Character Matters in College Sports

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Modern times have called for college athletics to be competitive spectacles that provide for a “win-at-all-costs” mentality. Unfortunately, sometimes this compassion to win compromises an athlete’s character; it is important for athletes to not succumb to this way of life in college and preserve their character. In order to understand why character matters in college sports, one must look at the definition of character and why college coaches want their athletes to possess strong character.

To begin with, defining character leads most experts into separating this quality into two categories: Social and moral. Attempting to define character has come under much criticism because the word is vague and experimental procedures have been poorly conducted. However, it is important to at least attempt to gain a relative understanding of what character is if one wants to understand why it matters in college sports. Fundamental opinions of character’s definition are different but a good general definition of character seems to be, “an attempt to continually improve; a willingness to give all up for a cause; and sacrificing without expectation.” (Rudd, 2006). This particular definition encompasses both moral and social aspects of character. Coaches in particular enjoy this definition of character as it specifically relates to the demands of a student-athlete.

With this being said, moral character is an individual’s ability to act independently of normative expectations. Whether this means being compassionate, honest, or fair, moral character speaks to an athlete’s personal value’s. A person of strong moral character will not adhere to every social norm or societal pressure simply because it is what everyone else is doing. An example of this would be choosing to not do drugs, alcohol, or performance enhancing supplements despite the rampant (and unfortunate) popularity of these items among young athletes today. Individual’s with sound moral character at times must even sacrifice social character or their contribution to the greater cause.

Further, social character emphasizes sacrificing personal attributes for a more important cause. An individual displays character in this way by putting in effort for the team, sometimes disregarding his own personal values or beliefs. The good of the team is greater than that of the individual in this case. Basically, a lot of times one must choose between social and moral character as the two are sometimes at odds with each other.

Moving forward, college coaches are looking for intangible character qualities that come through both on and off the field. Since social character accentuates teamwork and togetherness, college coaches are prone to praise this type of character on the field. Studies and articles suggest that character is just below talent on the list of items coaches are interested in when recruiting a player. The same can be said once a player is on the team and fighting for a position and starting spot. Athletes who display a role playing mentality and that are willing to make personal sacrifices for the team based on the coaches decisions are likely to be favored by coaches for starting positions. With winning being so important to their livelihood, coaches will look first to talent; however, once this group of talent is ostracized from the rest of the ordinary athletes, coaches will look at social character values like teamwork and coachability.

The exact opposite is likely said as to a student-athlete’s actions off of the field. This is because moral character is based on one’s personal actions of on their own beliefs and goals. Acting with moral character outside the athletic arena can reflect the university in a positive or negative way; coaches look for players who exhibit sound moral character in order to improve the image of their institutions. Gordon Gee, former president of Brown University, Ohio State, University of Colorado, and West Virginia, has seen many issues relating to character and the negative affects poor character can have on a University. He says, “it starts with the University exhibiting character and then having expectations for students, no matter who they are.” (Eberhardt, 2006). With administrative officials accenting moral character as a high priority, coaches are going to demand this from their athletes in order to preserve their jobs. When players act as outstanding citizens or even fail to display any negative moral character actions outside the sporting arena, college coaches receive praise and are thus please with their athletes. Obtaining moral character is an important off the field quality college coaches prefer their athletes to demonstrate.

Conclusively, the important lesson to take away from this article is that ALL character counts. It is not enough to display either character and it is just as important to find a balance between social and moral character. By doing this, an athlete can display his/herself in the best possible way for their coaches and their university while still feeling good about how they have acted upon each value. According to many scholars,the recent negative character association with college sports has only been brought to light because of the intense media coverage, which leads to higher public expectations and views of athletes’ actions. A simple definition of character is who you are when no body is watching; today, character in college sports is part of what everyone is examining. Hopefully, this provides motivation for anyone who believes they can sacrifice character today in athletics.

REFERENCES

Bierer, Lee. “What Coaches Want.” College Admission Strategies (2011). College Admissions Strategies – Empowering Students for College Admissions Success. The Charlotte Observer, 24 May 2011. Web. 26 July 2011. <http://www.collegeadmissionsstrategies.com/2011/05/what-college-coaches-want/>.

Eberhardt, David. ““Athletic Reform Is Key to Character Development”: An Interview with Chancellor Gordon Gee of Vanderbilt University.” Journal of College & Character April 7.3 (2006): 1-2. Web. 26 July 2011. <http://journals.naspa.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1523&context=jcc&sei-redir=1#search=%22college%20athletes%20character%22>.

Lawlor, Christopher. “Life Goes beyond the Field for Service Academy Recruits.” College Football Recruiting. ESPN, 3 July 2008. Web. 26 July 2011. <http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/football/columns/story?columnist=lawlor_christopher&id=3450865>.

Parham, Alan. “College Coaches Are Watching Ever More Closely for Character.” National Scouting Report July (2011). National Scouting Report. 7 July 2011. Web. 26 July 2011. <http://blog.nsr-inc.com/college-coaches-are-watching-ever-more-closely-for-character/>.

Rudd, Andy, and Michael J. Mondello. “How Do College Coaches Define Character? A Qualitative Study with Division IA Head Coaches.” Journal of College & Character April 7.3 (2006): 1-10. Web. 26 July 2011. <http://journals.naspa.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1524&context=jcc>.

Related articles

• Motivation from Socialization (exactsports.com)
• What Do Selective Colleges Look for in an Applicant? More Hooks (education.com)
• Fixing the Leadership Crisis In Sports (time.com)
• Slive: College Sports Loses Benefit of the Doubt (nytimes.com)
• Apologies for wrongs may not be as good as imagined, but changed behavior is (psychologytoday.com)

Wisdom from the Greats: the Road Map to Athletic Achievement

According to sports greatest athletes and coaches, the road to overcoming the competition and achieving optimal athletic performance   is simple; Confidence + Commitment = Competitive Excellence. I will be sorting through the most telling quotes from the best of the best and categorizing them under either of those two principle parts of the equation. In order to be great, athletes need to understand greatness.  I will do my very best to interpret the most telling quotes.

Confidence

“To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you’re not, pretend you are.” This according to iconic fighter Muhammad Ali who looked to his boundless  supply of confidence to cut through so much outside negativity to become the benchmark in boxing.

Michael Jordan fittingly summed up his Hall of Fame NBA career as the greatest to ever play with these words, “Limits like fears, are often just an illusion.” Many people are defeated before they even step onto the field of play but not M.J. He always had the mental edge from the opening tip because in his mind he was the best player on the floor.

New York Yankee legend, slugger Babe Ruth, spoke volumes when he said, “Don’t let the fear of striking out get in your way.” If you believe that you will lose before you even take the field then you are already down before the first point has been tallied.

The Great One himself, Wayne Gretzky provided perspective when he said “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

You may not have all the physical gifts of some of these all world athletes, but by adopting their mental attitude you will start seeing a tangible distance between you and your closest competitors.

Take it from the undersized Phoenix Suns point guard and two-time MVP, Steve Nash, “People have always doubted whether I was good enough to play the game at this level. I thought I could. What other people thought was always irrelevant to me.”

When it is all said and done confidence is not something you’re born with its something you learn. Building confidence takes belief, a positive outlook and mental toughness. Confidence takes courage.

Commitment

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” It’s appropriate to quote Aristotle, one of the most respected philosophers in our history to illustrate that competitive excellence is achieved through a commitment to excellence.

Vince Lombardi, legendary coach and the man that the Super Bowl trophy is named after put it simply, “The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. “

Pat Riley, NBA title winning Coach and current Miami Heat Executive shared, “There are only two options regarding commitment. You’re either IN or you’re OUT. There is no in between.”

Mia Hamm, USA soccer great, referred to the sacrifice required of the best, “The vision of a champion is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion, when nobody else is looking.”

The greatest Coach that ever lived, UCLA legend John Wooden’s definition of success sums up his belief in commitment, “Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable.”

Ultimately commitment is not something that you do halfway. Making a commitment takes sweat, monotonous repetition and perseverance. Commitment takes character.

Rightful home run king Henry Aaron  brings everything together with this  insightful quote,  ”My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging.”

These athletes didn’t earn athletic scholarships, become professionals and rise to the top of their respective sports by taking short cuts.  The road to athletic excellence is difficult, but it exists. It’s up to the athlete seeking greatness to follow it.

Will you?

5 Ways to Get Recruited Based on… Character?

Yes, being recruited by a college coach requires an athlete to possess more than just god-given talent. Being recruited entails a myriad of requirements that far surpass one’s ability to play the game. A college coach is likely to take an interest in players who are physically strong, athletic, versatile, and powerful among many physical aspects, but what many players fail to take into consideration is the importance of an individual’s personal qualities that contribute to team success as well as individual success. A player’s character and psychological approach to the game plays a pivotal role in the recruiting process that is too frequently overlooked.

1. Team Player: Being someone who puts his teammates before himself without question. Athletes who possess this quality believe in the idea that personal accolades are given to those who believe in the upmost importance of team success over individual accomplishments. Role playing, reliability, and consistency are key attributes of a team player. Knowing your role as a teammate is essential to a team’s success. College coaches look to recruit a player like Ryan Theriot of the Chicago Cubs, who is willing to move around the infield to play wherever his team needs him the most. Rather than swinging for the fences during each at bat, he looks to start things off with a base hit. Knowing your job on your team is necessary in the overall development of the team as a whole, and is something that a coach is highly aware of during the recruiting process.

2. Sports IQ: Sports IQ can be described as an athlete’s knowledge of their sport and how well they execute their knowledge in game situations. In a 2009 poll taken by NBA coaches and players, Kobe Bryant, shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, was voted as having the highest basketball IQ among all NBA players, which greatly correlates Bryant’s success as arguably one of the greatest basketball players of all time. The ability to fully understand your sport contributes to the level of play that an athlete can potentially reach. The mental mastery of one’s game is an attribute that is highly desired among college coaches.

3. Strong Work Ethic: A strong work ethic is a valuable determinant of an athletes’ potential. Possessing a solid work ethic gives a player the ability to far surpass his inherent talent. If you are a player who is not as naturally talented or athletic as your teammates, you can develop your skills to help transform into the player that you strive to become. Five-time all-star Steve Nash claims that he was never as fast or explosive as other players in the league. In order to make up for his lack of explosiveness on the court, Nash embraced his other, more established qualities such as his balance, coordination, and momentum. Nash trains extensively to make up for his weaknesses in the weight room which translates directly on to the court. Noticing your weaknesses and eliminating them or even making up for them allows for a player who is good to become great. Learning the importance of having a strong work ethic at a young age is an important factor that has a direct influence on a player’s abilities and eventual recruitment.

4. Coachability: Coachability is seen as a player’s ability to listen and seek help when it comes to their skills and apply what they have learned in game-like situations. It is easy to listen and take advice from your coaches, but learning to apply one’s learned skills is a very valuable contributor to a player’s success. Pat Summitt, head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols, reiterated the importance of coachability by saying, “A lot of players think they are coachable because they give effort. But the really coachable ones are those who correct their mistakes,” meaning the most successful players are those who learn and practice what they are taught. This is a concept that coaches are highly responsive to, and an aspect of recruiting that is high in demand.

5. Leadership Ability: There is a high demand for potential collegiate athletes who possess beneficence and exemplary character as a teammate. A leader is someone who is trusted and reliable and who exemplifies passion and love for his or her sport. Whether you’re an athlete like LeBron James, who leads his team with his vivacious personality and in your face style of play, or Jonathan Toews, a hard working, leads by example kind of guy, coaches are always going to take notice. Former GM of the Blackhawks Dale Tallon explained the value that the Blackhawk’s leader Jonathan Toews has to the organization, “Jonny has impeccable character. He’s so serious, so dedicated, so committed. Why would you not want to follow this guy? Good things happen around him.” Success follows talented leaders, an idea which college coaches have grown very aware of. They understand the benefits of having a player on their team like Jonathan Toews who has shown that he can lead his team to the Stanley Cup.

Three Things EXACT Sports Learned from the Ripkens

Cal Ripken Jr. had always been a personal hero to me and so many others that I was more than delighted that EXACT would be working with the Ripken Foundation / Ripken Baseball to design a new program, which eventually was called, “Healthy Choices, Healthy Children”.

Our relationship began in the spring of 2006. The Ripken Foundation had been successfully working with youth since 2001, offering a tremendous amount of financial support, and more importantly, personal guidance to boys and girls across the United States. The Foundation wanted to create a national program that would guide the character / behavioral development of these youth. With EXACT Sports’ assistance, the program was unveiled in 2007 as both a program that honored the legacy of Cal Ripken Sr. and the values he passed on to Cal, Jr. and Bill. In working with the Ripken Foundation to building this curriculum, there are 3 main things I learned from the Foundation, Ripken Baseball staff, as well as Bill and Cal Ripken Jr.:

[1] “Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.” — Cal Ripken, Sr.
For EXACT Sports, this means our programs, such as the National Player Development Camp, is not meant to make you better tomorrow. It is meant to make you better today. Parents and players are unanimously grateful to EXACT because the training is real, the training is intense, and the training is led by both NCAA college coaches from around the country as well as EXACT’s expert scientific development staff.

[2] Celebrate the Individual — Bill & Cal
Too many teams, coaches and organizations try the “one size fits all approach” to training players. Not EXACT Sports. Each player working with us receives his/her own development profile, customized uniquely to each person. We are on a mission to change the way sports training is done.

[3] Sports is a Reflection of Life
Everthing that happens in the game is a ‘mirror’ of what happens in life. EXACT Sports is more than an organization committed to making great athletes, we are committed to making great leaders, great students, great family members / friends, and great individuals. The classroom for EXACT and the hundreds of college coaches we work with, is the athletic field. We hope to see you or your player on the field, at one of our National Player Development Camps.