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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain the positive and negative influences of spectators on sports events, performance and participation.

      Key learning points

      1. Spectators can positively influence matches by creating an exciting atmosphere and providing a home-field advantage.
      2. Spectators can negatively impact matches by increasing pressure on performers.
      3. Negative influences of spectators include the potential for crowd trouble or hooliganism and safety concerns.
      4. The presence of spectators can negatively affect participation rates among younger performers.
      5. Safety measures and crowd management are important to mitigate the negative effects of spectator behaviour.

      Keywords

      • Spectator - a person who watches a sports event and can influence the atmosphere

      • Home-field advantage - the benefit gained from playing in a familiar environment with local support

      • Amateur - this term defines someone who takes part in an activity as a hobby, rather than for financial gain

      • Hooliganism - disorderly, aggressive and often violent behaviour by spectators at sporting events

      Common misconception

      Believing that spectators always have a negative effect on performance and safety and the impact of spectators is only relevant in professional sport.

      Spectators have positive contributions to sport like creating an atmosphere and providing home-field advantage which can not only affect professional sport, but also amateur and youth sport too.

      Teacher tip

      Relate examples to how it may be experienced as a young child to ensure students understand how powerful a spectator presence can be.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Who are spectators?

      the officials of the game/event
      the athletes performing
      the coaches of the performers
      Correct answer: the people watching the game/event

      Q2.
      Complete the sentence to identify one of the key word definitions. Amateur is a term that defines someone who takes part in an activity as a , rather than for financial gain.

      profession
      Correct answer: hobby
      elite athlete
      job

      Q3.
      Order the types of behaviour from most positive to most negative.

      1 - sportsmanship
      2 - gamesmanship
      3 - deviance

      Q4.
      What type of behaviour is being described? "Bending the rules to gain an advantage (but not breaking them)."

      Correct Answer: gamesmanship

      Q5.
      Identify the correct definition of sportsmanship.

      bending the rules to gain advantage (but not breaking them)
      a convention or unwritten rule in an activity and it is not an enforceable rule
      Correct answer: conforming to the rules, spirit and etiquette of a sport
      disorderly, aggressive and often violent behaviour by spectators at sporting eve

      Q6.
      Match the example to the correct type of behaviour.

      Correct Answer:sportsmanship,shaking hands with an opponent after losing a tennis game

      shaking hands with an opponent after losing a tennis game

      Correct Answer:gamesmanship,faking an injury as your opponent is about to serve

      faking an injury as your opponent is about to serve

      Correct Answer:deviance,taking performance enhancing drugs to improve reaction to the ball

      taking performance enhancing drugs to improve reaction to the ball

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the keyword to the correct definition.

      Correct Answer:spectator,a person who watches a sports event and can influence the atmosphere

      a person who watches a sports event and can influence the atmosphere

      Correct Answer:home-field advantage,the benefit gained from playing at a familiar environment

      the benefit gained from playing at a familiar environment

      Correct Answer:amateur,this term defines someone who takes part in an activity as a hobby

      this term defines someone who takes part in an activity as a hobby

      Correct Answer:hooliganism,disorderly, aggressive and often violent behaviour by spectators

      disorderly, aggressive and often violent behaviour by spectators

      Q2.
      More spectators are going to watch live sport. What does this increase?

      Correct answer: commercialisation
      cooperation
      cultivation
      circulation

      Q3.
      Which are examples of positive influences of spectators?

      Ticket prices increase because there is more demand.
      Media outlets can charge more to advertising companies.
      Correct answer: Teams get a home-field advantage.
      Correct answer: Spectators create a positive atmosphere for performers to enjoy.

      Q4.
      Performers often play better with more spectators to help boost motivation and improve ...

      Correct Answer: confidence, self confidence, self-confidence

      Q5.
      Negative influences of spectators at sport events include increased pressure and there is a lot of planning and costs to keep spectators safe. What are the other negative influences of spectators?

      Correct answer: hooliganism
      develops confidence in the other team
      Correct answer: can intimidate younger players
      creates more media attention

      Q6.
      Match the type of influence to the example.

      Correct Answer:positive on elite athlete,Creating a positive atmosphere will help the performer play well.

      Creating a positive atmosphere will help the performer play well.

      Correct Answer:negative on elite athlete,There is a risk of hooliganism with large crowds.

      There is a risk of hooliganism with large crowds.

      Correct Answer:negative on amateur player,In a youth sport league, the younger players may feel intimidated.

      In a youth sport league, the younger players may feel intimidated.


      To help you plan your 11 physical education lesson on: Spectator behaviour, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...