Sports build – and reveal – character
Whether it was as a participant or a fan, I simply couldn’t get enough. I was fortunate to have parents that fueled my passion and supported me through my many athletic endeavors. And I was blessed to have wound up playing college basketball and fulfilling a childhood dream. Looking back, sports have been a major factor in my own personal development and a central factor in who I became as an adult. What I learned from my coaches, parents and teammates through my sports experience was pivotal. I am grateful that they allowed me to use sports as a vehicle for developing myself as a person.
As someone who has remained committed to being around sports, even as an adult, I believe sports are one of society’s best mediums for shaping the values of kids. Sports simply build character. But sports also reveal character. I can learn more about the character of a potential new employee by playing a round of golf or a pick-up game of basketball than I could ever learn in an interview process. Just as a college coach can evaluate whether he wants to give a player a scholarship by watching how he reacts to a loss or a mistake by a teammate. Does he blame others? Does he lose his temper? Is he a good teammate? Sports are a tool that coaches and parents can use to help develop kids personally. But sports are perhaps even better used as a barometer of how overall character development is going. It is hard to disguise your true character when you get involved with sports. Next time you observe your child at practice or in a game, notice the traits they are displaying personally. It’s a great chance to get a report card on how things are going and then a medium for reinforcing the right value system. OC I believe sports are one of society’s best mediums for shaping the values of kids. Sports simply build character. But sports also reveal character. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
By Mike Eddy, CEO
