Systematic review of research on fair play and sporting competition

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to provide an international panoramic of fair play and sporting competition; identifying, categorising and analysing the scientific articles about this topic. Using a systematic search in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, relevant studies were identified that met previously established inclusion criteria. The guidelines laid out in the PRISMA Statement were followed in order to ensure the quality of the review process. The search yielded 367 published articles, from which articles whose content was not related to sporting competition and fair play were eliminated. The final sample was 163 articles. The articles were and classified according to their thematic categories. The process of categorisation was carried out following in-depth reading of each article, through an inductive procedure. Analyses were initially carried out by two researchers, with a third researcher resolving any disagreements. Articles are grouped according to three main research topics: the theoretical-philosophical conceptualisation of fair play (13.49%), fair play in relation to equal opportunities (36.81%) and fair play from a psychosocial perspective (49.69%). The theoretical-philosophical conceptualisation of fair play highlights that there is no univocal way of understanding this concept. In relation to fair play and equal opportunities, two lines of research are identified. The first is related with rule breaking and financial inequality of sports clubs and, the second is linked to inequality in classification systems (for questions of gender, diversity and the planning of competition schedules). With respect to the consideration of fair play from a psychosocial perspective, examination of goal orientation, motivational climate and intrinsic motivation relating to sportspersonship, stands out. Studies were also identified that were related to sociodemographic aspects of sportspersonship, sportspersonship measurement scales and the analysis of sportspersonship interventions. The present review reveals that the role of fair play extends beyond the field of play.

KEYWORDS:

• Sportsmanship
• sportspersonship
• justice
• ethics
• equality

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This article is part of the research project ‘School sports, fair play and social justice: analysis of the competition system in the Valencian Community and a proposal for transformation’, funded by the Direcció General d’Universitat, Investigació i Ciència de la Generalitat Valenciana [grant number GV/2017/147] (Spain).