Brown, Teach Character Thru Sport Video Notes

8/8/2019 Brown, Teach Character Thru Sport Video Notes

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How to Teach Character Through Sport (video)Bruce Brown, Proactive Coaching

NAIA Champions of Character program

Method ThemesCoaches are the key if were going to make any changes in the culture of sports

Our major purpose is to teach athletes to think and act correctly.

Viewing coaching as an opportunity to hold athletes to the highest possible behavioral standards

is what gives this profession eternal value. Holding your kids to those high standards is not a

choice that great coaches have. If youreally, truly love your athletes, youll teach, set, and holdthem accountable for standards higher than victory. -- quote from one of Browns books

Athletic philosophy statement different from most other kinds of philosophy statements:

because we are out there for public scrutiny at all timesneeds to be more than a belief statement

has to be a belief statement attached to an action statement

This is what we believe. Therefore, this is what you will see if you come watch.

Browns beliefs about character and sport:

1. Ethical behavior is not in-born in our kids not born with the right behavior

all have capacity to be good, but it has to be taught

2. Some sports are potentially more problematic ethically and character-wise than others

Indications that a sport may be more problematic--the more subjectivity there is in a sport--barrier sports (with dividing lines) (e.g. swimming, track, volleyball) vs. shared-area

sports (two teams occupying same space)(e.g. football, basketball, soccer)

--shared-area sports have more potential to be problematic; the smaller the space, themore players involved, the greater the potential for problems

--sports where contact is allowed, encouraged, a part of the game

--spotlight sport vs. group sport: one person in a spotlight has greater potential for

Problems3. Ethical behavior is not taught simply by offering the activity; a player doesnt learn ethical

behavior simply by participating

4. A player should not have to be good to get good out of the activity.

benefits should accrue to everyone in the activity, not just the most talented

5. The only values, mission statements, and ethics that count in any company or any team are

those that are reflected in the behavior of the people in that company or team

6. Athletics dont teach character; coaches teach character

B. Brown video, p. 1


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Athletics offers the best opportunity in a young persons life to learn Most coaches will

answer with positive attributes, qualities, values because weve had good experiences and

are still involved.

Athletics offer the opportunity to learn both positive and negative values and ethical standards:

obeying rules or cheatingpositive discipline or disrespect for authority

good work habits or how to take short cuts

confidence based on preparation or confidence based on arrogance and sense of entitlementpoise required for an athlete or revenge, temper, anger are a part of sports

teamwork or selfishness

accountability (responsibility for own actions) or how to make excuses

how to persevere or how to quitWhich set of standards are your athletes learning?

Challenge: If you believe athletics should teach character, then you have to teach it.

If kids improve their character, its because of the coach, not because of the experience.To believe in something and not live it is dishonest. Ghandi

Tend to coach the way you were coached. If we make this change, doing a great thing for the

next generation of coaches

How to add values to your coaching:

having and teaching valuesarticulating your values make them clear; put them on paper

compare your values with your actions

watch your team, or have outsider watch, at a time when going to be the most tested see if theteams behavior and the values are aligned

teach values to everyone (including parents) clearly, consistently, creatively, continually

practice / rehearse the valueshold member accountable to the same standards

be willing to confront and change attitudes that are not acceptable

institutionalize values weave them into fabric of your team

publicly praise values find a way to honor in your reward system

Action Statements:If youre going to teach character, not leave it to chance

1. Dont be afraid to lead Leading is your 1st responsibility in every circumstancechange does not require consensus; leadership is what it takes

2. Analyze your sport & identify character traits, values, life lessons that can be taught thru it

naturally



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What can I teach thru football besides just football?

write it in the practice plan; add character to list of essentials to be taught

theme of the week in footballTeach character as themes

prioritize them

schedule them

3. Teach a value thru same 4-step process as teaching a physical skill:

1) Define 2) Model 3) Shape 4) Reinforce

1) Define: a) an athletic definition

b) age appropriate

c) relate to your sportd) how it translates to life outside of athletics school, home, society

tip: have athletes define the value in writing first; gives insight into what they think; we

will probably have to re-define for themOur job is to change definitions and behaviors

Example: Sportsmanship doing the right things at the right time, for yourself, your

team, and your sport

If an athlete enters your program with the wrong behaviors, attitudes, and perceptions, that issomeone elses responsibility. If that athlete exits your program with wrong behaviors, attitudes,

and perceptions, thats on your shoulders.

2) Model: a description, a demonstration, an exact blueprint of how you want players to act

and react

think of every situation that your sport will provide/present; determine how you want

players to behave/react; then cover and rehearse it

In competition, it is the chief duty of leadership to minimize surprises.

Example: Sportsmanship potential problem areas: non-calls; winning & losing;

substitutions; fan reactions; hard fouls; rough play; language; tauntingRequire blueprints for how to deal with and teach early in season

3) Shape: this is the key; difficult and takes timeThis is where coaches are lost and drop out of the profession; may see over time where

there is a gradual reduction in a coachs willingness to shape

Positive side of shaping: identify and support any behavior that comes closer to the

desired behavior

Difficult/challenging side of shaping: direct, immediate correction of any behavior that is

not acceptable



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direct: you and the individual; not demeaning or public

immediate: the closer to the action, the more chance for change; the correction needs

to be clearly spelled out so there is no gray areameans you have to think ahead of time about whats not acceptable to you and what

you want instead

things to consider: tardiness, inattention, disrespect, less than all out effort,profanity/close to profanity

As a coach, I can never escape shaping; regardless of how I react, I send a messageWhatever I dont confront, Im sending a message of acceptance.

What I accept perpetuates itself.

Example: Sportsmanship walk-away drill: teach it and practice it

4) Reinforce positive reinforcement is best way to bring change; what you reward gets done

To be successful at this as a coach, when change occurs in an athlete, I cant say, Look

what Ive created. Have to say, Look who youve become.

A kid can live a month on one compliment. Give them a compliment a day and stay amonth ahead.

Positive reinforcement: verbal, physical, love

Use presenters to present the themes bring them in

coach should always be involved, at least to introduce

can use the athletescan even use an athlete who may not have that quality initially; work with them and

prepare them to present [ex.: running back with no poise; presented poise; late hit

on punt]teachers and administrators provides a chance to build stronger relations with them;

gives them a chance to see what youre teaching beyond your sport

community membersformer athletes in the program gives your program some history, a legacy

Send inspirational quotes or messages to players corresponding to that weeks theme; try

to give them something every day; talk about it at end of practice

Spotlighting double praise in public; a person praised for a character trait or behavior in

front of everybody; have to start in small groups to get them comfortable with itwhen get spotlighted, have to spotlight someone else for it as well; puts players on the

watch for each others behaviors

As a coach, do you have these character traits? Who are your models? Can you teach them? Who

can benefit from you teaching this?



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Summary:

Decide what you believe and then live it

Dont be afraid to leadDont hide or apologize for your passion

Dont leave it to chance teach the values and character traits your sport naturally provides

opportunity to teachBe the coach that gives this profession eternal value, the one who gives the next generation

something to pass on to the next one after

We will be defined by the impact we had on other peoples lives.

Our legacy will be the teams that we built, the passions that we shared, and the lives that we

changed. Coaching provides an opportunity to change a life every single day, in a positive,enthusiastic manner.

One athlete of character, one person making positive behavioral changes, can make a team

better. One team of character can change a school. One school of character can change acommunity.


Documents

Brown, Teach Character Thru Sport Video Notes