ED477729 2002-12-00 Positive Character

Development in School Sport Programs.

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Positive Character Development in School Sport Programs. ERIC

Digest...........................................................................1

TERMINOLOGY................................................................ 2

COMPONENTS OF MORAL CHARACTER............................... 3

INFORMAL CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAMS.................. 3

FORMAL CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAMS..................... 4

CONCLUSION.................................................................. 5

REFERENCES.................................................................. 5

ERIC Identifier: ED477729

Publication Date: 2002-12-00

Author: Beller, Jennifer

Source: ERIC Clearinghouse on Teaching and Teacher Education Washington DC.

Positive Character Development in School Sport

Programs. ERIC Digest.

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ED477729 2002-12-00 Positive Character Development in School Sport Programs. ERIC

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INTRODUCTION

Sportsmanship and the development of positive character have long been explicit goals

of school sports. A strong belief exists that sport programs have the power to promote

the development of "...sportsmanlike behaviors, ethical decision-making skills, and a

total curriculum for moral character development" (Stoll, 1995, p. 335) and provide a

social environment to acquire personal and social values and behaviors contributing to

good character and good citizenship (Arnold, 1984; Sage, 1998). The arena of sport can

provide one of "the greatest opportunities for a student to learn honesty, integrity... and

ethical behavior" or it can provide "one of the greatest opportunities in school for a

youngster to learn how to be dishonest...or how to be hypocritical" (Sabock, 1985, p.

271). Little empirical research exists supporting that mere participation in and of itself

leads to the development of moral character. In fact, the opposite appears true, that

sport participation may be more likely to negatively affect moral character (Bredemeier,

1984; Priest, Krause, & Beach, 1999; Stoll & Beller, 2000). Whether positive or

negative, "[s]ports have immense power to shape consciousness, values, and beliefs of

athletes and to pass on selected aspects of the dominant culture" (Sage, 1998, p. 264).

This digest discusses the formal and informal processes of moral character

development, in light of the types of programs that have shown to improve moral

character, sportsmanship, and fair play.

TERMINOLOGY

Two different types of character values exist and are evident in sport: social and moral.

Typical social character values include loyalty, dedication, sacrifice, teamwork, and

good citizenship (Lumpkin, Stoll & Beller, 2002), while moral values include honesty,

fairness, fair play, justice, and responsibility. Social values, which are highly esteemed

in our society, are about the real world and how society views the importance of social

character. Moral values are first principles, meaning that they stand by themselves; if

we violate any one of these, we violate people directly. Social values are positive assets

but must be tempered by moral values. A person who has strong social character may

have little or no moral character. An individual can be highly dedicated and loyal to an

immoral cause. Because sport may foster social values, character development through

sport should help athletes learn to weigh a social value against a moral value and then

act on that moral value (Lumpkin, et al., 2002).

Sportsmanship/fair play means playing as a good sport and following the moral values

of honesty and justice (Lumpkin et al., 2002). The player plays by the rules and is fair

and honest to his/her opponents.

"Character education refers to the deliberate and intentional activity of cultivating,

modeling, and teaching moral growth and moral judgment" (Stoll, 2000, p.3). The goal

of this process is for individuals to build moral habits with a disposition to act upon moral

judgment (Kohlberg, 1981).

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COMPONENTS OF MORAL CHARACTER

Moral character development is a combined lifelong formal and informal educational

process (Stoll & Beller, 1999) with three interrelated dimensions: knowing, valuing, and

doing the right thing (Lickona, 1989), with the result being moral character.

INFORMAL CHARACTER EDUCATION

PROGRAMS

Environment.

The informal process of moral character development is highly influenced by the

environment ("...all of life's lived experiences, which begins with our immediate families,

family traditions, family values, religious training, and family history...school work and

play,") as well as television, newsprint, sports, and movies (Stoll & Beller, 1999, p. 2).

While individuals learn from their family, traditions, friends, and religious groups, when

they enter the world of sport, they tend to be heavily influenced by what their peers

value and practice. Societal norms, values, and practices in general and in sport also

shape the environment as does the media through television, movies, and newsprint

(Stoll, 2000). In order to affect character positively, environmental character education

programs attempt to shape the groups that influence the athlete's thinking and behavior

to encourage the athlete's moral actions so they are more respectful to others.

The typical program involves taking advantage of teachable moments

(http://www.nfhs.org), discussing scenarios (Spencer, 1996), hanging posters, lettering

marquees, and making verbal announcements using "word of the day/week/or month"

(Fisher, 1998) or viewing motivational sportsmanship videos. Some programs involve

rewarding good behavior on the playing field where game officials award teams points

for wins, losses, ties, and good sportsmanship (Butler, 2000). Teams with as many

sportsmanship violations as wins do not fare well in the final league standings.

Character education programs for fans frequently involve team captains standing before

spectators discussing expectations for fans as well as their own and their opponents

play (Nelson, 1992). The goal is for fans to treat each other and all participants with

respect and dignity.

Codes of Ethics attempt to address the environment through prescribing player, coach,

and parental behavior. These codes are grounded in principles that concern ethical

conduct towards colleagues, athletes, and the community (Lumpkin et al., 2002). For

codes to be effective in shaping the environment, education about the organization's

values and code must occur.

Role Modeling.

Role modeling as an informal process of character education holds that leaders take

responsibility for their actions and demonstrate good character. Any person can serve

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as a role model and teach through actions and words. Significant people in an athlete's

life such as teachers, coaches, parents, administrators, other athletes and boosters

teach through verbal and nonverbal instruction, including body language, gestures, and

facial expressions (Docheff, 1998; Lumpkin et al., 2002). These individuals, whether

aware or not, are in a position to assist young people in the development of their

character. If they are leaders of moral character, the outcome of this endeavor is

generally positive.

Each of these informal educational programs, while relatively easy to implement,

provides limited empirical evidence indicating that individual moral character actually

improves. They may, however, help create a moral awareness that leads to the

development of formal educational programs.

FORMAL CHARACTER EDUCATION

PROGRAMS

"The formal process of character education is a direct and purposeful intent to affect

character development" (Stoll & Beller, 1999, p. 2). Individuals are challenged to reflect

upon moral issues, values, and principles in relationship to others and society,

translating those reflections into good moral action. This process involves three parts:

knowing and valuing the right which should lead to doing the moral right (Lickona,

1989). Knowing involves moral awareness, moral values, perspective-taking, moral

reasoning, decision-making, and self-knowledge. Moral feeling involves self-esteem,

empathy, loving the good, self-control, and humility. Moral action involves competence,

will, and habit. The three processes work in concert since what athletes and coaches

know and feel affects their behavior and their behavior affects what they know and feel.

Formal character education can involve extensive study whereby athletes are

challenged by peers, instructors, and themselves through reading, writing, discussion,

and reflection on issues of honesty, fair play, responsibility and decency towards others

(Stoll & Beller, 2000). The goal is to develop a consistent and impartial set of moral

principles to live by. A workbook program, Winning in Life: A Team Life Skills Program,

challenges athletes to reason morally by examining moral and social issues in sport in

discussion sessions (Stoll & Herman, 2002). This program is based on the belief that an

ultimate right exists. Teaching moral reasoning is not easy, but in the hands of skilled,

well-educated moral development specialists this type of methodology is highly effective

(Stoll & Beller, 2000).

Less time-intensive programs, with empirical research support, involve education

through training videos. The Fair Play Everyday video, using three commonly occurring

sport scenarios, challenges athletes and coaches to answer three questions of right

conduct when addressing fair play issues on the field: Is it honest?, Is it fair?, and Does

it promote cooperation (Hansen, Stoll, & Beller, 1999; Hansen, Stoll, & Beller, 2000).

The National Federation of High School Activity Association's video, Sport, Ethics &

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Integrity, involves athlete, coach, and administrator discussions about what makes a

sportsmanship practice acceptable or unacceptable (http://www.nfhs.org).

Other research-based programs use Haan's (1978) morality model in sport camp

situations, involving moral balance, moral dialogue, and moral truth (Bredemeier, Weiss,

Shields, & Shewchuck,1986; Shields & Bredemeier, 1995). Moral balance, an explicit or

non-explicit agreement about rights and privileges, means that individuals are basically

in agreement. When out of agreement, moral dialogue (direct or indirect, verbal or

nonverbal) is used to help restore moral balance. Studies using these programs have

been effective, especially in youth sport populations (Shields & Bredemeier, 1995).

In contrast to informal programs, formal moral education programs are more difficult and

time intensive to implement. These programs require personnel who are educated in

theories of moral development and ethics and able to challenge students' personal

values and beliefs as they relate to principles and societal views (Stoll, 1995). Studies

using formal moral education strategies have demonstrated success in fostering and

improving athletes' moral reasoning (Beller & Stoll, 1992; Beller & Stoll, 2000; Hansen,

Stoll, & Beller, 2000; Shields & Bredemeier, 1995).

CONCLUSION

The development of character through sport can be systematic or non-systematic and

involve formal and/or informal processes. Well-organized sport character education can

provide powerful contexts for the teaching and learning of good moral habits. Even

though formal education programs may be in place, informal education may conflict with

what is considered the right, good, and fair. These powerful tools can have a positive or

negative impact on athletes. The ideal would be sport programs that address both

formal and informal educational processes for character development. For character

education programs to succeed, athletes need both thinking and reasoning programs,

role models, a supportive environment, and the strong moral/philosophical commitment

of community members, parents, coaches, teachers, students, boosters, and the media.

REFERENCES

References identified with an EJ or ED number have been abstracted and are in the

ERIC database. Journal articles (EJ) should be available at most research libraries;

most documents (ED) are available in microfiche collections at more than 900 locations.

Documents can also be ordered through the ERIC Document Reproduction Service:

(800) 443-ERIC.

Arnold, P.J. (1984). Sport, moral education and the development of character. Journal

of the Philosophy of Education, 18, 275-281.

Bredemeier, B.J., Weiss, M.R., Shields, D.L., & Shewchuck, R.M. (1986). Promoting

moral growth in a summer sport camp: The implementation of theoretically grounded

instructional strategies. Journal of Moral Education, 15, 212-220. EJ 343 093

ERIC Resource Center www.eric.ed.gov

ED477729 2002-12-00 Positive Character Development in School Sport Programs. ERIC

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Butler, L. (March, 2000). How to promote sportsmanship and fair play in your program.

Presentation to the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and

Dance's annual meeting, Orlando, FL.

Docheff, D. (1998). Character education and physical education. Journal of Physical

Education, Recreation, and Dance, 69(2), p. 24.

Fisher, S. (1998). Developing and implementing a K-12 character education program.

Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, 69(2), pp. 21-22.

Haan, N. (1978). Two moralities in action contexts: Relationship to thought, ego

regulation, and development. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36,

286-305.

Hansen, D., Stoll, S.K., & Beller, (1999). Fair play everyday video. Moscow, Idaho:

University of Idaho Center for Ethics*.

Hansen, D., Stoll, S.K., & Beller, (2000). Fair play everyday: A sportsmanship training

program for coaches. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport Supplement, 71(1),

A-101.

Kohlberg, L. (1981). The philosophy of moral development. New York: Harper Books.

Lickona, T. (1989). Educating for character: How our schools can teach respect and

responsibility. New York: Bantam Books.

Lumpkin, A., Stoll, S.K., & Beller, J.M. (2002). Sport ethics: Applications for fair play (3rd

ed). St. Louis: McGraw Hill.

National Federation of High School Activity Association website (http://www. nfhs.org),

Retrieved August, 2002.

Nelson, S. (April, 1992). The fine art of juggling: Education, ethics, and athletics.

Presentation to the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and

Dance's annual meeting, Indianapolis, IN.

Priest, R.F., Krause, J.V., & Beach, J. (1999). Four-year changes in college athletes'

ethical value choices in sports situations. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport,

70(2), 170-178.

Sabock, R. (1985). Coach (3rd ed). Champaign: Human Kinetics Press, p. 271..

Sage, G.H. (1998). Power and ideology in American sport. Champaign: Human Kinetic

Press, pp. 253-275.

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Shields, D.L.L, & Bredemeier, B.J.L. (1995). Character development and physical

activity. Champaign: Human Kinetics Press.

Spencer, A.F. (1996). Ethics in physical education and sport. Journal of Health, Physical

Education, Recreation, and Dance, 67(7), pp. 37-39.

Stoll, S.K. (2000). Can ethics be taught? Position paper. Moscow, Idaho: Center for

ETHICS*.

Stoll, S.K. (1995). Should we teach morality? The issue of moral education. In A.

Jewett, L. Bain, & C.D. Ennis (eds.), The curriculum process in physical education (2nd

ed) (pp.333-336). Dubuque, IA: Brown & Benchmark.

Stoll, S.K., & Beller, J.M. (2000). Do sports build character? In J.R. Gerdy, Sports in

School: The future of an institution. New York: Teachers College Press, pp. 18-30.

Stoll, S.K., & Beller, J.M. (1999). Character education at the Center for ETHICS*.

Center for Ethics*, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID.

Stoll, S.K., & Herman, C.R. (2002). Winning in life: A team life skills program. Center for

Ethics*, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID.

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This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U. S.

Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, under

contract number ED-99-CO-0007. The content of this publication does not necessarily

reflect the views of or policies of the U.S. Department of Education nor does mention of

trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U. S.

Government.

Title: Positive Character Development in School Sport Programs. ERIC Digest.

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Descriptors: Athletes, Athletics, Educational Environment, Elementary Secondary

Education, Moral Development, Moral Values, Role Models, Sportsmanship

Identifiers: ERIC Digests

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