ley illustrates that the Alternative Approach states: Deviance Can Be Negative or Positive. When one uses this approach they see that most behaviors fall into a normal range of acceptability in connection with any particular norm. Coakley also states Deviance occurs when behaviors fall outside this range of what is acceptable on either side of a normally accepted range of behavior. With this in mind it can be seen in both Coakley and Thios works that deviance can come from underconformity, which basically is a behavior that goes against accepted rules or set behaviors by a lack of knowledge for that rule (negative deviance); or by overconformity which basically is a behavior that follows accepted rules so close that it interferes with the well being of that person and those around him or her (positive deviance). With these ideas or guide lines for studying deviance in sports, sociologists are now able to understand what deviance actually is in sports and how it effects those people both directly or indirectly related to sports. Secondly, we ask ourselves what influence does deviant acts in the sports world have on our society as a whole. In todays society a person can turn on the television and see athletic games viewed worldwide. In these games deviant acts are seen all the time, but deviance on the playing field is viewed as part of the American way. For example, football players and soccer players are expected to be physically rough on the field because their sports are considered high contact sports. Another example is baseball teams who use the spitball or corked bats to gain a small advantage over their opposing team. These are prime examples of positive deviance, but this is not what society is worried about. Society is worried about the deviance that is being committed by athletes off the field which gains large media coverage such as, deviance in the form of athletes being arrested for bar fighting, sexual assaults, dr...
