People have been competing in the activity of log rolling since the late 1800’s. Over the years, log rolling has developed into a unique pastime that honors its history as thousands of log rollers compete in competitions all across the United States and Canada. Log rolling has really grown in popularity in the recent years, and the United States Log Rolling Association is now petitioning for log rolling to be recognized by the International Olympic Committee as a sport.
As a member of the IOC, it is my duty to review the activity of log rolling and determine if it meets the four points of criteria that define what qualifies as a sport. Log rolling is an activity where two competitors balance themselves on a log floating in the water and begin rolling the log with their feet. The goal is to outlast your opponent and roll the log in a way that gets them to fall off the log and into the water in a certain time limit. In order to consider log rolling a sport, it must meet four specific criteria that constitute what is considered a sport.
These four criteria are: physical activity, competition, officially governed and institutionalized, and internal and external rewards. When determining whether or not log rolling is considered a sport, the first criterion it must meet is whether or not it contains an element of physical activity. The World Health Organization defines physical activity as, “any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure” (WHO. int, 2013).
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With this definition in mind, I believe that log rolling undoubtedly contains physical activity.
In log rolling competitions, competitors must have a very high level of coordination and balance as well as be able to move their feet quickly enough to keep themselves from falling off the rolling log. Elite log rolling competitions sometimes last up to four rounds and exceed ten minutes of competition which includes constant movement of the feet with fast, quick steps, as well as leg strength to keep yourself balanced on the log. Also, once a competitor falls off of the log, they must then swim back to the dock and then remount the log within thirty seconds to begin the next round.
This is not a long period of rest between rounds and competitors must be ready to perform again right away. The United State Log Rolling Association defines log rolling as one that promotes, “balance, leg and core strength, cardiovascular endurance, and overall functional coordination” (USlogrolling. com, 2010).
The activity of log rolling does contain the element of physical activity. The next criterion that the activity of log rolling must meet in order to be considered a sport is that of competition. There must be a competitive element and level of competition in the activity.
A competition is an event or contest in which people compete in order to be victorious over their opponent. The activity of log rolling certainly meets this criterion. In log rolling competitions, the goal is to defeat your opponent by getting them to fall off the log. The competitor who is left standing on the log wins the round. The first person to fall off the log three times out of five rounds loses, and the winner is then decided. This type of format allows for intense competition between two competitors, each trying their hardest to be victorious over their opponent and win the competition.
Also, the United State Log Rolling Association’s website includes a link to upcoming tournament information. The USLRA sanctioned nineteen different tournaments at various locations across the country in the season from March through November. These tournaments included first, second, and third place winners in various age and skill levels. The website also includes men’s and women’s national rankings from 2012. The top thirty men and women in each group are ranked by total points they received from competitions throughout the year.
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The tournaments that decided winners and losers, the competition to move up higher in the national rankings and be number one, and the overall goal of the activity to stay on the log longer than your opponent are all elements that give the activity of log rolling a competitive nature. In order for log rolling to be considered a sport, it must meet the criterion of being an officially governed institutionalization. Institutionalization of sport is the process through which organization and behaviors become patterned and standardized over time and situation.
This means that there is a standardized set of rules that are formal and official, set in specific guidelines or restrictions, and allow access for anyone to see them. There also must be an official regulatory agency to enforce these rules. The activity of log rolling meets all of these guidelines regarding rules and institutionalization. The official regulatory agency that enforces rules, sanctions tournaments, and provides necessary information regarding log rolling is the United States Log Rolling Association. The USLRA website, www. uslogrolling. com, provides a link that allows anyone to access their official rules for log rolling.
These rules are formalized and standardized; they must be followed when competing in log rolling competitions. The rules include age restrictions and classifications, the exact size and diameter of logs that must be used at each level of competition, time limits, what constitutes a fall or draw, how to begin each competition, and any other rules or regulations that must be followed. Each competition is regulated and overseen by an official judge, and all tournament directors and judges must follow and report to the rules committee or a USLRA board member.
These official rules and regulations under the USLRA all meet the criteria of being an officially governed institution. Also, under the institutionalization of sport, to be considered a sport learning skills must also be formalized. This means that competitors must be able to enhance their skills and have expert training. The activity of log rolling requires a unique set of skills that include balance, coordination, leg and core strength, and endurance. Each of these skills requires training to boost performance.
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The USLRA provides youth training programs that teach children the basics of log rolling, as well as adult and novice programs. The complex skills required to be a competitive log roller are not given over night, it takes training and a lot of practice to master these skills and techniques. The activity of log rolling is an officially governed institution of sport. The final criterion that the activity of log rolling must meet in order to be classified as a sport is that of internal and external rewards. Internal rewards are the satisfaction one has with him or herself after competing.
Examples of internal rewards are confidence, self-esteem, a sense of accomplishment, and simply pure enjoyment of the sport. External rewards are actual objects or things you can physically hold, such as trophies, medals, and awards. The activity of log rolling offers various tournaments and other competitions, each of these recognize top finishers, such as first, second, and third place, and most will reward the top competitors with medals or trophies. Also, on the USLRA website, they offer a link that shows the top ranked male and female log rolling competitors of the year.
These trophies and medals, as well as the recognition of being ranked in the country, all fall under the category of external rewards. As with any other sport, being successful and achieving goals while log rolling provides the competitor with a sense of accomplishment. Log rolling provides its competitors with this internal reward, as the USLRA website states, “The continuous reward system of staying on the log longer and longer with every practice leads to a wonderful feeling of self-satisfaction” (USlogrolling. com, 2010).
The activity of log rolling offers external rewards with medals, trophies, and rankings, and it also offers internal rewards with confidence, accomplishment, and self-satisfaction. The four criteria that must be met for an activity to be considered a sport are: physical activity, competition, officially governed and institutionalized, and internal and external rewards. As a member of the IOC Program Committee, I have reviewed the activity of log rolling in regards to these four criteria, and I have determined that yes, the activity of log rolling is a sport.
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