Character Development in Athletes...

A Parent’s Perspective
Integrity, fair play, sportsmanship, dedication, commitment and enthusiasm are some of the words that come to mind when I think of the benefits available to student athletes.
Being a parent to five children that have competed in athletics at high school and college level and being a high school girl’s coach, I have seen the need to show in myself and challenge my children and team members to pursue these values when they play. I feel that if these ideals are present in an athlete on the court under varying situations whether it be winning easily, losing terribly, or in close intense games, these values have become part of that person’s nature.

As these student athletes pursue their goals after finishing high school they will be better equipped to make conscientious decisions about their own futures and if and how it will affect anyone around them. They will also have the characteristics needed to become good citizens in their communities and possibly valued future leaders.

It may seem idealistic for our youth to obtain these attributes but it is definitely not impossible. As parents, allowing our children to play in sports we must be their first role models to these values and as coaches, each decision we make must reflect them also.

What a wonderful opportunity our children have through sports to not only be able to take home the gold medal or championship banner but to take to heart these values that will last them a lifetime.

Lorinda Dykshoorn, Foremost

An Athlete’s Perspective
My participation in athletics has helped define my character and has taught me the importance of hard work, citizenship, dedication, and mental toughness. As an athlete, I worked hard both during practice and competition in order to get top results. Hard work is the essence to success in life and athletics has instilled in me a great work ethic in my athletic, scholastic, volunteer and every day endeavors. Athletics has taught me the value of dedication and has instilled in me a ‘never give up’ attitude. It has helped me focus and this mental ability is important as there are many situations where mental preparation, concentration and toughness are keys to achieving one’s goals in life.

I have also learned the importance of sportsmanship and citizenship. These ideals of fair play that have been experienced during athletics has instilled in me characteristics that are true to the human spirit. With every victory and defeat, I have learned that life is full of successes and failures. In life, there will always be a winner and a loser, one should not gage their happiness on the result rather look at the process and the hard work of getting to that certain point. During my experiences with sport, I have been rewarded with the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Citizenship Medal, an award that recognizes the top five students in Alberta who demonstrate great citizenship values in all of their endeavours.

Wilma Shim – 2003 Alberta Milk Scholarship Winner Archbishop MacDonald High School, Edmonton

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Title	Character Development in Athletes...A Parent's Perspective.
Source	ASAA news (Edmonton)
Publisher	Alberta Schools' Athletic Association
Date	Mar 2005
Pages	p.3
SIRC ID#	S-1065621

 

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