Self-reinforcing
The examined critical junctures had diverging consequences for the further development of the American and European sporting formation and cultures.In the United States，each school，college and university developed an athletic department，created sports facilities and venues，and became culturally interpreted as the setting for sports activities.In big parts of Europe，on the other hand，it was principally the voluntary club where the sports provision could be found，where the expertise to organize sports competitions was developed，and where parents got to think of if they wanted their children to play whatever sport they liked.
Another self-reinforcing sequence was that the American system gotmore elite sport oriented and the European system more directed towards sport for all.Sports practiced at the American high schools，colleges and universities became highly competitive and achievement-oriented.Interscholastic sports greWinto an institution governed not by the participants themselves，but by faculties，administrations，and alumni，who primarily focused on the function that sport can have for the prestige of their schools and colleges and the identification with the school by students and the local communities.
In western European countries，on the other hand，the dominant trend in the second half of the 20th century was to facilitate“sport for all”and to open the sporting clubs to everyone.This was partly the result of increased governmental interference in the field of sport.In response to the growing number of sports participants，governments more and more subsidized clubs in western European countries for the construction of sporting facilities and the training and coaching of youngsters.For the clubs，however，this governmental support also resulted in an increased pressure by government authorities to open their doors for everyone，put less emphasis on competition and achievement sport and create more possibilities for recreational sports participation.
5-9 Top Professional Sports Leagues by Revenue
Although we should not over look significant variations within the European and American sporting configurations，nor their similarities，we can conclude that there are indeed fundamental differences between both models.The two most fundamental differences are their organizational arrangements with respect to sport participation（the club versus the schoolmodel）and to professional sport competition（open versus closed leagues）.
Notes：
1 grassroots
Also grass roots，the common or ordinary people，especially as contrasted with the leadership or elite of a political party，social organization，etc.；the rank and file，the agricultural and rural areas of a country.
2 squash
Squash is a racket and ball sport played by two（singles）or four players（doubles squash）in a four-walled courtwith a small，hollow rubber ball.The players alternate in striking the ball with their racquets onto the playable surfaces of the four walls of the court.The objective of the game is to hit the ball in such a way that the opponent is not able to play a valid return.About 20 million people play squash regularly world-wide in over 185 countries.The governing body of Squash，the World Squash Federation（WSF），is recognized by the International Olympic Committee（IOC），but the sport is not part of the Olympic Games，despite a number of applications.Supporters continue to lobby for its incorporation in a future Olympic program.
5-10 Squash
3 adventure sports
Action sports，adventure sports or extreme sports are activities perceived as involving a high degree of risk.These activities often involve speed，height，a high level of physical exertion and highly specialized gear.It gained popularity in the 1990swhen itwas picked up bymarketing companies to promote the X Games and when the Extreme Sports Channel and the Extreme Sports Company launched.
4 CivilWar
The American Civil War（also known by other names）was a civil war in the United States from 1861 to 1865，fought between the northern United States（loyal to the Union）and the southern United States（that had seceded from the Union and formed the Confederacy）.The civil war began primarily as a result of the long-standing controversy over the enslavement of black people.
5 amateur rule
Also known as sporting amateurism，was a zealously guarded ideal in the 19th century，especially among the upper classes，but faced steady erosion throughout the 20th century with the continuing growth of pro sports and monetization of amateur and collegiate sports，and is now strictly held as an ideal by fewer and fewer organizations governing sports，even as they maintain the word“amateur”in their titles.
6 National Collegiate Athletic Association（NCAA）
A nonprofit organization that regulates student athletes from 1，268 North American institutions and conferences.It also organizes the athletic programs ofmany colleges and universities in the United States and Canada，and helps more than 480，000 college student-athletes who compete annually in college sports.The organization is headquartered in Indianapolis，Indiana.
Practice for the unit
1.Blank filling
1.The game of football was ever banned in medieval England because_________________________.
2.“Soccer”，as another description of“football”，comes from_____________________________.
3.Football's global spread was both encouraged and hampered by__________________.
4.In the U.S.，football was played primarily by the__________________.
5._________________________made the top football players become stars.
6.In USA，________________________________________form themain organizing principle of sport participation.
7.The school authorities in Europe did not try to____________________________，while in USA educators across the country tried to________________________.
8.The amateur rule originated in England as ameans of_____________________________________________.
9._________________________________________________refused to work within these international rules and isolated itself from the international sportsmovement.
10.The American system got______________________and the European system______________________________________________________________.
B.Short-answer questions
1.Please describe the“Bosman ruling”and its influence on football globalization.
2.How did the football game get larger in 1920s？
3.In which aspects are the sportsworlds in Europe and USA different？
4.Why did the American sport formation and culture develop along an entirely different path than it did in Europe between themid-19th and mid-20th century？
C.Critical thinking
1.Why it is said that football is the most global sport？Please make your own analysis.
2.By comparing the European and American sport systems，which aspects do you think could be referenced by Chinese sport system reform？