First published in 2006. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

This volume traces the rise and transformation of organized sport and its impact on social patterns and gender roles. Stressing the essential continuity of the sporting experience, the author shows the changing tempo of sport through the ages and explores the broader effects of the time element on the nature and style of sporting activities. The book covers current issues such as soccer hooliganism, government intervention in sport, and the influence of television on sport.