jtobs
Freshmen Member
You're either in, or in the way!
Posts: 31
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Post by jtobs on Dec 26, 2007 21:59:35 GMT -6
I believe you should teach character as a "Curriculum" but do it through the ideals of your program. I highly suggest the works of Bruce Eamon Brown on the subject. Would a person who watches your team practice be able to see the character traits you are trying to instill in your athletes? There will be many teachable moments throughout the season. Use them. What you are trying to get is voluntary buy in to high character standards. You decide what they are. Then you need to define, model and practice.
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Post by coachmaj on Dec 26, 2007 22:17:52 GMT -6
Yes, Yes, and Yes. Yes we should teach character, yes the father should teach character, and yes the church should provide the base and foundation for character. Thoughts From Coach
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Post by coachnichols on Dec 26, 2007 22:24:52 GMT -6
I believe you should teach character as a "Curriculum" but do it through the ideals of your program. I highly suggest the works of Bruce Eamon Brown on the subject. Would a person who watches your team practice be able to see the character traits you are trying to instill in your athletes? There will be many teachable moments throughout the season. Use them. What you are trying to get is voluntary buy in to high character standards. You decide what they are. Then you need to define, model and practice. I got Bruce Brown's book "Teaching Character Through Sport" for Christmas. So far, it's great. I recommended it if you're interested in the subject.
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Post by carookie on Dec 26, 2007 22:38:16 GMT -6
Okay, since I was the first one to bring up modeling I guess I'll have to defend it. If you note what I said in my first post I wrote that if they respect who you are then modeling it will work. We can teach character the same way we teach any curriculum; say math, and then we can give them a test at the end of the semester and see if they learned character you know repeat to us what all the character standards are and tell us the difference from right from wrong. In Math, or English your motivation to know the stuff is your grade, and it would be the same in Character class; but I don't think thats what matters. Character isn't what these kids know, I'm sure they know what the right thing to do is in nearly every situation. Character is their actions, and not just at school or team functions; its their actions Saturday night, its their actions when the consequences aren't right in front of them. I think of it this way, I get all the freshmen kids in the weight room a few weeks after the season ends, and some lift hard, others go through the motions. Then I get to work and they see how in shape I am, and how hard I work to be there; then they start working. They Respect my athleticism and I model how to get there, they then follow. So it isn't merely modeling what they should do, its getting them to want to emulate our actions; that, at least as far as I see it, is how you teach character.
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Post by saintrad on Dec 26, 2007 23:23:11 GMT -6
Okay, since I was the first one to bring up modeling I guess I'll have to defend it. If you note what I said in my first post I wrote that if they respect who you are then modeling it will work. We can teach character the same way we teach any curriculum; say math, and then we can give them a test at the end of the semester and see if they learned character you know repeat to us what all the character standards are and tell us the difference from right from wrong. In Math, or English your motivation to know the stuff is your grade, and it would be the same in Character class; but I don't think thats what matters. Character isn't what these kids know, I'm sure they know what the right thing to do is in nearly every situation. Character is their actions, and not just at school or team functions; its their actions Saturday night, its their actions when the consequences aren't right in front of them. I think of it this way, I get all the freshmen kids in the weight room a few weeks after the season ends, and some lift hard, others go through the motions. Then I get to work and they see how in shape I am, and how hard I work to be there; then they start working. They Respect my athleticism and I model how to get there, they then follow. So it isn't merely modeling what they should do, its getting them to want to emulate our actions; that, at least as far as I see it, is how you teach character. coach dont ever feel like you have to defend yourself to appease some else's egos. I like your thought process. Character cannot be objectified and should not either. You cannot test for have a written assessment for character ed.
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Post by touchdowng on Dec 26, 2007 23:46:51 GMT -6
I teach and coach at the H.S. level. I would like to believe that all coaches in this system feels a responsibility to help further the development of his charges. Doesn't mean we are always successful but we should try to be from the standpoint of modeling and correcting others when we witness acts that lack character. It's also our responsibility to teach our players how to behave correctly and to reinforce the good character building that does go on in most homes and communities. Some kids aren't getting a good dose of this and we can help minimize this gap.
When we see a foul happen in front of us and an official leaves his rag in his pocket, even though we KNOW he saw it, it leaves us feeling very helpless and upset.
If, as coaches, we choose to shirk this responsibility, we are behaving - like the official - only much worse on a much more important level.
Not sure why we would be discussing this one. I truly don't mean to offend but c'mon guys, what is our purpose when working for with young, impressionable people?
Some coaches have said that their modeling is enough. I 100% disagree. You have to address character. You cannot expect young people to "get it" only by observing. You are leaving too much to chance.
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Post by bulldogoption on Dec 27, 2007 5:47:48 GMT -6
I think I can assume that the answer to the first question, coaches or dads, is both. And from that it is clear most folks agree we should be teaching, not just modeling, traits of 'character'. If I were to teach and coach 'character', I feel I would need to have lesson plans/coaching plans. None of us would just show up to practice and work on whatever we feel like today. We have a goal in mind of the finished product and that guides our practices. Teaching/coaching 'character' should be the same way, IMO. How would you address the subject with parents before the season began? Do you ask for their input? ?
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Post by 1ispread on Dec 27, 2007 6:35:04 GMT -6
You do not teach charecter, you have charecter and it is an example to those around you or you dont have charecter and it is an example to to those around you
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Post by tvt50 on Dec 27, 2007 6:48:32 GMT -6
Isnt this why we coach? Not many of us are making millions of dollar, winning crystal balls, or Lombardi trophies.
Isnt coaching our tool to use?
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Post by ccscoach on Dec 27, 2007 7:37:58 GMT -6
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Post by touchdowng on Dec 27, 2007 10:22:10 GMT -6
1ispread
Going to respectfully disagree with you. Of course, we "teach character." You wrote that we don't. You mention that we can only be examples of character. You are only partially right, we do it with the examples we display on a daily basis (good or bad) but we have to take it to a more explicit level.
How did you (and others) learn to provide a positive example? Through osmosis? Read it somewhere? Taught by adults in your formative years? Through mistakes and lessons learned? Through your beliefs? Role Models?
Probably a combination of all of the above. Somewhere in there was probably a well respected coach. Maybe you learned by watching him and didn't need for him to verbalize what strong character looks like. Perhaps you had parents who explicitly explained it to you as you developed and your coach provided a good working example (I'm reaching here so go with the flow).
However, there are lots of young people who do not have the same character resources that some of us had during our formative years. If we don't teach them (take time to explain) what strong character looks like and how a person processes good decision making that helps develop a strong character, where do they pick it up?
Many successful coaches have given the following answer when asked if they think they are a good coach.
"I won't know for another 20 years, or more."
"When these young men come back and show me that they have become good husbands and good fathers, then I'll know."
It's not just about wins and losses. It's about the development of young people.
If my son played for you I would expect that you would at least be a good example (and you probably are). But, if I were not in the picture and you were the only positive male role model in his life, I would hope that you would take him aside from time to time to explain good character traits to him. The football skills you teach him will last until he's finished playing ball. The character you teach would last a lifetime. And he could pass your lessons onto others.
As coaches, we don't have a crystal ball to show us what kids only need a good example and which kids need more than that. Why not give them a little more of ourselves?
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Post by brophy on Dec 27, 2007 10:26:06 GMT -6
just to add... I can honestly tell you that I NEVER learned any 'character lessons' from any of my coaches from pee-wee to college. all the 'character' I ever learned was from my father, clergy, and reading books on successful people. The 'osmosis method' is NOT teaching. I believe that if you think you are teaching 'character' by just modelling it, when you go the long-drawn out way, many kids won't be able to connect the dots to the end result. They will just see Coach So-and-So being a nerd/lame/difficult. Most of the kids we see are conditioned for immediate gratification, that the end justify the means, that success CAN happen overnight. That is what they know. So when they see something contrary to that image, they do not know how to process it. Not unless you are teaching the kids a doctrine will they see how you put it in practice. Sitting them down and saying, "hey, this is what integrity, character, loyalty, perseverence, honor, discipline, etc" and explaining why its important and how you put it in practice. teaching leadership (leadership is character in action)
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Post by touchdowng on Dec 27, 2007 11:04:52 GMT -6
The biggest problem I see with the young people I coach today is that there is no time (or opportunity) for personal reflection. They're wired into their Ipods, celphones, video games and laptops.
The last time I checked, there's not too much character education going on with any of these activities.
Many of their parents are just as busy and the one place they can "slow down" is after practice or after a game with their coaches and teammates.
We take the time to explain and make connection with our kids about life's lessons.
Some won't get the message until they are adults but some do share with us how they do see connections in their own lives with the various topics we talk about.
We don't test them but there is some learning going on. I guarantee it.
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Post by coachweav88 on Dec 27, 2007 13:29:39 GMT -6
rather than rewrite what I've written elsewhere, I'll just include a link. CharacterI choose to focus on character building because I want young men to walk away from the program with something that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. If they just learn to tackle people and win games, then I feel that I've cheated them because football is such a short period in their lives. Just my reasoning for doing it.
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labby
Probationary Member
Posts: 14
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Post by labby on Dec 27, 2007 16:46:23 GMT -6
Plain & simple: Coaches must teach their players character; it's the most important lesson we teach them. I didn't realize this until 8 years ago when I moved from a large high school in the suburbs with a high standard of living in a middle class community to a smaller high school in a lower class community with a high poverty level. Many of our kids are raised by mothers, older sisters, grandparents or aunts. They need to learn it from us or they never get it from anyone! The bums on the streets typically don't give them very useful advice!!! I also believe that I could have helped the kids at the other school I coached at to become better people if the staff would have taught character education. Everyone needs it, regardless of socio-economic status!!
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dlo
Sophomore Member
Posts: 128
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Post by dlo on Dec 27, 2007 17:34:30 GMT -6
I didn't read every response in this thread, but did read many. My opinion, is that we absolutely need to be teaching our players character ed. There is no one in their life, parents included, that have the teachable moments that we do. I believe that it is our responsibility to make our players quality people. A few years ago I started to integrate a Character Ed program into two of my teams. I didnt do it with my football team because I am not the head coach and there wasnt the buy in needed from all parties. Anyway.....I commit the first 15 minutes of practice to the program every day. It has worked wonders......in 5 years I have not had one of those athletes have a discipline referral and had 1 academic issue one time. Committing to some sort of character ed program is a total win-win. The kids obviously gain from it, but you and your team do as well. It really creates a tight bond between the kids and between you and the kids. I always ask the following question a few weeks into the program....I ask, What does this stuff have to do with lacrosse? They give a bunch of different answers that are all wrong because the correct answer is that it has nothing to do with it. I tell them that we do it because I care about them and want them to be better people. I have found that teaching character has made coaching so much more enjoyable and we have had a ton of success on the playing fields, too. The program that I use was developed by Dennis Parker. The website is www.coachingtochangelives.com/
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Post by tye2021 on Dec 28, 2007 14:17:45 GMT -6
We always talk about how football helps kids learn teamwork, leadership skills and builds CHARACTER. If we are not teaching it, how are they learning it?
IMHO, character should be taught by anyone that has a direct effect on a young persons life.
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Post by fbcoach04 on Dec 30, 2007 15:54:42 GMT -6
This is a great topic. I think most people agree that we should be doing something to help build the character of our players. What specifically do some of you do? I know there are some links posted above, but are there other ideas? I'm looking to implement as much of this as possible.
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Post by touchdowng on Dec 30, 2007 18:55:33 GMT -6
It's taught most effectively by those who model it AND take the time to talk about it by lecturing and discussing it with their team. We use various aspects of character (responsibility, trust, integrity, commitment, diginity, etc) with our team and use these characteristics as themes and continue to go back and discuss them. We don't give out awards or shirts for character because it's something that should be expected of us.
We believe it begins with our relationships we have within our coaching staff and then with the other athletic coaching staffs and the teaching staff and so on.
Kid watch what you do as you relate with people within and outside of the team. They will see if you practice what you preach. For example, when we have a conflict over a facility because somebody double booked it we problem solve with the other program head. Kids will watch how this interaction takes place. If we act territorial, the kids won't buy into what we share with them when we talk about "cooperation." Also, how are the coaches treating the players have very little to do with winning games? We all have kids who are not part of the 1's or 2's or even the scout teams. Are they being dignified within the program? I've been part of programs where these kids were basically pushed aside and made out to be 2nd class citizens by the coaching staff and eventually the players.
They aren't the leaders, WE ARE. So, how do we treat them? We treat our guys just like they were our own sons. Whether they are a 1st teamer or a kid barely making it to practice each day, they will be treated with respect and encouragement. Period.
When I was a freshman in college and had a chance to run the varsity huddle during a practice and I will never forget the reception I received from a senior captain. He told me that I was in charge and that's all there was to it. This is how we want our young or less skilled players to feel when they are in our program. Wanted.
Back to the education part:
Most importantly, it is an ongoing lesson plan and you will find that you can pull curriculum from just about anywhere (books, internet, newspapers, magazines, etc). I might read an article to the kids that has a definite problem involved. We discuss what the proper path could be in solving the issue. Sometimes I don't let them know how it was resolved in real life. This gets the kids discussing it further amongst themselves.
"Dude, I would have done this.....or that." It's conversation that kids these days don't do enough of.
Pretty soon, you'll have assistants sharing good stories with the kids and kids will also begin to share situations.
I remember the first story I shared with my present team. It was about Bear Bryant and one of his first recruiting trips into the deep south when he was at 'Bama. It was titled "It Really Doesn't Cost Anything to be Nice." We had some great conversations about this and refer to it often.
If you aren't doing it - character education - It's like anything else. You'll feel clumsy at first but by sticking to it, it will become just something that you do.
AND it does not take away from any practice time or "X"ing or "O"ing as some coaches might think. To me that's just a cop out and a shirk of an important responsibility.
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Post by touchdowng on Dec 30, 2007 19:03:32 GMT -6
liberalh...
that's sad.
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Post by touchdowng on Dec 30, 2007 19:04:57 GMT -6
liberalh....
how does a coach aid the parents in the process?
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yznx3e
Sophomore Member
Posts: 142
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Post by yznx3e on Dec 31, 2007 8:48:06 GMT -6
I would like to share something we do in our program. During staff meetings in August each coach is assigned one week during the season to teach a character trait.of his choice. During that week he gets a 30 minute session with the team on Monday morning and a 30 minute session with them on Thursday morning. The positive thing about this scenario is that each coach may lecture on a very personal issue or something he sees lacking in the team. Either way it is more meaningful than referring to a character textbook. The coaches do have to have an idea of what the others might cover so as not to be redundant. You would be surprised how much the coaches look forward to the character lessons seeing their felloow coaches open up. In the spring we emphasize a lot of character issues during our 3 week boot camp.
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Post by schultbear74 on Dec 31, 2007 9:34:56 GMT -6
This is a great thread.
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Post by Coach Huey on Dec 31, 2007 10:13:03 GMT -6
a team that has players with character will typically be more successful than a team full of players without character.
programs with character are generally more successful throughout the years than a program that lacks character.
you decide ... leave it up to parents alone to teach/model character to the players you've got or do you get involved as much as you can and try to teach character
think we all know the answer to that one
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Post by touchdowng on Dec 31, 2007 10:41:48 GMT -6
Again, when coaches don't do the right thing, they are shirking their moral obligation to their players.
We can play "pass the buck" all we want and say that it's only the parent's responsiblity. However, when you get right down to it, we have a job that extends beyond W's and X's and O's. It is very hard work. Harder than any gameplan or practice that was ever organized and executed. Tougher than defeating a worthy opponent.
We are such POWERFUL people in the eyes of these influential kids, that we must be active in their development. As was mentioned on a previous post, "we cannot expect them to connect the dots" by being a good role model. That is passive.
Do we coach passive? Probably not. The strongest leaders tend to be passionate about what they do. They are active in all areas of their team's development.
Perhaps, some of us are more passive about our jobs than we believe we are. We should take inventory about what players are REALLY getting out of our programs - and taking into adulthood - and this inventory should be ongoing.
Just something to think about.
I like to believe that I am a decent parent (have three teens) but also understand the powerful influence that my kid's coaches/teachers have over them when it comes to technical advice, and some of the lessons that we try to teach as parents. Couldn't get my oldest to eat his fruits and veggies when he was 9. Not a huge deal. So, I asked his soccer coach if he felt comfortable talking to his kids about the importance of eating a balanced meal. From that day on, this vegetable hater began attacking his veggies because his soccer coach told him to. WOW. He's 18 now and this has not changed.
And I've been a HEALTH TEACHER. You would think the boy would at least listen to Dad about nutrition, right? Sometimes we don't know $HIT as parents.
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yznx3e
Sophomore Member
Posts: 142
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Post by yznx3e on Dec 31, 2007 10:42:43 GMT -6
If we leave it to the parents we are all in big trouble. Many of tomorrow's leaders do not have 2 parents and the one they have works two jobs to raise three kids. Not to mention my DB whose only parent just died from an overdose.
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Post by rcole on Dec 31, 2007 10:58:41 GMT -6
When we leave things to chance we are taking a very big risk. All things being equal the team with greater character will win...therefore it is both a moral and a strategic obligation to plan and specifically teach character. Failing to do so is shirking your responsibility to win as well as develop young men. The ultimate conservative attitude (liberalhater) is that you are your brothers keeper. If you went into coaching for anything less than molding young men, I pitty you.
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Post by k on Dec 31, 2007 11:03:46 GMT -6
If we leave it to the parents we are all in big trouble. Many of tomorrow's leaders do not have 2 parents and the one they have works two jobs to raise three kids. Not to mention my DB whose only parent just died from an overdose. Doesn't even have to be that. I work in an upper class white bread wealthy conservative town. The two parent family living in a seven hundred thousand dollar home is the average. I still get kids whose parents couldn't give a crap less about them. Kids who get $40,000 cars when they turn 16 but have not spent a single day with their parents in years. Kids who are left alone on their birthdays and Christmas so their parents can go on vacation. I'd be a failure as a teacher, a failure as a coach, and a failure as a person if I took a hands off approach to character development. That said I don't script time to do this. It most often comes up in one on one time with kids outside of practice (before/after/school) but when it needs to be addressed as a team it is.
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Post by touchdowng on Dec 31, 2007 12:06:59 GMT -6
k
But it should be scheduled in. Not to say that you aren't doing a great job. I am just advocating for some structure in building young men.
Not scheduling something in (what's 10 minutes?) is leaving much to chance. And we will never know the gaps that we could have filled.
Would a football coach leave to chance that his players will line up correctly against a swinging gate PAT unit? Of course not. We'll take the appropriate time and show our players how to line up soundly to this scheme.
Why would we not take a few minutes each week and prepare ALL of our players for life's challenges? Boys are really good about putting up a good facade for all to see. I try to remember that still waters can run deep.
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Post by coachweav88 on Dec 31, 2007 12:33:49 GMT -6
"I often suggest that the most determinative moral formation most people have in our society is when they learn to play baseball, basketball, quilt, cook or learn to lay bricks." Stanley Hauerwas, Professor of Theological Ethics, Duke University to see the quote in context www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=110
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