Goals of professional sports. What is the difference between professional sports and amateur sports?

Most of us roughly understand how professional football differs from amateur football, in which kicking the ball in the stadium is a hobby, a form of recreation and a way to communicate with friends. Serious sport is a busy schedule, heavy loads, sometimes exhausting workouts through “I can’t”, which consist not only of training in the main “specialty”, but also in many related disciplines. And in most cases, this, unfortunately, is an early retirement from sports. Is it appropriate to draw an analogy with dog sports - after all, it seems that a dog is an athlete in it?

This comparison is in many respects permissible both for a sporting dog and for its handler. A person, although he does not jump over the barrier himself (with rare exceptions-:), does not fetch an object from a river and does not bite a protective suit, sometimes he is subjected to decent physical exertion. Serious agility competitions require the handler to be able to quickly run across the ground, guiding the dog along the route, and training in protective sports requires good physical shape and coordination, since the handler himself is often the trainer for his dog or the dogs of his team. But a more significant similarity is in the systematic and often intense training schedule, especially on the eve of going to the start, in the need to constantly improve their professional level and take part in various competitions (to confirm and improve sports qualifications), as well as in the high loads of the partner dog . That is, in fact, a serious dog sport is work.

Most professional athletes are cynologists whose main occupation is directly related to dogs. These are either instructors at training grounds, or departmental guides, or breeders who are seriously engaged in breeding. Participation in competitions of a national, and even more so international level is an opportunity for an instructor to declare himself as an experienced specialist to a wide range of potential and regular customers, for a breeder to demonstrate the quality of the breeding dogs of the kennel and dogs of his own breeding, for a police cynologist to confirm his high professional competence and ensure career growth. Of course, in dog sports there are just amateurs whose main profession is not related to cynology, but there are much fewer of them. Why?

Preparing even a dog with a very good innate potential for the sport of high achievements is a very big job that needs to be done every day, regardless of the weather, mood and “main” occupation. By and large, the entire lifestyle of a dog owner who wants to try himself in a serious sport should be changed and directed towards solving this problem. Not everyone is ready for this: for example, there are hardly so many amateurs who sincerely enjoy the need during the snowless season, during the preparation of the dog for the track section in the IPO, to go to the field every day early in the morning to lay a kilometer track, often in the rain and on dirty arable land, and then wash the boots in the nearest puddle from lumps of dirt adhering to them. The personal relationship between a professional handler and his sport dog is also based on different principles than most amateurs. Although the dog-athlete and its owner are very often closely connected by strong ties of camaraderie and mutual affection, they are based, first of all, on a system of partnership and strict rules purposefully developed by a person, which consists of far more than just “gingerbread”, where a bowl of food and the game must be earned, but in which the dog develops a clear understanding of what leads him to reward and satisfaction, and what promises nothing but trouble. Many sports dogs have a strong and self-confident character, a desire for leadership, which must be brought under control. But it turns out that not all owners, even thinking about sports success, can refuse relations with a dog mainly in the “usi-pusi” style, and of those who are ready for this, not everyone can become consistent, tolerant, but persistent in his own attempts to fashion a professional out of a dog. In general, serious sport is both work and a conscious rejection of previously familiar comfort.

What drives a professional athlete? You need to understand that sport with a dog, like any other sport, is, first of all, a way and form of manifestation of purely human ambitions. To just have fun with your dog, there is no need for it. In the sport of high achievements, the dog performs to a large extent an instrumental function, just like a car in a rally or like a rapier in fencing. Some hobbyists may be surprised, but it is not uncommon for a professional handler to change dogs several times over the course of 3-5 years, and this is par for the course. Just as a car with hidden flaws can't win a major rally, a dog's behavioral and health issues that aren't immediately recognized (unfortunately, many of them become apparent only in the later stages of preparation) can become incompatible with the high bar of a sports career.

And what then does amateur training give us? What is its meaning and benefit? Amateur training is, first of all, a way to establish communication with your dog, to create an "interface" - a means of two-way interaction. Both the owner and his dog will begin to get much more pleasure from living under the same roof and communicating with each other when they learn to use a language of communication that is understandable to each other and begin to apply certain rules that are reasonable and sufficient for this. They are created both in the process of training on the site under the guidance of an experienced instructor, and independent work during everyday communication.

Amateur training involves, first of all, the formation of basic obedience in the dog, which makes it manageable and comfortable in most situations - both at home and on the street. In this regard, training a dog according to the BH training standard (“companion dog”) today brings the owner closer to solving this problem, and does not require excessive efforts or outstanding innate abilities from either him or his younger partner. Being engaged in the initial training of his dog, an interested owner gradually expands the boundaries of his abilities as a trainer, learns to better understand, "read" his dog, and after some time may want to try himself in an already more complex form of training, for example, in OKD- ZKS or IPO. Although many amateurs are involved in these disciplines, for whom it is not so much a high result in tests or club competitions that is important, but the preparation process itself, the sports atmosphere, communication with training mates, the question of the potential ability of this breed and a particular dog to implementation of the program provided for by the selected standard. And if the “obedience” section in the IPO or the OKD standard, in theory, is able to master, one way or another, a very significant part of the dogs, then the specialized sections - protective service and tracking work, as well as most of the exercises in the mondioring program - already require dogs of certain breeds and breeding lines. More on this in the next article.

In the modern world, a lot of attention is paid by society to various sports competitions. Moreover, the level of these tournaments can be completely different, starting with the championship of the city and ending with the world championships and the Olympic Games. Nevertheless, despite the passion of many people and amateur competitions, it is still necessary to separate the performances of amateurs from such a thing as "professional sports". The features of professionals and the differences between them and amateurs will be discussed in this article.

Common features

At first glance, professional and amateur sports seem the same: both there are athletes, various performances are held at which the winner is determined, rewards are paid, titles and titles are awarded. Each of the people participating in the tournaments necessarily strives for victory, giving all the best in training and completely surrendering during the performance.

Importance of sport for society

Today, it basically has three dominant functions, namely:

• Bright and full release of negative emotions.
• A role model for other people.
• Habit, ritual (it means going after a working day, for example, to a fitness center or jogging around a stadium on a day off).

Fundamental difference

Initially, the very division of sports into professional and amateur meant that the first category included people who gave themselves to the chosen direction completely, without a trace. Moreover, they receive a mandatory monetary reward for their performances, which can be fixed or depend on the level of achievements of the athlete.

Amateurs, on the other hand, are people who, for their own pleasure, do not aim to receive money from this activity. Their performances do not generate income, and they devote most of their lives to their main work.

All of the above gives a basic idea to a person of how professional sports differ from amateur ones. However, it should be understood that these criteria are not exhaustive, so it is worth delving into the topic.

To the top!

As for the main sport, everything is very simple here - getting the maximum possible material profit. Any swimmer, boxer, racer, football player and many other representatives of sports "workshops" ultimately strive to earn as much money as possible. And here the age restriction of professional athletes comes to the fore, which forces them to earn money for all the remaining days in a very short time of life (15-20 years). And all because those exorbitant loads that professionals receive do not allow them to perform at a high level for a very long period of time.

Blurred edges

And yet, when considering how professional sports differ from amateur sports, it is also important to know that, given the rapid pace of our lives, the boundaries between these two areas of activity are becoming less clear. This is largely due to the significant degree of commercialization of sports. It's no secret that today even small regional youth tournaments are held under the patronage of various firms, companies, organizations, which often advertise themselves in this way or receive tax benefits from the state through charitable assistance to young athletes. It's hard to say whether it's bad or good, but the fact remains: almost no more or less serious competition is held without trustees and sponsors. Well, there is no need to talk about professional competitions on this issue at all, since initially any duel, race, swim, etc. are paid for by financial structures.

world elite

Professional sport is in a constant process of transformation, development and some structural changes. And although athletes cause enormous damage to their health, nevertheless, their work does not remain without a worthy reward. Hockey players, basketball players, football players, boxers, pilots of racing cars and motorcycle racers are considered especially highly paid. The income of these athletes can amount to tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

Oddly enough, but the lion's share of their profits is not at all prize money for winning competitions, but a percentage of advertising in which they are very often filmed. After all, even a child knows that people like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Maria Sharapova and many others are people whose level of media coverage is simply off scale. Various firms and companies are ready to conclude contracts with them, if only the stars of the world sports sky would deign to wear their clothes, shoes, use their perfumes, shampoos, drive their cars.

Loss of amateur status

Professional sport is a world with fairly strict rules. So, for example, if a boxer has spent at least one round according to professional rules, then the road to the amateur ring will already be closed to him. The same thing happens in figure skating. The International Skating Union and the International Olympic Committee strictly control all tournaments, and those athletes who have begun to compete in the status of professionals are strictly prohibited from participating in amateur championships.

It should also be noted that professional sports (athletics and many other types) still leave an imprint on a person. And here we are talking not only about his physical condition, but also psychological as well. Many months of preparations for various competitions make the athlete experience severe stress, which can later turn into depression, apathy, or irritability and nervousness. It goes without saying that anyone understands perfectly and always strives to minimize the impact of both external and internal irritating and negative factors. Moreover, work in this direction is the main activity for many specialists (psychologists, trainers).

AMATEUR SPORT. According to the Olympic Charter, an amateur is one who plays sports of his own free will, for the sake of entertainment and his physical fitness. development, but does not directly or indirectly receive any material benefit from it.

It is characteristic that already in the name of the majority of international sports federations, it is emphasized that these are amateur associations (boxing, athletics, basketball, swimming, etc.). If the word "amateur" is not indicated in the name of the federation, then in its charter or rules there is usually a provision (statute of amateurs) that determines who is considered an amateur. To competitors. professional athletes are not allowed to the world and European championships (with rare exceptions); they play the championship of the world and Europe among professionals. Only amateur athletes are also allowed to participate in the Olympic Games.

The final decision on whether a given athlete is an amateur is primarily within the competence of the international. federation for this sport. The amateur statute adopted in a particular federation does not fundamentally differ from the above provision of the Olympic Charter. The charters of the federations usually only specify the definition of an amateur, sometimes indicate the maximum value of prizes that can be given to amateurs, but all amateur federations prohibit the issuance of monetary amounts for winning a particular competition, for setting a new world record, etc.

The appearance of the term "amateur" is due to the desire of the ruling classes of bourgeois society not to allow workers into their ranks and to protect themselves from sports competition from physical people. labor not only by high membership fees in sports clubs, but also legally. The working man, who lives only at the expense of his labor, in bourgeois society does not have the necessary conditions for systematic sports training. Only a few working-athletes, distinguished by their sporting achievements - the result of natural talent and diligence - received access to amateur, or, as they were called by the composition of members, bourgeois, clubs.

In practice, a worker in a capitalist society can fully develop his athletic abilities only when he is sold, i.e. goes to professional sports, or he is bought, i.e., for his achievements he is enrolled in a sports club and provided with material support. The foreign press often reports on numerous facts of violation of the statute of amateurism in a number of countries.

It should be noted that earlier the definition of amateurism had a more pronounced class character. Yes, back in the 1920s. 20th century to competitors. in rowing, persons engaged in physical training were not allowed. labor.

Amateur and professional sports are not separated from each other by an impenetrable wall. Professional sports absorb the best amateur athletes, usually after they win major internationals. victories. The mores of professional sports (rudeness, bribery, behind-the-scenes machinations, etc.) penetrate into the milieu of amateur athletes. Athletes-professionals influence amateurs in the field of technique and training methods.

Questions of professionalism and amateurism do not arise in socialist countries, where all conditions have been created for working people for physical education. culture and sports. Attempts by reactionary leaders to reduce the success of athletes from the USSR and people's democracies by declaring them "state amateurs" do not stand up to scrutiny, because no state can support millions of athletes' armies, which make up more than 10% of the country's population. LUBKI - a checkers position, in which a checker (or king) can occupy a free field between two isolated foreign checkers, and in any of his moves the opponent will be forced to give up one of these checkers.

Sources:

1. Encyclopedic Dictionary of Physical Culture and Sports. Volume 2. Ch. ed. - G. I. Kukushkin. M., "Physical culture and sport", 1962. 388 p.

Professional sports in the narrow sense - sports and entrepreneurial activity, which, due to the high spectacle of competitions, provides commercial benefits for television, sports organizations (leagues, teams, etc.) and the athletes themselves. This allows athletes to play sports and nothing else, improving their skills and keeping fit.

• Ticket selling.
• Sale of broadcasting rights.
• Income from the rental of sports facilities.
• Sale of souvenirs - the so-called "symbols".
• Advertising on the stadium and sportswear.
• Proceeds from the central funds of the leagues.
• Investment of free money.

For most of these income items, the sports team is, in fact, a monopoly.

The characteristic features of professional sports are transfers (transfers of an athlete from team to team, usually for money) and drafts (selection of athletes from amateur teams).

Positive feedback is inherent in professional sports: if a team wins a lot, it becomes commercially successful, this gives it the opportunity to buy more skilled athletes, etc. But such conditions wash outsiders out of the league, and the intrigue of matches disappears, which is fraught with the collapse of the entire league. Therefore, the sports federation often puts additional rules that do not allow rich teams to inflate their budgets indefinitely.

The social significance of professional sports

There are three social functions of sport: the release of negative emotions, a role model and a ritual (a set of patterned actions, whether it's going to the gym after work or going to the stadium on weekends). These functions have intensified with the professionalization of sports: matches have become more spectacular, athletes are constantly in the public eye, and there are not so many professional leagues and teams.

There is a belief that sport brings up only the best moral qualities in a person. To some extent, this is true - an athlete needs good physical shape, the ability to make decisions quickly, team play and much more. However, many athletes learn to "competently" break the rules, neglect the norms of behavior, etc. This is especially common in professional sports. According to sociologists, sport is a mirror of the real way of life: if rudeness and violence are common in society, it will be the same in sport. If politicians and businessmen strive to win at any cost, there will be doping, undercover games and bribery in sports.

Relationship with other sports activities

Professional sports are similar to elite sports (Olympic): they are brought together by the cost and full employment of the athlete. Although gymnastics, figure skating, athletics and many other sports are poorly professionalized, successful performance in a major competition requires full dedication, with little or no time for other activities. However, there is still a difference between these branches of sports, and professional sports are distinguished by the following features:

• It focuses on those sports that are the most spectacular and commercially profitable.
• Other funding sources, higher remuneration for athletes.
• Creation of a comprehensive show for spectators and fans - this uses advertising, video replays, side performances like synchronized figure skating and cheerleading.
• Creating an atmosphere of competition, a more eventful calendar.
• Differences in the rules for the admission of athletes and the rules of the competition.
• Formation of the sports elite, the system of social protection of athletes.
• Other training modes

Traditionally, professional sports are considered a hindrance, an antagonist to amateur sports.

However, the period of active life of an athlete is not long, and one still has to become a good athlete - therefore, professional sports are usually successful where there is a “support” in the form of mass sports. On the other hand, professional sport in itself gives impetus to the mass.

Story

Chariot racing required huge expenses: not everyone can afford four thoroughbred horses. Of course, skilled charioteers were financed by the then businessmen; The winner was not the driver, but the owner of the team. It is authentically known that in the Byzantine Empire the situation with chariot races was similar to modern football - there were "colors" of teams, devoted fans and near-sports "showdowns". A similar situation was with other sports; for greater entertainment, even foreigners began to be admitted to the Olympic Games.

There are no parents who would not want their child to grow up healthy, hardy and physically developed. But whether to give it for the sake of this in big sport or limit it to the regional section?

The difference between the training of professionals and amateurs is huge. Big sport functions according to other laws, it requires spiritual and physical dedication, and one injury can cost a career. To give a small child into this world is to make a decision that will affect his whole life. In order not to be mistaken in such an important choice, carefully weigh the pros and cons, and this article will help you figure out if professional sports are suitable for children.

Big sport

What is the difference between professional sports and amateur sports? At first glance, the difference seems obvious: a person goes in for amateur sports for himself in his spare time, professional - for the sake of high titles and significant victories.

In fact, the boundaries of these differences are rather blurred. Oddly enough, amateurs win gold at the Olympics and set world records. Sports are their main activity, they receive money from victories, advertising contracts and coaching, but this is not considered a professional sport.

For professionals, sports achievements are not so significant: their main indicator of success is commercial profit, and sports are their main and permanent income. Such athletes participate only in sponsored competitions, they are “buyed” or “rented” by teams, and decisions on sports activity are most often made by a commercial agent.

Most of all, professionalization is developed in football, hockey and boxing, but figure skating is considered a poorly professionalized sport. Also, pros are allowed to participate in the Olympic Games only in certain sports.

Big sport- otherwise called professional - involves big goals. When the task is to win at least a competition at the level of a large city (not to mention more - the level of a region, a federal district, a country, an international arena), there is no talk of any entertainment.

Training becomes a real job, the load increases many times, the whole lifestyle is rebuilt in order to achieve a sports result. Professional sport requires a person to devote himself completely to it.

From a certain moment, big sport is already a real job, the main occupation of a person striving for maximum results. But the reward for such efforts can be great. This is loud fame, and often - a lot of money.

There is another side of the coin. You can often hear the judgment that amateur sports improve health, and professional sports are a threat to it. Of course, this is a big exaggeration, but there is a certain amount of truth here. If training “for yourself” helps the body develop and support it, then professional training itself imposes strict requirements on the athlete.

And here comes the key question...

Child and professional sports

As mentioned above, sending a child to the world of big sport is a responsible decision. Let's try to understand what is useful and what is dangerous professional sports for children.

Advantages

• Perspectives. In professional sports, you can achieve great success in life: become a famous and well-to-do person. Often, sport can be the most effective “social lift”.
• Upbringing. Sports of the highest achievements temper character. In any child they will teach not to give in to difficulties, work for the result, instill in him the psychology of a winner. This will always come in handy in life.
• Development. Even if your child at some point stops playing professional sports, and does not reach a truly high level, he will still receive physical development incomparable with his peers. Serious sport is a baggage that is almost impossible to lose completely.

Flaws

• Injuries. There is nothing to be done: in big sport there is a risk of serious injuries, and over the years every real athlete accumulates certain health problems. This is the inevitable price of great success.
• Time and strength. To achieve high results in sports, it will take a lot of both. This can go to the detriment of education, other areas of the child's development, and his various interests. However, not everything is so simple here: for example, in a university, a successful athlete can, on the contrary, solve many of his problems precisely through performances.
• Choice. If your child turns out to be a truly promising athlete, shows the potential for the highest results - at some point, you may have to make a difficult choice. Should I devote my whole life to sports or stop developing for the sake of other plans? Alas, not everyone does the right thing at this stage.

Let's say the pros outweigh the cons in your eyes. Then let's talk about the following...

Age

At what age should a child be taken to the section? The question is not easy: the requirements in professional sports for children depend on the discipline and vary greatly. But let's try to outline the general situation.

For most sports, the optimal start time is the lower grades of the school, a period of 7-10 years. It was at this time that the child was already strong enough for serious loads, but still easily lends itself to “sculpting” by the efforts of trainers. But there are exceptions, both in the "plus" and "minus".

In those sports that require very high flexibility and coordination, children are usually given earlier, already from the age of 5. These include, for example, gymnastics or wrestling. Already at the age of 7-10 it will be very difficult to achieve the required indicators, and coaches in these disciplines no longer see future champions in children of this age.

But in those sports where strength indicators are in the foreground, teenagers are already taking the first steps. Children over 10 years old start here, often even 15-year-olds. Examples? Weightlifting, bodybuilding, and the like.
Thus, from 5 to 15 years old, the child has the opportunity to start becoming a professional athlete.

It's just that some doors will close during this time, and some, on the contrary, will open. Read about how to choose the right sport for a child.

Parental ambitions

Deciding to give the child to a big sport, especially at an early age, parents make the choice for him. As a rule, they are driven by good intentions: their beloved child will grow up in a healthy and strong spirit, professional athletes earn good money, and everyone dreams of becoming a champion.

This is where the trick lies. Ask yourself the question: are you passing off your dreams as the dreams of a child? Are you turning it into a tool to satisfy your own ambitions? After all, there are many stories about broken destinies and childhood taken away. If your child doesn't excel at a sport, or if an injury ruins everything he's worked hard for years, he'll most likely blame you.

Of course, not everything is so bleak: as practice shows, the dedication and support of parents has helped many successful athletes overcome themselves, not give up and achieve impressive results.

And yet, so that the childhood given to professional sports does not turn into a family tragedy in the future, take care of the prospects and prepare “waste” paths for the child. Listen to the wishes of the little athlete, help with studies and develop him in all directions so that after the sport he does not end up in a dead end, but can realize himself in something else.

Where to start

Choice of sport

• Look at your child. It is often possible to understand in advance which sport the child is most predisposed to. Some children grow faster than others - it makes sense to think about or volleyball. Others are flexible - gymnastics? The third does not hurt to splash out in martial arts. In the end, if a child likes to watch, this is an obvious reason to suggest that he try to become a football player himself.
• Look at yourself. The inclinations are not always clearly visible in the child himself, especially at 5-10 years old. But you can try to evaluate the prospects by the parents. And if you yourself are seriously involved or involved in any kind of sports, why not form a sports "dynasty"?
• Soberly assess the possibilities. Great sport, it's quite expensive. This is especially true, for example, hockey or tennis. Estimate the financial requirements of the chosen discipline in advance, so as not to find yourself in an unpleasant situation when your child is already passionate. Don't forget also about the time issue: someone has to take the child to training and pick him up from there.

medical questions

• Get checked out by a sports doctor. Ordinary physicians may not have the specific qualifications to assess how your child's health meets the requirements of a particular sport at a professional level.
• Be honest. If a child has any diseases, there were some injuries, coaches and doctors must know about it! In no case do not hide anything: "secret" under heavy loads will become "obvious" in the most unpleasant way.
• Do not despair. If, for medical reasons, the path to one sport is closed to the child, you can pick up another. Or limit yourself to the amateur level. There are no pathologies that completely exclude sports!

Learn more about .

Choice of section and trainer

This question deserves, let's say the main thing: you need to choose carefully. Main principles:

• Coaches are judged by their students. You should not pay attention to the personal regalia of a specialist: study how many champions he brought up. A direct connection between the achievements of an athlete and his coaching qualities does not always exist.
• A coach is first and foremost a teacher. Follow the course of the training to assess how this specialist can work with children. You may not understand anything in the sport itself - it does not matter: look at the coach as a teacher.
• Motivation. If the coach is not focused on achieving high results or for some reason does not really want to work with your child, there will be no high achievements. Try to find another mentor.

Summing up

Well, it's time to sum up. Is it necessary to make professional athletes out of children? Not always. Of course, big sport means serious prospects, an opportunity for self-realization, as well as good physical and psychological health. However, this way of life is not suitable for all children: sometimes, in order to become the best, the child objectively lacks physical data, sometimes - a sports character.

If you are faced with just such a situation, in no case should you “break” a small personality and take it to training by force. If your aspirations coincide with children's desires, then once again weigh all the pros and cons and answer the question for yourself: would you send your child to professional sports?