SPORT SPORT ETHICSETHICS

"To educate a person in the mind but not the morals is to educate a menace to society." –Teddy Roosevelt

DEFINITIONSDEFINITIONS EthicsEthics is the study of is the study of

morals or character; a study morals or character; a study of the principles of human of the principles of human duty or the study of all duty or the study of all moral qualities that moral qualities that distinguish an individual distinguish an individual relative to others.relative to others.

MoralMoral pertains to an pertains to an individual’s motives, individual’s motives, intentions, and actions as intentions, and actions as right or wrong, virtuous or right or wrong, virtuous or vicious, or good or bad. vicious, or good or bad.

ValuesValues are anything having are anything having relative worth.relative worth.

Moral valuesMoral values are the relative are the relative worth that is worth that is placed on some placed on some virtuous virtuous behavior.behavior.

PrinciplesPrinciples are are universal rules of universal rules of conduct that conduct that identify what identify what kinds of actions, kinds of actions, intentions, and intentions, and motives are motives are valued.valued.

MORAL REASONING PROCESSMORAL REASONING PROCESS Moral ReasoningMoral Reasoning is the systematic is the systematic

process of evaluating personal values and process of evaluating personal values and developing a consistent and impartial set developing a consistent and impartial set of moral principles by which to live. of moral principles by which to live. Moral KnowingMoral Knowing is the cognitive phase is the cognitive phase

of learning about moral issues and how of learning about moral issues and how to resolve them.to resolve them.

Moral FeelingMoral Feeling is the basis of what we is the basis of what we believe about ourselves, such as self-believe about ourselves, such as self-esteem, and society, such as empathy esteem, and society, such as empathy for othersfor others

Moral ActingMoral Acting is how we act based on is how we act based on what we know and value.what we know and value.

The Reason for FeelingsThe Reason for Feelings

Why do we have them?Why do we have them?

What is their purpose?What is their purpose?

Why are they different from Why are they different from one person to another?one person to another?

WHAT ARE RATIONALIZATIONS FOR WHAT ARE RATIONALIZATIONS FOR UNETHICAL BEHAVIORS IN SPORT?UNETHICAL BEHAVIORS IN SPORT? There is no rule against it.There is no rule against it. Everyone else does it.Everyone else does it. This action is not unethical because no This action is not unethical because no

one will ever know about it.one will ever know about it. Circumstances require acting in this Circumstances require acting in this

way.way.

MORAL JUSTIFICATION MORAL JUSTIFICATION The unethical action was really ethical; The unethical action was really ethical;

that is, muddy the waters and make the that is, muddy the waters and make the wrong look right.wrong look right.

The unethical action was a non-issue in The unethical action was a non-issue in the sense that the action caused no the sense that the action caused no harm to another individual or was harm to another individual or was unseen by an official; that is, no foul, no unseen by an official; that is, no foul, no harm.harm.

A rule was violated but the amount of A rule was violated but the amount of good accomplished overshadowed the good accomplished overshadowed the small amount of harm that occurred; small amount of harm that occurred; that is, the end justifies the means. that is, the end justifies the means.

ETHICS AND SPORTSMANSHIPETHICS AND SPORTSMANSHIP ““Ethics is a matter of being good Ethics is a matter of being good

(character) and doing right (action).” (character) and doing right (action).” ““Sportsmanship is a matter of being Sportsmanship is a matter of being

good (character) and doing right good (character) and doing right (action) in sports.” (action) in sports.”

““The majority of acts that we The majority of acts that we consider bad in sports and call consider bad in sports and call ‘unsportsmanlike’ are bad precisely ‘unsportsmanlike’ are bad precisely because they are unfair, dishonest, because they are unfair, dishonest, disrespectful, or against the rules.”disrespectful, or against the rules.”

WHAT DOES SPORTSMANSHIP LOOK WHAT DOES SPORTSMANSHIP LOOK LIKE?LIKE?

Playing fair Playing fair Following the letter and spirit Following the letter and spirit

of the rulesof the rules Respecting the judgments of Respecting the judgments of

officials officials Treating opponents with Treating opponents with

respect respect Shaking hands at the end of Shaking hands at the end of

the gamethe game Never running up the scoreNever running up the score Never cheatingNever cheating Never tauntingNever taunting

GAMESMANSHIPGAMESMANSHIP

What is difference between this and What is difference between this and unsportsmanlike conduct?unsportsmanlike conduct?

Where does “the line” existWhere does “the line” exist

Is the line different in different sports Is the line different in different sports or at different levels in sportsor at different levels in sports

PROBLEMS WITH TO MORAL PROBLEMS WITH TO MORAL REASONINGREASONING

The The longerlonger athletes participate in sport, athletes participate in sport, the the lowerlower their moral reasoning. their moral reasoning.

MalesMales have have lowerlower levels of moral levels of moral reasoning than do females. reasoning than do females.

TeamTeam sport athletessport athletes show show lowerlower levels of levels of moral reasoning than do individual sport moral reasoning than do individual sport athletes. athletes.

The moral reasoning of interscholastic The moral reasoning of interscholastic athletesathletes is is lessless consistent, impartial, and consistent, impartial, and reflective than is that of non-athletes. reflective than is that of non-athletes.

THE MORAL ETHOS OF SPORTTHE MORAL ETHOS OF SPORT Is an intentional rule violation congruent Is an intentional rule violation congruent

with the moral ethos of sport?with the moral ethos of sport? Is a tactical rule violation, or the breaking Is a tactical rule violation, or the breaking

of the rules on purpose to gain a benefit of the rules on purpose to gain a benefit even though there is an associated even though there is an associated penalty, ethical? Is this an ethical way to penalty, ethical? Is this an ethical way to attempt to secure a victory? attempt to secure a victory?

Is cheating, which is an intentional Is cheating, which is an intentional deception or circumvention of the rules deception or circumvention of the rules that were established to maintain fairness, that were established to maintain fairness, ethical? Is the intent of sport to get away ethical? Is the intent of sport to get away with things to gain an advantage?with things to gain an advantage?

Are rule violations ethical if they are not Are rule violations ethical if they are not caught and penalized? If rule violations are caught and penalized? If rule violations are attempted and penalized, then are these attempted and penalized, then are these rule violations deemed to be acceptable?rule violations deemed to be acceptable?

ARE THERE ETHICAL ISSUES IN ARE THERE ETHICAL ISSUES IN YOUTH SPORTS ABOUT THESE?YOUTH SPORTS ABOUT THESE?

Cutting a child trying out for a sports teamCutting a child trying out for a sports team Playing the best players (some do not Playing the best players (some do not

play)play) Keeping the best players in the “key” Keeping the best players in the “key”

positionspositions Competing for championships and Competing for championships and

trophies trophies Requiring a child to play a sport Requiring a child to play a sport Specializing in one sport Specializing in one sport Offering teams for one gender only Offering teams for one gender only

ARE THESE ETHICAL ISSUES IN ARE THESE ETHICAL ISSUES IN INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS?INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS?

Requiring athletes to pass all subjects Requiring athletes to pass all subjects Specializing in one sportSpecializing in one sport Treating male athletes preferentiallyTreating male athletes preferentially Playing while injuredPlaying while injured Using drugs to enhance performanceUsing drugs to enhance performance Teaching athletes (by coaches) how to Teaching athletes (by coaches) how to

break sport rules to gain an advantage break sport rules to gain an advantage Giving athletes money or other benefitsGiving athletes money or other benefits Taunting and gamesmanshipTaunting and gamesmanship

The World Record Holders in the The World Record Holders in the 800m800m

Who are these PeopleWho are these People

BaseballBaseball

Mark McGuireMark McGuire Jose CansecoJose Canseco

Barry BondsBarry Bonds

Other CasesOther Cases

Dennis MitchellDennis Mitchell 1980s East German Vitamins1980s East German Vitamins

Karin Koing (swimming)Karin Koing (swimming) Heidi and Andreas Krieger (Shot Heidi and Andreas Krieger (Shot

Put)Put) BalcoBalco Silken LaumannSilken Laumann

So why did/do they do itSo why did/do they do it

Agree Slightly Agree Slightly Disagree DisagreeAgree Slightly Agree Slightly Disagree Disagree 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1.1. Teamwork is important for winning. Teamwork is important for winning. 2.2. I would taunt my opponent. I would taunt my opponent. 3.3. A team must have a good coach to A team must have a good coach to

win. win. 4.4. I would spit on my opponent. I would spit on my opponent. 5.5. Luck is a part of winning.Luck is a part of winning. 6.6. It is important to shake hands with It is important to shake hands with

my opponent after a game. my opponent after a game. 7.7. I have never been in a game where I have never been in a game where

any rules were violated. any rules were violated. 8.8. Referees’ decisions will affect a Referees’ decisions will affect a

game’s result. game’s result. 9.9. Intramurals are a waste of time. Intramurals are a waste of time. 10.10.I would deliberately injure my I would deliberately injure my

opponent to help me win. opponent to help me win. 11.11.A team must have a “star player” to A team must have a “star player” to

be a winning team. be a winning team. 12.12.Respecting my opponent gives me a Respecting my opponent gives me a

better chance of winning. better chance of winning. 13.13.The team that prepares the best The team that prepares the best

should win the game. should win the game. 14.14.““Winning isn’t everything, it is the Winning isn’t everything, it is the

only thing.”only thing.”15.15.I have never seen or heard someone I have never seen or heard someone

taunt or trash-talk an opponent. taunt or trash-talk an opponent.

16.16.Respect is an important attribute for Respect is an important attribute for a winning team. a winning team.

17.17.Football is a more violent sport than Football is a more violent sport than ice hockey. ice hockey.

18.18.I must respect my opponent to play my I must respect my opponent to play my best. best.

19.19.Basketball is a non-contact sport.Basketball is a non-contact sport. 20.20.I would trash-talk my opponent.I would trash-talk my opponent.21.21.Soccer is a non-contact sport. Soccer is a non-contact sport. 22.22.I compliment an opponent for a good I compliment an opponent for a good

play.play.23.23.It is “OK” to run up the score against It is “OK” to run up the score against

an inferior opponent. an inferior opponent. 24.24.Basketball players are better Basketball players are better

“athletes” than baseball players. “athletes” than baseball players. 25.25.I would "bend the rules" to win. I would "bend the rules" to win. 26.26.It is not whether you win or lose, but It is not whether you win or lose, but

how you play the game.how you play the game. 27.27.It is not up to players to enforce rules It is not up to players to enforce rules

(it’s the referee’s job). (it’s the referee’s job). 28.28.Integrity is an important attribute for a Integrity is an important attribute for a

winning team. winning team. 29.29.Intercollegiate athletics are bad for a Intercollegiate athletics are bad for a

university.university.30.30.I would retaliate if I was given a “cheap I would retaliate if I was given a “cheap

shot” by my opponent.shot” by my opponent. 31.31.Skill in a sport is more important than Skill in a sport is more important than

hard work.hard work.32.32.I play fair. I play fair. 33.33.Being a good sport (showing Being a good sport (showing

sportsmanship) is important to sportsmanship) is important to winning. winning.

34.34.““Every student an athlete, every Every student an athlete, every student challenged.”student challenged.”