Intimidation in Sport
JoThaddeus Morgan
Axia College of University of Phoenix

According to the Axia College Week Three reading Intimidation, Competition, and Sportsmanship (2003), “Intimidation is the act of causing someone to be fearful, withdrawn, or coerced” (p.56). In the scenario in Appendix B, the athletes, coach, official, and spectators all exhibited some form of intimidation and in the following paragraphs will explain how and suggest an alternative behavior for each participant in the scenario. The athletes on the Huskies are showing a Nonpurposful Physiological intimidation because of their physical skills have made them a better team and the athlete on the Tigers is showing Purposeful Physical intimidation by throwing his pitches to close to the batters. The coaches are exhibiting intimidation; the coach of the Huskies is using Purposeful intimidation by his actions of running up the score, even after his team is winning by a large margin. The Tigers coach is also using Purposeful intimidation by telling his player to pitch in close to the batters, which could bring harm to a player if the pitch strikes the player. The official shows Purposeful Physiological intimidation by ejecting the players and warning the teams to play the game in the correct fashion. The spectator who displays intimidation is the father of the hit batter as he shows Purposeful Psychological intimidation by confronting the Tiger’s pitcher mother and starts berating the mother. The alternative behavior each person involved could display would be first for the athletes, show sportsmanship after the game and shake the opposing teams hand and apologize for any incident. The coaches, whom should be guiding the attitudes of their athletes, they should show their players sportsmanship and not run up the score when their teams are ahead and remind the athletes that winning is important but showing class is better. The official should have talked to both teams and coaches before the game about sportsmanship and what the official expected from each member and the results from not following his or her instruction. The final person that could change their action would be the parent of the player that got hit with the pitch, he or she should calm down before confront anyone after a game, and that parent should be a role model for their kid, showing them how to react to a situation with class and integrity and not violence. These examples of intimidation and alternative ways to change the behavior are good starts to help everyone understand the decision that we make effects everyone around us and with a little understanding and guidance maybe a scenario such as the one in Appendix B can be avoided in the future.

References
Axia College of University of Phoenix. (2003). Intimidation, Competition, and Sportsmanship. Retrieved January 9, 2009, from Axia College, Week Three reading, aXcess, SPM220