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Messner (2002) also argued that athletes will often value the perceived notion
of what it takes to fit in best with the team over their own uniqueness. Overman and
Terry (1991) concluded the following in their study: “The structured experience of
college athletics may influence some aspects of drinking,” and “participation in sport
may socialize all types of athletes towards similar drinking behaviors” (Overman &
Terry, 1991, p. 114). They argued that this is why male and female athletes use alcohol
more similarly than male and female non-athletes.
In her study of female rugby players, Baird (2001) came to the conclusion that
certain behaviors were expected of players on certain teams. The sometimes dangerous
conduct was meant to help develop a special bond among the participating athletes.
Donnelly and Young (1988) stated their belief that the team is a subculture. Thus,
newcomers to the team were forced undergo a successful socialization procedure in order
to gain acceptance. This procedure often involved negative behaviors, such as binge
drinking, because drinking is often a vital part of a team’s culture. That team culture is
where many young men and women find their identity. In a study of 600 adolescents who
self-described themselves as jocks, jock identity was significantly associated with
drinking behavior, but the frequency of athletic activity was not (Miller et al., 2003).
Messner (2002) theorized that sports teams can sometimes wind up with an
unsafe hierarchy in which leaders set dangerous policies for inclusion. Another group,
which he called the audience, was made up of followers who actively applauded and
supported the practices of the leaders and hoped one day to be part of that group.
Meanwhile, a third group, which he called the “marginals,” were the lower status group
members who supported leaders with silent participation.
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