1. Attendance required to attain goal: In religion, people attend a church or synagogue. In sport people attend a gymnasium or arena. (Prebish)
2. Communion: During game social euphoria generates festive communion and sense of solidarity between players and fans.
3. Ritual chants and hymns
4. Stadium organist
5. Daily ritual acts prepare participant for what is to follow. Daily domestic practices of Muslim compared to runner’s solitary ten-miler at dawn.
6. Seasonal ritual: Continual stream of re-sacralization and meaning .
7. Legendary basis underline historical data of faith: Leader to emulate that exhibits exemplary actions in the particular tradition. Saints or departed souls.
8. Seminaries and divinity schools: Minor leagues and camps.
9. Anyone can be involved: No special athletic talent is required in the quest for salvation in sport.
10. Controlled environment in which to express emotion.
11. Formally stated beliefs accepted on faith by great masses of people (Hoffman)
12. Patriarchs: Coaches
13. Gods: Superstars
14. Shrines: Hall of fame.
15. House of worship: Stadiums. Separate area for activity
16. Divide time of performance from ordinary passage of minutes and hours
17. Wearing special symbolic clothing that distinguishes participants from non-participants.
18. Complete with own rules, boundaries, dangers, and success.
19. Banners are displayed with scripture references.
20. Prayer before “ceremony”
21. Signals represent religious symbolism: A player crosses himself before a free throw.
22. Face painting and images of school mascot reminiscent of tribal religious customs.

Reference List

Hoffman, S.J. (1996). Sport and Religion. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.