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Types of aggression

There are three different types of aggression that can occur within sport. The type of aggression that occurs within will depend on the sport and the type of performers.

Hostile

Is when an individual wishes to harm someone else on purpose and gains pleasure from harming them. It is also likely that hostile aggression will be outside the laws of the game. It involves feelings of anger and is totally unacceptable in the sport. At the time of the action the performer means it, however they can regret it straight afterwards e.g. the Nigerian Sanni Kaita kicked the greek player Vassilis Torosidis in the group stages of the World Cup 2010.

Instrumental aggression

Is when an individual harms another person in order to achieve their goal but they do not wish to cause them any pain or agony. For example when a player pushing an opponent out of the way in order to reach the ball first. This is outside the rules of the sport and will usually lead to some form of punishment.

Assertive behaviour

Assertiveness is a key element of any sport and can be defined as forceful behaviour with the intention to achieve the goal, however in which they cause unintentional hard to the other player. Assertive player is legal in the laws of the game e.g. when an attacking players in football goes in to follow up a shot on goal and ends up kicking the keeper.

The officials need to make the judgement to whether it is aggressive or not and to whether it is deemed acceptable in that sport.

The key differences between the assertive behaviour and aggression are as follows;

  • The intent to harm
  • Whether the laws of the game are broken
  • Whether the player is going for a goal.

These factors also vary between hostile and instrumental aggression, with assertive behaviour being the direct opposite of hostile aggression.