"It matters a great deal who is going to win, but not at all who won"
Coaching for Character
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Craig Clifford and Randolph M Feezeel, Human Kinetics, 1997. ISBN 0-88011-512-2. 114 pages
The book is in 3 parts Thinking about sportsmanship. The principles of sportsmanship, Thinking about life and sport. There are eight chapters, which include numerous “Time out for reflection” sections with provocative discussion questions. “Coach Sceptical” makes regular appearances to challenge the arguments of the authors
The importance of the subject is clearly stated in the introduction: “How we conduct ourselves as players, coaches, parents and school administrators will make its mark on the kind of human beings we are going to be” (Page viii) and is reinforced towards the end: “In sport we have ample opportunities of helping young people become the kind of people, who will not only be successful in the world of sport but in live as well”. Page 94
Chapter 2 is an excellent reflection on the nature of sport – play, competition etc – the understanding of which the authors regard as essential to deciding how you approach it. The key is getting the balance between the “playfulness and seriousness” of sport. (Page 12)
The authors strive to get results in their proper place: “We believe that winning really matters – and that it should matter. But it matters within the context of participating in an exhilarating experience of trying to become excellent, and learning things about ourselves” (Page 14)
There is a helpful quote from John Wooden: “I believe we have ‘won’ - that is accomplished all we’re capable of accomplishing – when we’ve lost games” (Page 93)
However their key message is the importance of an attitude of sportsmanship. Why? “Because the nature of sport requires it. Sport understood as rule-governed competitive athletic play requires – and therefore can teach – certain character traits. Without sportsmanship sport is no longer sport, the game is no longer a game.” (Page 24)
The book ends with some detailed practical guidelines
Page 100-3 “Guidelines for teaching sportsmanship” gives 19 principles.
Page 103-7 gives an example how to do it.
The book is aimed at coaches and will anyone in that role to think through their approach to sport and how it should be played.