1. THE SEGREGATION OF BLACKS BY PLAYING POSITION IN FOOTBALL: ACCIDENT OR DESIGN?.
- Author
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Eitzen, D.Stanley and Sanford, David C.
- Subjects
- *
RACE discrimination , *BLACK people , *PROFESSIONAL sports , *FOOTBALL , *SPORTS , *RACISM - Abstract
The article focuses on whether racial "stacking" in professional football is the result of discrimination. One area of discrimination against blacks and other minorities are in opportunities, salaries and other forms of remuneration. Another alleged area of discrimination is racial segregation by playing position. The paper demonstrates that there is racial stacking by position in professional football. Black positions are not considered leadership and thinking positions. A playing career at a non-leadership position is, therefore, assumed to be inadequate training for a career in coaching, providing at least one factor that keeps blacks out of this occupation. Racial segregation by playing position also minimizes the number of blacks who can be on the field at one time. It aids in achieving a quota system whether management intends one or not. Blacks thus compete with each other for a limited number of positions, reducing the possibility of racial conflict among team members and relieving coaches of decisions that might be interpreted as racist if a white player of equal or inferior ability were selected over a black player.
- Published
- 1975