Brett HigginsMr. WallaceSports and Society – 5A1/14/2014Violence and bullying in sports affects our society"It's the most perfect feeling in the world to know that you hit a guy well, that you maximized the physical pain that he can feel... You feel the life coming out of him. You took all of this man's energy and simply dominated him. said NFL player Michael Strahan in 2007. Violence and bullying in sports affects our society in negative ways. Michael Strahan's quote is an example of how violence can affect us through sport. Violence in sports, bullying in sports and the society that acts on it can affect our society. Violence in sport affects our society. What is violence, you may ask. This is the use of excessive physical force, which causes or has a clear potential to cause harm or destruction. Violence in sport is not limited to men. When women demonstrate violence in sport, it can be seen as a sign of commitment or competence, but it is not considered evidence of femininity. But athletes learn to use violence as a strategy, even if it can cause pain or injury. Violence in sport is not new to our society, but spectator violence has increased. There are many types of violence. Mike Smith, a respected Canadian sociologist, identified four categories of violence in sport. The first category is rough body contact. These are the most common cases, blocking on the field, tackling a runner or anything similar. There is nothing illegal or criminal about this and does not require any punishment due to this act. Many coaches in different sports encourage this type of violence. The second statement by Smith is borderline violence. This category often violates the rules of the game, but is accepted by many players and coaches. The fines are not... middle of paper ...... said another man who told him the problem was minor. This case is an example of how spectators can participate in a game and become unnecessarily violent.] Research shows that this is linked to three general factors. The first is simply action in sports. Football and hockey, for example, are more violent, so spectators will react accordingly. If it were golf or swimming, there wouldn't be a big outcry compared to other sports.] Bullying constantly affects our society. What is bullying, you may ask. It is defined as conscious, voluntary, deliberate and repeated hostile activity, marked by an imbalance of power, an intention to harm and/or a threat of aggression. Serious harassment can leave the victim feeling terrified. Whether parents, players or coaches, disrespectful behavior is a growing concern in our gyms, rinks and stadiums..