Sport History of Scotland

Generally speaking, Scottish people value sports and physical education. Most individuals in the country engage in sports as it gives one an opportunity to relax as well as avoid conditions such as obesity. The climate in Scotland has facilitated the evolution of sporting activities in the country, with sports such as golf together with association football being highly valued in the nation. At the same time, nevertheless, the Scottish also engage in other sports. The country has a diverse and rich landscape that provides numerous opportunities for stalking, shooting, fishing, and numerous activities such as golf, horse racing, shinty, bowls, and mountain biking as well. In this regard, this paper seeks to examine sports in Scotland by highlighting the sports throughout history. Additionally, it will outline the factors that influenced the rules and nature of the sports, as well as highlighting events in history that are non-sport related. In addition to highlighting the historical events, the paper will also mention the impact Scotland has had on United States physical education, leisure, and sports programs as well. 

Chronological sports and physical activity practices throughout history 

For the most part, the sporting traditions of Scotland are considered to be legendary globally. This is because the country has immensely contributed to the world of sport. Interestingly, the country has contributed to the early development of several sports such as hockey, golf, football, tennis, and rugby. It, therefore, needs no telling that Scotland is highly valued in the world of sports because the country remarkably developed many sports played today. 

Also, other sports exist that can be traced back to the history of Scotland. These sports play a central part in the cultural makeup of the nation. Sporting activities such as curling, shinty, and, more importantly, the unique Highland Games supply a good activity for individuals seeking a different experience (Scotland is now, 2018). More so, there are many opportunities for individuals in Scotland to become actively involved in sports. The country has wonderful facilities including the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho. Besides the Arena, it has numerous dry slope and ski centers, mountain biking trails, a National Sailing Centre, and great athletics complexes. Therefore, it can be argued that all these facilities put together provide a sporting environment that many countries envy. 

Tennis in Scotland 

Tennis is notably a popular sport in Scotland. Most individuals think of the Murray family whenever tennis comes into their minds. Nonetheless, the history of tennis can be traced back long before Jamie and Andy Murray started playing tennis in the practice courts. Indeed, the sport can be traced back to 1539 at a time when King James V constructed the first tennis courts in his residence at Falkland Palace (Scotland is now, 2018). Presently, these courts are considered to be the oldest tennis courts favored by many. It is imperative to note that the Royal Court was completed in two years; the square court has not changed ever since. James VI and Mary Queen of Scots played in the court and the rich history of the court has made it a destination for tennis fans and players as well. 

Football 

Football is unquestionably the most popular sport in Scotland and rivalry has emerged as a result. Since the football competition between England and Scotland in 1872, there has been a rivalry between the two nations. This game was considered a landmark and the match took place on a cricket ground. Furthermore, approximately 4,000 spectators viewed the match in Glasgow, with the competition ending in a 0-0 draw (Scotland is now, 2018). Since then, the Scottish national football team has participated in competitions around the globe and have received great support from fans all over the world. It is vital to note that the team is known as “Tartan Army”. The team has brought victory to the nation, won various awards, and are further actively involved in raising money for charity. 

The Scottish Football Home 

Generally, Hampden Park located in Glasgow is viewed as the home ground of football in Scotland. The stadium has over the years witnessed some of the most marked moments in football, and has additionally prepared the stage for Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, as well as U2. Also, the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in 2014 took place at Hampden Park. Additionally, the park holds the European record for international game attendance. This record was set during the 1937 football match between Scotland and England where 149,415 people attended the match (Scotland is now, 2018). Presently, the capacity of the park can be managed easily where about 55,000 individuals attend football matches. However, there is still a momentous excitement. 

Golf 

Markedly, the Scottish people have played Golf for more than six centuries. In fact, Scotland is considered to be the birthplace of Golf. The first clubs, courses and even rules were developed in the country; therefore it is one of the country’s pastimes. In Scotland, everyone can play golf. In other words, it is not only a sport for the rich. Everyone is allowed to play on the courses and the landscape is spectacular (Scotland is now, 2018). The Scottish introduced golf to the rest of the world; therefore playing golf in the country where it all started is truly fascinating. The land has more than 550 golf courses. This, therefore, indicates that there is enough area in the country dedicated to golf. 

Rugby 

The history is of Rugby in Scotland is not that different than that of football. Both football and rugby internationals were first played in the country. Also, both were played on a cricket ground and they were both Scotland V England. There has been a rivalry between England and Scotland since they played against each other in 1871 (Scotland is now, 2018). The Scotland rugby team participates in competitions for the Calcutta Cup each year. Since 1879, the competition has been a tradition for the country with the notable exception of both World Wars. This, therefore, demonstrates that the nation highly values rugby. 

Cycling 

For the most part, Scotland is known as a paradise for cyclists. There is so much to explore in the country including villages, historic towns, the countryside, as well as the beautiful coastline. The perfect landscape provides a perfect land for mountain biking also. The globe’s first bicycle in 1839 was inspired by Scotland’s beautiful scenery, more specifically, the rolling hills of Galloway and Dumfries (Scotland is now, 2018). The country holds a remarkable record of track events and has certainly produced one of the most remarkable sportsmen in the world, more specifically, Chris Hoy. 

Curling 

In 1924, curling became popular during the Winter Games that took place in Chamonix. The world enjoys this sports thanks to immigrants from Scotland. Scotland influenced Canada and, as a result, Canada developed its first curling club in 1807, which is now the most ancient club in North America. In 1830, the U.S established its first curling club and, at the same time, during that century, both Sweden and Switzerland were perfecting their playing conditions (Scotland is now, 2018). Presently, curling is popular all over Europe and has further spread to Japan, Australia, Korea, and New Zealand. 

Shinty 

Shinty originated in Scotland in the 6 th century at a time when play techniques were employed to effectively train the ancient warriors in order to prepare for battle. The determination is fierce even though the game has transformed over the years. It is an exciting game to watch and play with competitions running between autumn and spring. 

Factors that Influenced the Nature and Rules of the Sports 

Sports in Scotland was considered a rule-governed practice. The rules of sports were set in place in order to restrain the behavior of those taking part in the sports activities. The rules were vital as they helped in deciding a winner as well as showing the participants how to play their part (Blain, Hutchinson, & Hassan, 2016). Football in the early days, for instance, had no penalties, offside, and no referee. Overall, the nature and rules of sports were created to define the duration a competition can last, the field size on which the game is played, allowed actions, and how individuals determined a result. 

Historical Events of Interest that are Non-Sport Related 

Firstly, the arrival of the Roman Empire is a major historical event for Scotland. Roman invaders never truly conquered Scotland, in spite of their efforts as shown by the northern border’s Hadrian’s Wall as well as the Antonine Wall in Central Scotland (Knox, 2014). Secondly, the Vikings are important in Scotland. The Norse heritage is deeply embedded in the national identity of Scotland, particularly in Orkney and Shetland. Today, Shetland organizes festivals to pay respect to the Viking roots (Chalmers, 2017). Thirdly, the Declaration of Arbroath occurred in 1320, a Scottish history’s cornerstone that recognized the status of Scotland as an independent nation. The Declaration was written down in a letter signed by the dignitaries of Scotland and was then sent to Pope John XXII (Chalmers, 2017). A few people view this Declaration as a seed planted for America’s founding fathers before creating the Declaration of Independence for the United States. 

The Impact Scotland has had on the United States Physical Education, Leisure, and Sport Programs 

Scotland offers good quality education and, as a result, the country has greatly impacted the education system of other countries, notably the United States. Scotland started practicing formal education during the medieval period when Roman churches established schools in the nation (Scotland’s Education System, 2018). In the 17 th century, Scottish schools taught basic education such as learning of arithmetic and literacy, tuition in Latin, religious teachings, as well as physical education. For this reason, many countries in the world including the United States adopted Scotland’s education system by including physical education in their curriculum. 

Ideally, when Scotland included physical education in their education system and emphasized the importance of sports programs, numerous benefits were seen in children and young individuals (Kayser-Jones, 1990). There was a marked reduction in the risk factors for circulatory and heart illnesses. Also, it greatly reduced obesity as well as promoted positive mental health. Thus, the students were able to perform better in school. As a result, the United States adopted Scotland’s physical education and sports programs system to attain similar benefits. 

Timeline of 15 Events for Scotland 

Firstly, the Scottish immigration is a crucial event for Scotland as the immigrants assisted in building the United States of America. The immigration to America increased in the period of the 1880s and, for this reason, America began passing regulations to limit immigration. The Scottish individuals who gained entry to the US at that time brought with them their Scottish ideals, religions, culture, and skills that formed the foundation of America. Secondly, the age of Enlightenment during the 18 th and 19 th century marks a critical event for Scotland. During that period, Scottish Enlightenment gave rise to minds such as David Hum, Thomas Hobbes, Robert Burns, and Adam Smith (Chalmers, 2017). These people were the frontiers of innovation and intellect. The Scottish Enlightenment influenced American independence and Enlightenment, as well as the development of the constitution of the U.S. 

Thirdly, the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 is a critical event as it acknowledged Scotland as an independent state. This declaration influenced American founding fathers during the creation of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. Fourthly, in 1655, an important sporting event took place (Knox, 2014). A hunting of deer took place, and many claims that this particular event influenced deer hunting in the U.S. Fifthly, in 1631, fox hunting became popular to Scottish sportsmen (Fittis, 2014). Other countries including the US consequently adopted this sport. Sixthly, the event of the Salmon River in the 14 th century had a great impact on the US as it introduced fishing as a sport to the US. Seventhly, the horse racing event became popular in Scotland in 1504 during King James IV’s reign. Shortly afterwards , the US adopted this sport. 

Eighthly, the history of the highland games in Scotland can be traced back to the 11 th century. This vent has influenced many sporting games in the US such as shot put. Ninthly, in 1775, numerous Scottish individuals fought against the British in the American War of independence. Tenthly, the Scottish Independence Referendum that took place in 2014 is imperative as it impacted the Scottish national identity and psyche. Eleventh, the highland clearances event in 1746 focused on cultural assimilation. Twelfth, the Battle of Culloden in 1746 has influenced many American television shows such as The Game of Thrones. The event witnessed the end of Jacobite Rising. Thirteenth, the 1707 Act of Union established one parliament and, hence, Great Britain emerged. Fourteenth, the Glencoe Massacre occurred in 1692 which witnessed the slaughtering of the MacDonald Clan. Finally, the union of the crown in 1603 is an important vent as James VI became the king of Scotland and England as well. 

Conclusion 

The climate in Scotland has facilitated the evolution of sporting activities in the country. Many people in the country value sports, and as a result, they have incorporated physical education in their curriculum. Because of the numerous benefits that physical education has brought to Scotland, the US has adopted similar physical education and sporting programs to attain the same benefits. Also, there are many events that are both sport and non-sport related that have influenced Scotland. Overall, Scotland’s culture in sports has greatly impacted the United States. 

References  

Alchin, L. (2018). Scottish Immigration to America Timeline. Retrieved from http://www.datesandevents.org/us-immigration-timelines/scottish-immigration-america-timeline.htm 

Blain, N., Hutchinson, D., & Hassan, G. (2016). Scotland's referendum and the media: National and international perspectives . Edinburgh University Pr. 

Chalmers, T. (2017, September 05). 12 Moments in History That Define Scotland. Retrieved from https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/scotland/articles/12-moments-in-history-that-define-scotland/ 

FITTIS, R. S. (2014). SPORTS AND PASTIMES OF SCOTLAND . BOOK ON DEMAND. 

Kayser-Jones, J. S. (1990). Old, alone, and neglected: Care of the aged in the United States and Scotland . University of California Press. 

Knox, W. (2014). Scottish history for dummies . John Wiley & Sons. 

Scotland's Education System. (2018). Retrieved from http://www.scotland.com/education/ 

Sport | Scotland is Now. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.scotland.org/about-scotland/culture/sport