolitical nightmare, with boycotts, protests, and killings. Sometimes it is difficult to appreciate the social benefits of the Games.

• Sports create communities. The communities may include people with different backgrounds, ideas, races, ethnicities, education levels, skill sets, cultures, and more. Sports can provide different social benefits to them.

• Sports may provide social benefits that will improve the health, education, and safety in communities. The NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) advocates that “high school students should enjoy healthy participation, achievement, and good sportsmanship in education-based activities.” In other words, they learn life skills whether they are on the speech team or playing girls’ tennis.

• The Vail Valley Foundation (https://vvf.org/) impacts society by supporting programs that feature arts, athletics, community, and education. The purpose is to “Empower Possibilities.” There is crossover between programs in these four areas of focus. The impact can be seen in a higher percentage of high school graduates, a lower-than-usual crime rate, and a healthier community.

• Lauren Chamberlain, a former professional softball player, is one of many women athletes who have addressed advocacy, activism, and discrimination faced by female athletes.

• Gladys Heldman was a leader in advocacy for the sport of tennis and women’s tennis. She laid the foundation for the WTA. Billie Jean King and others have carried the torch forward. While tennis has been a leader in addressing women’s issues, only about one in five of the RSPA’s certified members are female. The Professional Tennis Registry does not provide information about the mix of its membership. Some divisions within the Intercollegiate Tennis Association have higher percentages of women coaches than the RSPA. Providing social benefit is a never-ending job.

• Finally, many of the sports trade associations have taken steps to address their impact on society. They have offered/mandated continuing education for their members and provided networking opportunities. Organizations have also implemented Safe Sport programs to reduce emotional, physical, and sexual misconduct in sports. In addition, some have developed mentorship and apprenticeship programs. Finally, there has been a focus on educating members in essential skills such as communication, adaptability, good sportsmanship, strategic thinking, teamwork, and conflict resolution. These are areas where many coaches have an opportunity to improve their skills and knowledge.

Throughout the transformation from the early Olympics in Greece to the multi-million-dollar sports enterprises in 2026, sports have had a significant impact on society. In many cases, athletes or coaches are focused on the “thrill of victory” or the “agony of defeat.” In time, the lessons that are remembered are the social benefits that have a real impact long after the score is forgotten.

In addition, Gary Horvath has conducted extensive business and economic research that has largely supported the state of Colorado's economic development efforts.