To be a part of the Wolfpack means much more than just being an athlete. The groups and organizations that we’ve become accustomed to in our day to day life - in this case, a sports team - can be explained from a different perspective – a sociological point of view. Hierarchy, culture, norms and socialization processes are all major elements that make up the Wolfpack’s identity. When it comes to the women’s soccer team at TRU, there is a lot more behind that iconic wolf logo displayed around campus than meets the eye.
Although you may simply view our soccer team as nothing more than a bunch of athletes kicking a ball up and down a field, the fact is that there are other noteworthy forces involved – an entire culture, which is, for the most …show more content…
Progressively, it is typical for the team to grow extremely close - until it evolves into a second family for a lot of the athletes. At this point, the team may begin to shift into a combination of a secondary group role and primary role characteristics, serving expressive functions in addition to the previously mentioned instrumental functions. The concept of “in-groups” and “out-groups” also effects social dynamics within the Pack. Any Wolfpack athlete must acknowledge the status and prestige that comes along with this association. Knowing that not anyone can join this elite club makes wearing the wolf logo around campus feel additionally prestigious. To some, our women’s soccer team may be considered a reference group; young soccer players look up to our team and try to model its behaviours, with the hope that they too could someday play at the collegiate …show more content…
Veteran players watch with amusement as a new group of fresh, young players seek validation through a ridiculous challenge. Rookie Idol’s participants plug their headphones in crank the volume to full blast, and proceed to sing out loud to the rest of the group, unable to hear their own voice. While this practice may seem absurd to many, it does serve a purpose: gaining respect and status within an unfamiliar group. This function remains the same throughout most examples of initiation or rites of passage, although many groups have their own particular traditions - many of which could be considered exponentially more horrifying than butchering Justin Bieber’s “Baby” in front of thirty new
Although you may simply view our soccer team as nothing more than a bunch of athletes kicking a ball up and down a field, the fact is that there are other noteworthy forces involved – an entire culture, which is, for the most …show more content…
Progressively, it is typical for the team to grow extremely close - until it evolves into a second family for a lot of the athletes. At this point, the team may begin to shift into a combination of a secondary group role and primary role characteristics, serving expressive functions in addition to the previously mentioned instrumental functions. The concept of “in-groups” and “out-groups” also effects social dynamics within the Pack. Any Wolfpack athlete must acknowledge the status and prestige that comes along with this association. Knowing that not anyone can join this elite club makes wearing the wolf logo around campus feel additionally prestigious. To some, our women’s soccer team may be considered a reference group; young soccer players look up to our team and try to model its behaviours, with the hope that they too could someday play at the collegiate …show more content…
Veteran players watch with amusement as a new group of fresh, young players seek validation through a ridiculous challenge. Rookie Idol’s participants plug their headphones in crank the volume to full blast, and proceed to sing out loud to the rest of the group, unable to hear their own voice. While this practice may seem absurd to many, it does serve a purpose: gaining respect and status within an unfamiliar group. This function remains the same throughout most examples of initiation or rites of passage, although many groups have their own particular traditions - many of which could be considered exponentially more horrifying than butchering Justin Bieber’s “Baby” in front of thirty new