Interdisciplinarity in sports science: The place and prospects of research in law

By examining the question of interdisciplinarity within sports science from the perspective of various research studies carried out on the subject in recent years, this article shows how the work of researchers is structured by three major tensions between various epistemic regimes: disciplinary/interdisciplinary, experimental/non-experimental, fundamental/applied). These tensions in turn reflect the more general tension between validity and usefulness of scientific knowledge. Drawing on data from a variety of research studies, we propose a reflection on the way in which the sciences of law are led to position themselves and deploy themselves in such a context. It seems to us that one of the most fruitful avenues for developing research in law within sports science is for their promoters to allow themselves to experience a diversity of epistemic regimes, rather than pitting them against each other. Like others, researchers in law can thus reinforce disciplinarity, interdisciplinarity, and the link between research and the questions and concerns of our society.