Miss A Muller SHMD 119 Sport Didactics & Coaching Unit 4 1

Index of Chapter 1.Why Character Education 2.Character and Sportsmanship 3.How to Teach Character and Sportsmanship 2

1. Why Character Education  Family, school and religious institutions once the primary providers of character education and are returning to this function in the face of society’s moral crisis  Statistics indicate a neglect in character education for our youth  Sport incidents indicate an erosion of moral behaviour e.g. match fixing 3

Character Education is Defined as:  Teaching young people the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, skills and behaviours to be good, fair and kind – moral people  Total commitment about teaching athletes about moral behaviour 4

What is Character Education:  Character education is everybody involved in sport’s responsibility  Coaches can build character as mentors, counsellors, and heroes  The Arizona Sports Summit Accord reflects the coaching profession’s obligation to character development through sport 5

2. Character and Sportsmanship What is character?  Character is what you are in the dark  Character is the sum of our habits: our virtues and vices  We must repeatedly practice good character habits  Coaches of character guide athletes to know, to have the desire, and to do what is right 6

What is Sportsmanship?  Sportsmanship is about respect for opponents, officials, team mates, coaches and especially the game itself 7

3. How to Teach Character and Sportsmanship Step 1: Identify the principles of character  Respect and responsibility  Respect means; showing regard for the worth of someone or something, it takes three major forms: Respect for oneself Respect for other people Respect for all forms of life and the environment that sustains them 8

Step 1 (continues)  Responsibility is an extension of respect  If we respect other people we value them  If we value them we feel a measure of responsibility for their welfare  Responsibility emphasises our positive obligation to care for each other 9

Step 1 (continues) The principles of character;  Respect  Responsibility  Caring  Honesty  Fairness  Citizenship Athletes code of character: Be respectful, be responsible, be caring, be honest, be fair, be a good citizen 10

Step 2: Teach the principles of character 1.Create a moral team environment: how team culture influences character development 2.Model moral behaviour: action speaks louder than words 3.Set rules for good behaviour: team rules for acceptable behaviour 4.Explain and discuss moral behaviour: connect athletes behaviour to values 5.Use and teach ethical decision making: apply reasoning and problem solving skills to choosing right and wrong or the best alternative action 6.Motivate your athletes to develop good character: great coaches inspire to be the best they can be on and off the field 11

Step 3: Provide opportunities for practice  Establish routines: shaking hands with opponents, performing community service projects, mentoring younger players  Reward good character: sportsmanship awards, honorary captains, special recognition 12