Respect for all: Challenging stereotypes in football

This activity was used with pupils in key stages 2, 3 and 4, years 6 to 11.

Aim

• To develop understanding of the meaning of cultural stereotyping and discrimination.

Activity objective

• To challenge negative attitudes and beliefs towards issues of culture and ethnicity through the medium of sport.

Activity description

To begin the activity, pupils were introduced to research that found that over 90% of professional football club managers believe the myth that 'Asians can't play football': a view that gave the title to the report Asians Can't Play Football (Baines and Patel, 1996), sponsored by a range of organisations including the Football Association. The teacher stated the reasons for these beliefs and attitudes.

The pupils were then divided at random into two equal groups. One group was asked to support this view, the other to oppose it. Facilitated by the teacher, the groups debated the issues and produced statements 'for' or 'against' the stereotype view. The teacher then challenged the statements, highlighting that they were based on assumption and that pupils did not have any evidence to support their views. He then presented the facts about the ability of Asians to play football. After this the pupils reviewed their statements.

Commentary

Having debated the statements made by the football managers without any evidence and then having considered the facts the pupils realised how easy it is to prejudge, stereotype and discriminate (possibly indirectly) against people from different cultures, religions or minority ethnic groups. The pupils began to show confidence in challenging and confronting stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination in all walks of life.

Resources

Baines, J and Patel, R, Asians Can't Play Football, Asian Social Development Agency, 1996

The report can be ordered from the 'Football unites, racism divides' campaign (FURD): http://www.furd.org/

The physical education schemes of work can be found at www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes
The online national curriculum can be found at www.nc.uk.net