Oftentimes, I find myself sharing stories with my sons about how I learned so much more than how to play a sport well when I was a student-athlete. We have learned through countless studies that demonstrate how vital teamwork is as an essential life skill.
Furthermore, I share that throughout my education, I learned way more than in the books we studied. All along, those teachers and coaches helped me to build my character, who I would become, and who I would bring to life’s table beyond school and beyond the ballfield.
However, I learned many lessons on the ballfield, especially when I had those incredibly fantastic coaches. Those coaches had key qualities that set them apart from all the others. Coaching qualities such as:
- Positive attitude about growth in their athletes as well as in themselves
- Enthusiastic to share their gifts in leadership
- Supportive when their players need it most
- Trusting in themselves and in their athletes to implement what they’ve learned in practice
- Focused on the growth in their student’s character, not just on winning
- Goal-oriented with their own skills and in facilitating goal-based activities for their players
- Knowledgeable in all aspects of their sport, about their athletes, their school’s mission, other teams, and their community’s social environment
- Observant in all aspects of their sport
- Respectful to their players, other coaches, parents, teachers, people in their community
- Patient with each player’s abilities as they strive to be better athletes and students
- Clear communicators! Period.
Through sports, students learn about respect, fair play, and sportsmanship. All of these are essential for social integration and emotional growth, pointing towards character education.
Character education is the process of learning common attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors essential for people to have as responsible citizens. Parents, teachers, coaches, and faith-based communities can help youth develop their character positively.
In an article titled “Character Education…Our Shared Responsibility,” the U.S. Department of Education discusses that throughout history, character education has been the shared responsibility of parents, teachers, and members of the community, who come together to support positive character development.
It went on to state, “The United States Congress and the Department of Education have expanded support for character education for more than a decade, enabling schools across our nation to implement character education in a variety of ways. The Department of Education provides grants to state and local education agencies to support the development of character education. Since 1995, through the Partnerships in Character Education Program, the Department has awarded 97 grants to assist in designing, implementing and sustaining high-quality opportunities for students to learn and understand the importance of strong character in their lives”.
The InSideOut Initiative (ISOI) is a catalytic, systems-level intervention designed to equip school communities in redefining and reframing the educational value of athletics and promote the social, emotional, and character development of students participating in athletics.
ISOI provides a blueprint for systemic change by helping people understand the purpose of sports in children’s lives, aligning and educating communities around this purpose, and holding all involved accountable.
With the support of the National Football League NFL Foundation, the InSideOut Initiative is creating a national movement to transform interscholastic athletics.
What is character development in sports?
Some character traits such as grit, resilience, and self-discipline are what researchers call “willing values,” the mental, emotional, and behavioral attributes that drive performance in an achievement activity like sports or in a performance-based endeavor such as music.
For example, in middle school, I was in the concert band for three years and definitely had the drive to excel and to be the best percussionist I could be. Tests every couple of weeks assessed our skills, growth, and abilities. These tests determined which “chair” you were. The first chair was what we all were striving for. Because of the effort, time practicing and learning, and my drive to succeed, I earned the first chair spot on many occasions.
As far as grit goes in sports, the Detroit Lions football team is a phenomenal example. The coach, the players, and the fans are all known for their relentless determination and never-give-up attitude. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, this year’s Detroit Lions, under the leadership of their coach, have instilled a culture of resilience and grit within the team.
Their unwavering perseverance and commitment to improving has propelled them to achieve remarkable success on the field, making them a force to be reckoned with in the league.
The entire organization, from the coaching staff to the players, exemplifies the essence of character development in sports, proving that a strong mindset and determined work ethic can lead to significant accomplishments.
Most losses in nfl history
The Detroit Lions went from the “losingest” team in the NFL to division champs and, currently, as of this writing, are one game away from competing in Super Bowl LVIII.
Here’s a look at the ten worst teams in NFL history to date:
- 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- 1990 New England Patriots
- 2008 Detroit Lions
- 1944 Chicago Cardinals/Pittsburgh Steelers
- 2009 St. Louis Rams
- 1991 Indianapolis Colts
- 2017 Cleveland Browns
- 1966 New York Giants
- 1986 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- 1973 Houston Oilers
Ouch, the Lions are number three – worse than I thought! Must admit, I gave up on them back in the early nineties because when they had Hall of Famer running back, Barry Sanders they couldn’t even make it into the playoffs - let alone allow Sanders to win the coveted Superbowl ring. I digress. But guess who’s back on the Lions train, drinking the Kool-Aid? Yep, you guessed it – me.
The Lions team has accomplished recent success because Coach Dan Campbell coaches his team to be better humans on and off the field. According to his bio on the Official Lions’ website, “In his first year as the Lions’ head coach, Campbell helped instill a new culture built on grit, conviction and collaboration on and off the field. Upon arrival, Campbell assembled a proven coaching staff comprised of several former NFL players that have brought a wealth of knowledge and passion to Detroit’s roster. “
Character education in athletes
Character education in athletes is crucial for their personal growth, as well as their success in sports and life. Coaches and educators play a vital role in instilling values such as respect, teamwork, and resilience. By focusing on character development, athletes become better players and individuals who contribute positively to their communities.
And…GO LIONS!