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On the Role of Hermeneutics in Sport Pedagogy: A Reply to Crum

1987; Human Kinetics; Volume: 6; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1123/jtpe.6.4.367

1543-2769

Andrew Hawkins,

Sport and Mega-Event Impacts

The role of hermeneutics in sport pedagogy research, as described by Crum (1986), is criticized. Crum's notion of hermeneutics as clarification is said to be an insufficient strategy for the purpose of advancing the science of sport pedagogy. Rather, hermeneutics as criticism is called for. An example is presented, drawn from Crum's article, of the inadequacy of hermeneutics as clarification, followed by an alternative argument based on a more critical approach. Finally, speculation regarding the basis of the neglect of hermeneutics is presented in an attempt to spark further debate. Bart Crum, by virtue of his article entitled Concerning the Quality of the Development of Knowledge in Sport Pedagogy (1986), has entered an arena where the spectators are few and the teams ill defined. Nevertheless, he is undaunted by the prospect of his game, Hermeneutics, remaining a minor sport. In fact, he challenges us North Americans to enter the stadium and observe this strange intellectual contest that has its roots in the ivy covered halls of Northern Europe. And, if the game suits our fancy, there is an implicit invitation to dress out and choose sides. May the best person win. At the risk of appearing amateurish in this, my rookie season, I will take up the gauntlet and charge into the arena. In this response to Crum's signal for the game to begin, I intend to challenge the role he proposes for hermeneutics. Recognizing that my status as a novice establishes me as a decided underdog, however, I realize that the typical strategies will not succeed. I have therefore decided to attack from a direction that he least expects. I will resort to trick plays, to razzle-dazzle; and I will argue not that hermeneutics is an insignificant contest, but that Crum doesn't go far enough in calling us to the playing field. First, however, my strategy will seek to lull the opponent into overconfidence by congratulating Dr. Crum on a well-conceptualized article, timely in its appearance in a journal (and in a culture) that has rather systematically ignored the issues of which he writes. His analysis of the interrelationships between the hermeneutic, descriptive-explanatory , and constructive research tasks are certainly correct. And his perceptions of the way in which the North American and