Sports build character and molds an athlete’s attitude towards life (Lopez, 2017, p. 2). There are skills and traits gained through participation in sports, which would not be found elsewhere. Apart from the individual benefits of physical fitness, the athlete develops friendships which have a role in propelling them into what they want to be in life (Miller & Strand, 2015, p. 22). This friendship in the team encourages the team spirit, and everyone strives to make the team shine through a combined effort. The athlete, therefore, learns to be selfless and resilient in facing adversities in sports. The ability to listen to the coach and follow instructions instills in the athletes the teachability spirit. The qualities that are implanted through sports are also applied in real life, whereby the athlete understands that there is more in life than winning (Ferdinand, 2016, p. 2).
Dr. Jim Loehr in the video What Drives Winning? States that sports only teach character when the coach makes it the issue number 1. Lopez (67) adds that sometimes the demands put on athletes is so much that they tend to lose themselves. They focus more on pleasing themselves and others or gaining promised awards blurs their hard-earned traits of discipline and respect (Miller & Strand, 2015, p.24). Selfishness creeps in, especially where there is a promised award to the best athlete. Forces outside the team can be the major cause of athletes failing to develop an acceptable character while in sports. The desire for these unique tolerable traits should first come from the athletes themselves so that the coach does not experience a hard time guiding the team (Ferdinand, 2016, p.3). When the coach’s priority is not on having athletes with good character, then it is not possible for the sport to mold an athlete’s character.
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References
Ferdinand, J. (July 2016). Sports Teaches Character. In Touch: The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Loehr, J. (August 2015). What Drives Winning? Repurposing Sports. [video file] Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHIx5p8EFyY&feature=youtu.be .
Lopez Frias, F. J. (2017). Sportsmanship. Multidisciplinary Perspectives.
Miller, J., & Strand, B. (2015). The role of youth sport coaches in developing life skills. Ohio AAHPERD Future Focus , 36 (1), 20-25.
