2005 Show-Me 4-H Character Module 5, Part 2 Competing with Honor

2005 Make a List As a parent or caring adult of young people make a quick list of the characteristics you want your special young person to have.

2005 What did your list include? Uses unfair advantages to get ahead Lies, cheats or steals when it is in their best interest Uses drugs and other illegal substances OR Can be trusted Is responsible Cares for others

2005 Is competition good or bad? It depends upon the intent and how the competition is viewed and conducted.

2005 Constructive Competition Those who truly love to compete want to compete against the best, on everyone’s best day. The competition is more exciting even it if lessens the likelihood of winning. The most memorable and rewarding competitions are those that conducted fairly with close results.

2005 Cheating A 2004 study from the Josephson Institute of Ethics show: –62% of teens say they cheated during a test at school within the past 12 months. 38% did so two or more times. –74% admitted to cheating in 2002.

2005 Stealing A 2004 study from the Josephson Institute of Ethics show: 27% stole something from a store within the past 12 months – and 13% did so two or more times. –38% admitted stealing from a store in % admitted stealing from a parent or other relative within the past 12 months. –28% admitted to the same thing in 2002

2005 Lying A 2004 study from the Josephson Institute of Ethics show: 82% admitted they lied to parent within the past 12 months about something significant –57% lied two or more times 62% lied to a teacher within the past 12 months –35% lied two or more times

2005 Consider 4-H examples Coaching from parents or coaches during competitions Copying a past National Congress winner’s application Pumping livestock Falsifying or changing registration documents

2005 How does character fit with competition? Make character the ground rule for all competition Teach the difference between gamesmanship and sportsmanship

2005 Build a Foundation using the Six Pillars of Character

2005 Trustworthiness – demand integrity, honesty, promise-keeping, loyalty Respect - control violent instincts, demonstrate class; be a good sport, don’t talk trash or be boastful, respect officials Responsibility - be accountable, pursue excellence Fairness - never cheat, use recognized standards, don’t show partiality or prejudice Caring – show empathy and compassion, be unselfishness Citizenship - play by the rules, acknowledge acts of good sportsmanship

2005 Honor is more important than winning Strive to win but not at any cost Trying to win is essential. It means you have given it your all. Emphasize the importance of following the rules Cheating and bad sportsmanship are not options Principles of ethics and sportsmanship are the ground rules Follow the Six Pillars of Character Help Put Winning in Perspective

2005 Parents A person’s first and most important character teacher Provide lifelong significant influence

2005 Volunteers Teach by example Always emphasize the Six Pillars

2005 T.E.A.M. Teach –The importance of character in competition –What proper and improper conduct looks like –The Six Pillars of Character

2005 Enforce Praise positive acts of character Express disappoint in negative acts of character Demand following the rules Expect respectful conduct

2005 Advocate Tell young people clearly, continuously and vigorously the importance of character to the 4-H program Don’t be neutral or noncommittal on issues of character

2005 Model Lead by example

2005 Making Good Choices Is there possible danger of physical harm to you or anyone else? Could you or someone else suffer serious emotional pain? Could the decision hurt your reputation? Could the decision impede achieving any important goal?

2005 Making It Practical Establish rules or a Code of Conduct based on the Six Pillars of Character. –Put it in writing –Make sure everyone understands them –Announce expected behaviors at the beginning of events –Enforce the rules and code

2005 More Ideas…

2005 References Jeffrey Pratt Beedy, Ed.D., Sports Plus Positive Learning Using Sports, Developing Youth Sports Programs that Teach Positive Values, Project Adventure, 1997 Josephson Institute of Ethics, Pursuing Victory with Honor, 2004