The Referee

Abstract

In the world of the Ancient Greeks the Olympic Games were a deep religious cult. The Greeks could not divorce intellect from muscle—both were necessary parts of arete, the quality of a perfect man. Although the formal games of Ancient Greece were individual in nature, excavations have shown that there may have been some form of team games. During the demolition of an ancient wall in Athens in 1922, a sculptured column base was found which depicts a scene reminiscent of the modern game of football. Team games have long been a part of English sporting heritage and their place in the spectrum of sport is vital. Sport has always been an integral part of school curricula and children have been and still are encouraged to play games for the pleasure derived from them, the physical activity they afford the body, the skills which they develop.