Sports As Character-Builder

The most important thing is for an athlete to look back and be able to say, “I gave it all I had. I never let my teammates down.”

Courtesy: How Stuff Works

Sports date back to ancient times, 776 BC, with the Olympics. Individuals learned how to become athletes. It was also a means to better themselves through running, throwing, lifting, and developing eye-and-hand coordination, among other skills.

Throughout the centuries, competitive leagues have formed–opportunities for athletes to match skill levels with other athletes. And a coach’s job is to prepare athletes to be successful in those athletic confrontations.

Part of that job is to help athletes deal with defeat. Coaches know that how athletes handle defeat says more about players than how they act after winning.

And when a season is over–especially when it’s the very last season…ever…the most important thing is for an athlete to look back and be able to say, “I gave it all I had. I never let my teammates down.”

Then it’s the departing athlete’s job to pass down that philosophy to the next generation of players. That way, sports will do for people and society what it’s meant to do — build character.