Direct & Indirect Aggression in Relation to Sport (AQA GCSE Physical Education (PE))

Direct & Indirect Aggression in Relation to Sport

• Aggression in sports may be required in some activities

• Aggression can be classified as either direct or indirect aggression

Direct aggression

• This is classified when there is deliberate physical contact between participants

• One participant may use deliberate acts of aggression to cause harm or injury to another participant or opponent

• Examples of direct aggression include:

  • an ice hockey player using their hockey stick to hit an opponent's shins rather than hitting the puck

  • a football player elbowing an opponent to move them out of the way during a tackle

Diagram of direct aggression

Direct aggression involves physically contacting another participant to cause harm

Indirect aggression

• Indirect aggression does not involve physical contact and does not cause harm or injury to a participant

• This type of aggression may be used to gain an advantage over an opponent by making them feel less confident or successful

• Aggression is often aimed at an object; this is usually within the rules of the sport

• Examples of indirect aggression include:

  • a tennis player hitting the ball extremely hard toward their opponent during a rally

  • a player hitting the ball hard over the net toward their opponent during a volleyball game