Putting Play Back in Play Ball

Workshop Presentation
Elaine Foster  

When an umpire yells “play ball!” athletes are released into the world of sport, a world bound by rules and rankings. Such objective measures create structure to test the abilities of athletes against worthy competitors. Additionally, such objective measures are used to determine success, to declare the winner and the loser. However, winning and losing does not guarantee that play occurred. In play, sport becomes a field of possibility, creativity, and discovery. In play, athletes are sensually submerged in each footstep, stroke, dribble, and heartbeat. In play, what matters is that the contest occurred. However, the drive to succeed in sport, to achieve objective outcomes, often overshadows the possibility of play. With focus on objective outcomes, athletes become objects, a means to an end, or a way to sell a product or provide entertainment. Essentially, the athlete as human ceases and the athlete as object thrives. As Fetter (1976) said, “…totally subsumed with the external pressures associated with a ‘win at all cost’ ideology, the athlete loses ‘touch’ with the sensually rich aesthetic possibilities available to [them]” (p. 143). Yet, it is within the aesthetic possibilities that athletes find play; an experience deeper and richer than simply winning. Further, aesthetic possibilities in sport contribute to commitment and motivation to participate (Foster, 2021). Therefore, aesthetic possibilities should be the foundation or the why of sport. Through this presentation, participants will discuss the aesthetic possibilities in sport and learn practical ways to put play back in play ball!