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So often these days, coaches are challenged by athletes--and parents--who
are involved in sports for reasons other than playing the game.
These people are looking for a “pay off.” Something that will make
it “all worthwhile.” But scholarships and professional careers elude
all but a tiny minority. Most coaches know this; the NCAA openly
acknowledges it; simple observation should make it obvious to anyone.
But nothing could be further from the truth. Therefore, during
my installments this year, I'll be looking at the realities of sports
“paying off.” But more importantly, I intend to look at the REAL
reasons youth and adults should be involved with sports. In this
issue, character and sportsmanship dominate. The next time around,
I'll look at becoming fit, healthy lifestyles and remaining active.
Later, the focus will be on leadership, goal setting and developing
other personal/social skills.
Hopefully information on these will provide a perspective for everyone:
Of course, play, but be realistic about why --and about what the
future holds.
Further, if you have stories to tell, please share them with me
so I can relay them to the readers.
Mike Clark
Coaching & Sports Section Editor
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Although a bit late for this season, a look at heat
illness and football has much to recommend it. In fact, the
thoughts can be applied to any sport.
More timely is the featured story on upper
respiratory infections--including sinus problems and strep
infections. This article--at the authoritative “Physician and
Sportsmedicine” site--describes symptoms, treatments, effects
on athletes and possible limitations on competition for ill players.
Following the “Patient Advisor” link connects the coach to material
that a nonprofessional can use.
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As mentioned in the Editorial, the NCAA provides information
about the chances of making
it. This particular report concentrates on the 6 sports likely
to end in professional opportunities--men's and women's basketball,
football, baseball, hockey and soccer. However, every coach should
take a look at the line headed, Percent High School to NCAA. It
exceeds 6% only in hockey. And this study combines ALL 3 NCAA
Divisions together.
A much more detailed
look at the same data really tells the whole story. It splits
out the information by NCAA Division and reports on the high school
experiences of athletes. It also makes that point that Division
3 (NO scholarships) is the most likely place for an athlete to
continue playing after high school.
Together, these studies offer a real dose of reality for everyone!
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The site's name says it all: Character
Counts. This is NOT a sports site, rather the emphasis is on
creating people of “character.” The idea is to seek out examples
of people and actions doing the “right thing” no matter the situation.
Sometimes the events described occur in the sporting context, but
many simply reflect day today happenings.
Visiting the site, you can sign up for weekly e-mailings of examples
of character in action, respond to examples cited, and scan archived
illustrations. Educational materials are available as well.
Coaches can select from among any number of cases to open discussions
with athletes and parents. In this way, thoughtful coaches can make
points relating to sportsmanship, ethics and personal growth.
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The Gatorade Sports Science Institute continues to add material
to an already excellent site. A recently posted article features
a roundtable discussion of some common dietary
supplements that present significant health hazards. Most
of these are ones that high school--and younger--athletes know
about. Athletes will ask questions, so every coach would be well
advised to learn something about them.
At the same site can be found a Sport Specific section that provides
coaches with timely, science based information in a variety of
areas. Of interest to most coaches will be the section on Strength
Training. (Remember that you have to register--it’s free--to get
complete access to the GSSI site.)
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| Coaching, Sportsmanship and Ethics |
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In the academic world, “sportsmanship” is often referred to as
“ethics.” This reflects the thought that fair play and acceptance
of outcomes have a moral component. To the extent that ethics
can be taught, sport may well be one of the best vehicles for
developing a sense of ethics in young people. This then becomes
one of those REAL REASONS for involving youth in sport.
Coaches and parents can exploit much that happens in athletics
to teach ethical values. An excellent resource can be found at
the Sports Ethics
Institute site. “Sports Ethics Topics and Issues” provides
a front door to a variety of sections. Included is a unit, “Youth
& Sports” and another “Coaching Ethics.” The style is the
same: a list of events (often including Web links) followed by
questions designed to provoke discussion. Sharing these with parents,
athletes, assistant coaches and others becomes a springboard for
meaningful looks at sports related values and ideals. But these
cross over to include life lessons as well.
An interesting take on “practical” ethics comes from a roller
hockey coach. A decidedly European perspective can be gotten
from both brainmac
and "The
Europe of Cultural-Cooperation."
An idea of what parents can do is described in 10-Commandments
of Sports for Parents. A similar
effort includes ideas for coaches and administrators.
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| If you have ideas, comments, letters
to share, or questions about particular topics, please email
one of the following Coaching Section Editors: |
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| Thoughts on Sports, Sportsmanship and Character |
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A gentleman is courteous. It is not courtesy upon a ball-field
to cheer an error of the opponents. If it is upon your grounds,
it is the worst kind of boorishness. Moreover, if there are remarkable
plays by your rivals you yourselves should cheer; conceal any chagrin
you may feel at the loss it may be to your side, but be courteous
to appreciate and applaud an exceptional play by the opponents.
Walter Camp
Legendary football coach
We have the cleanest professional sport of all. In baseball, if
a guy traps the ball, he doesn't call it on himself, he tries to
fool the umpire. We police ourselves. I've seen people call two-stroke
penalties on themselves when it meant a $150,000 tournament.
Bruce Crampton
Professional golfer
I talk about the philosophy of sport, the assumption that excellence
in sport is a splendid thing to achieve. But those of us who cannot
achieve it should not continually attack ourselves on the grounds
that we are not going to run the four-minute mile, and a goal slightly
above your previous accomplishment is triumph enough. I think we've
taken the fun out of sport by insisting that everybody must be a
champion or a failure.
Heywood Hale Broun
Sports commentator
It's courage and character that make the difference between players
and great players, between great surgeons and the ones who bury
their mistakes.
Pete Carril
Former Princeton basketball coach
And a Dissenting Viewpoint
"Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up
with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and
sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence: in other words it is war
minus the shooting."
George Orwell
Author
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Silent Edge has been
mentioned before on these pages, but it bears repeating--especially
now as so many coaches and teams are gearing up for a new year
of competition.
At first, the site may not grab you--after all, its aimed at
figure skaters and primarily female skaters at that. And the emphasis
is on abusive practices. But every coach who deals with young
athletes needs to pay attention to these issues.
Begin by checking out Information
for Coaches. And follow the links for additional resources
related to coaching ethics and codes of conduct.
Follow this with a click on Other
Abuse. This leads to looks at verbal abuse--including what
parents do to their kids.
Other
Concerns connects you to information about eating disorders,
drug and alcohol abuse, and psychological issues. Also, if you
are an independently employed coach, there's information here
about the money side of athletic coaching.
Note that many of these issues cut across sports and affect both
genders. (After all, males in such sports as running, wrestling
and gymnastics are being increasingly suffering from eating disorders.
And athletes in every sport are exposed to substance abuse.)
Don't make the mistake of selling this site short.
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