Hicks 1

Danielle Hicks

Professor Sobocinski

English 1201

20 March 2022

How do Youth Sports Play a Critical Role in Developing Character?

As a high school athlete and a soon to be collegiate athlete, I have had many experiences

with sports. While not all of them were for me, I learned many valuable lessons. Sports gave me

a place to disconnect from everything around me and focus on something I enjoyed. As a young

kid I was shy and distant. This worried my mom, she wanted me to make friends and have

someone else besides herself that cared as much as she did about me. So, she entered me in youth

soccer. I absolutely hated it, I felt alone and scared. I no longer had my mom by my side nor any

friends to help me along the way. But little did I know this would be the best thing that ever

happened to me. Sports gave me the opportunity to meet new people and grow outside of my

comfort zone. The relationships I formed with my teammates and coaches was an amazing step

for me in my life. My hate for soccer quickly turned into love. I could not wait to see my

teammates for practices and games. And this whole new world quickly changed me from being

the quiet shy girl to a social butterfly. Sports are unique in that way. Sports are not all about

winning and losing or fitness. Sports allow for many take-aways and life lessons, not just in the

moment, but for the moments that lie ahead.

Just as I experienced, sports teach more than just a game. Sports teach critical life lessons

that will last a lifetime. And in these moments, something called character is formed. Character

is defined as “the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual” (O’Sullivan). And

character can be divided into three distinct groups, morality, virtue, and ethics (Huitt and
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Vessels). Character helps define a person, it is how a person chooses to act, it is the things they

choose to say, and it is how hard they choose to work towards something. The key to character is

instilling it within a young age, and sports are the perfect way to do that. Ohlsson Walker, a

writer who researches how to maximize youth potential, says, the early stages of life are essential

for development. She says that during the early stages of life, there is a “sensitive period”, where

the brain learns to formulate brain structures based on experiences. She goes on to say that these

brain structures have lasting impacts (Ohlsson Walker). So, by instilling these life lessons at a

young age it is believed that it has a greater impact towards the actions that children exude based

on experiences they have encountered. This is why it is so critical to get children involved in an

environment where they can learn character at a young age. And sports are a great way to get

children involved. Many parents sign their children up for sports to keep them active and

involved, but many parents do not realize the immense impact that youth sports have on their

child's character.

While initially sports were not the first idea of how to implement character within a child,

school was, it is clear that, as a society, we had moved away from this ideology as time passed.

Huitt and Vessels wrote on this topic of character development through the years. They stated

that around 1951, public schools decided focusing on both academic practices and character

development was far too much to focus on in a school environment. By allowing teachers to

focus on curriculum guidelines and students to focus on their academics, it ruled that school

should no longer be paired with the moral development of a child. This was found to be

detrimental to society though. It was found that society was encountering a moral decline. So

then again in the 1980’s, the school systems reopened the idea of moral and character

development, only to shut it down again in the twentieth century (Huitt and Vessels). And as the
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twentieth century continues, America sees a need for character. A need for generous, open

minded, hard working and caring people. Without these critical lessons being taught in the

classroom, kids need to engage in something that teaches them about character, and sports is the

perfect way to do that.

Sports teaches children what is known as moral character. Moral character is “ the traits

needed for ethical behavior and functioning within a society, such as integrity, respect and

caring” (O’Sullivan). In an average household in society today, children are taught by their

guardians how to act and display themselves to others. While this is exactly what kids need,

learning life lessons from others are also immensely important. Those who are introverts need to

learn how to be in environments where they will have to talk to others. As life is full of

relationships and communicating. Our key problems in society are led by lack of communication

and the ability to listen. And those who are extroverts need to help be leaders to those around

them and focus on listening skills. When involved in sports, these two components are vital. It is

the basis of a team. But it also teaches us moral character. Moral character is so important that

“As part of their InSideOut Initiative, former NFL star Joe Ehrmann and former coach and

athletic director Jody Redman are engaging with schools and encouraging coaches to put the

development of moral character on equal footing with performance character” (O’Sullivan).

Moral character is doing what is right for our teammates no matter the cost. It is devoting the

time on your own to get better. It is being there for your teammates when they need you most.

It’s developing relationships with your coaches and teammates. It is learning how to

communicate in a positive manner to those around you who might not share the same beliefs. It

is helping your team through a difficult loss. It is pushing your teammates every day in practice

to be the best they can be. Sports “‘teach the game and life lessons’” (Boston) “says Jim
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Thompson, director of Positive Coaching Alliance, a nonprofit group dedicated to transforming

youth sports into a positive, character-building experience” (Boston).

It is also interesting to note that researchers such as Agans (who works as an assistant

professor at the university of Penn State) have been collecting and analyzing the impact sports

have on character building. Agans says that in sports there are three different types of character

areas being developed within a player, the player/child themselves, their teammates, and the

game (Agans). Specifically Agans studies child development in all areas outside of the school

setting, and says that the way to build moral character is by providing “good role models for

moral behavior” (Agans). She says this will lead to positive character development. Not only are

children supposed to be mindful of their moral character but so is the coach. Coaches are

supposed to be held at a high level to incorporate moral character as mentioned above. Because

children look up to their coaches for advice and direction. The way that coaches act largely

impacts the way the children they are coaching act. But players are also to be mindful of their

moral character towards their teammates. Teammates are always supposed to have eachothers

backs, no matter the circumstance. If a teammate exemplifies this behavior (moral character),

then it is likely the team will be accepting of each other and will produce the best results. Lastly,

there is character for the game. When teammates can respect one another, it becomes much

easier to respect the game, to enjoy it and play at a high level. In all, youth sports have a big

impact on the children participating in them. By allowing kids to get the experience of sports,

allows them to formulate moral character that they can carry into adulthood.

Although, some may argue that some coaches do not make an effort to encourage moral

behavior. Which is true, some coaches exclude teaching moral character when they decide to

coach a team. Although, there are many programs fighting against this battle of not encouraging
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moral character. Ohlsson Walker writes that supporting youth sports programs with certified

coaches that understand and promote both moral and performance character would maximize the

amount of learning and life lessons for children (Ohlsson Walker). This is crucial to the sports

world and can help to develop children to have high moral character as they grow older and

advance into the professional world. And the need for coaches to step up into this role during the

youth stages of children is vital. Learning moral character is one of the most important things

someone can learn in life.

Sports also teaches children what is known as performance character. While being on a

sports team has many benefits to your health that is not what performance character relates to.

Performance character is the character that is developed strictly through the struggles of a sport.

For example, it is how children act when they face adversity. Does the child turn around and

stomp their feet because they are upset they did not win? Or do they congratulate the other team

and learn to improve? Performance character differs from moral character, it is more connected

to the sport. Coaches will ask children to “push through the pain,” and to “always give 110%,”

This is where children learn perseverance. It teaches the youth to work towards their sport to

earn something that they worked for. Such as a championship, a state title, or a win in a match.

Performance character is when children learn to change their mindset to “I can do this”, which

will help them to face their fears head on. And it is vital to instill this type of character within the

youth because it teaches “grit, resilience, and self discipline” (O’Sullivan). Character

development helps to make a working class who is always willing to persevere through

adversity. This is a huge life lesson that sports teach players. And in the midst of hardship, it

gives children the “‘chance to bounce back with renewed determination’” (Boston) when things
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get hard. Parents and other peers value this type of person. Someone who is confident and feels

they can handle any task thrown at them.

A few specifics to include on performance character include fair play, responsibility,

accountability, effort, time management, self discipline and motivation. All of these traits are

important in everyday life and can be developed through youth sports. Everyday kids are asked

to show up ready for practice. Whether that is having their cleats on, water bottle filled or ball

cap on, sports teach children the importance of being ready and on time for practice. Fair play

also comes with performance character. In order to play a sport you have to be aware of the rules,

not cheat and perform tasks correctly in order to win a game fairly. As the APAD 47’s Science

Committee has put together information on fair play, they say that it gives players a fair chance

at competing and a clear understanding of what is acceptable and unacceptable since there is a

rule book that must be followed. This teaches kids to act in appropriate manners when rules are

in place (APAD 47’ Science Community). And when children are able to learn to play fairley it

teaches them character. It teaches them to be respectful of others while also enjoying a game that

they love. It also teaches them how to stay motivated and to do things on their own without being

told. A motivated child is one who wants to be the best that they can be. They will work hard

until they reach what they would like to achieve. And when they achieve it, they will set a new

goal to achieve. A child with motivation is full of performance character. Children like this are

often successful later on in life as well, as they are always trying to better themselves.

However, some may say that youth sports encourage too much performance character and

this in turn puts winning over character development. Krohe, a previous professional baseball

player who put his interest strictly into how youth sports can develop character says, Coaches

can “‘get caught up in this win-at-all-costs mentality’” (Krohe) and goes on to talk about how he
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focuses on the development of the players in the moments he gets too caught up in the game. So,

Krohe agrees that coaches do tend to want to coach to win but he believes it is important to

remember the development of the kids in these moments. And as Angas, at the Bronfenbrenner

Center for Translational Research, said, “sport participation may contribute to the development

of character attributes when the sport context is supportive and provides good role models for

moral behavior (Bredemeier & Shields, 1994)” (Angans). So, given a coach that puts effort into

that other than just the sport and engages in life lessons with the players, are more likely to

develop character in the players. Just as Krohe said, he focuses on how to make the team better

rather than getting caught up in the idea of winning at all costs, Angans also reiterates this idea.

And if a coach is not supportive of developing character in these situations, then parents need to

help coach their kids through these difficult times. When things are not going in favor of what

parents or children believe to be true, it is easy to create a negative outlook on the situation. This

is the exact moment that helps children grow and develop character though. It is how they

choose to act when faced with adversity. And for parents it is important that they teach their

children to act in responsible, polite, and considerate ways when things are not going their way.

This is the true test of character.

With that being said, a child's character development in youth sports is largely dependent

on coaches. Coaches lay the foundation for how they would like their team to be run. As

O’Sullivan says in his website, “change the game'', he believes that “coaches are supposed to

build relationships that focus on social-emotional development with winning as a byproduct”

(O’Sullivan). When coaches focus on this social-emotional development, kids are no longer

focusing on just the sport. Kids become aware of the standards being held and learn how to

handle them. This builds up character in enormous ways. It teaches them how to be respectful to
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those around them, teaches them teamwork, and the value of kindness. All critically important in

the development of character. But this all begins based on the foundation that a coach puts before

a team. As Ohlsson Walker says, “equipping coaches of character with the skills, tools, and

mindsets to optimize the potential in all of our diverse youth” (Ohlsson Walker) is important.

The power that a coach has on the youth is greatly expressed in the documentary on

Netflix called Undefeated, a true story on the development of a team in a highly poverty oriented

community in North Memphis. A new coach, Coach Bill Courtney, steps into a role as the head

football coach of Manassas High School. He steps into the role with a team that does not have

enough players to play a game at the beginning of the season and he transforms the team into

something quite incredible, he helps to give his players an undefeated season up until the last

game. But in this process he teaches the kids an immense amount of things that cannot be taught

anywhere else. He teaches them about character and having a good reputation. And the lessons

that Coach Bill Courtney taught these kids helped them in ways that are incredible. In a rough

part of town where college was not probable, fights were daily, and a rough upbringing was

normal, he gave them a future when a future was not anything they could ever dream of. But

most importantly, he gave them hope in a time when they needed it most. Sports have lasting

impacts. And they are not just about winning and losing. They help children cope and receive

vital information. Being a part of the team Coach Bill Courtney created was a blessing to each of

them. The lessons learned and the character built from a sport will leave a child with a legacy

that will be respected and valued. And at the end of Undefeated, Coach Bill Courtney went up to

one of his players and said, “I was the luckiest guy to have coached you in the last four years, we

don't do anything, we haven't accomplished anything, anything without you. I love you… Now

you go from here and make a life for yourself… You do not look back” he said (Undefeated,
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Coach Bill Courtney). Coach Bill Courtney cared and appreciated his players, he wanted the

absolute best for them and nothing less. And this type of character he emitted was powerful. If

every child could have a coach like Coach Bill Courtney, an immeasurable amount of respect,

discipline, passion and hard work would be running through America. Character is taught, it is

learned, and it is one of the most impactful things in a human's life.

Fig. 1 This picture of the Manassas Tigers team shows the team standing together with their

heads held high. With passion, determination and love for their teammates. A true representation

of character and what a team is.

Lastly, sports can bring out the best in children for the years that follow. By creating a

positive environment that encourages moral character and performance character, kids will create

a new ideology that will prepare them for the life experiences ahead of them. Keener, “the

President and Chief of little league international” (Keener) says, it is the process that leads to

winning that helps build character. Throughout the development of a team, a team must learn to
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work together and learn teamwork, leadership and sportsmanship to become successful. Keener

also goes on to say that these relationships and bonds go much farther than the sport. It helps

develop children to be good citizens and translates to later on encounters in life (Keener). Having

a head start on how to work and communicate in a group or on an individual level is so

important. It prepares children for scholarly environments where they have to work in groups

and will also help to prepare them for when the time comes for them to interview for a job.

Sports also teach responsibility and time management at a young age, this will make children

more susceptible to hiring by having these characteristics and skill sets. And as they go through

life it will keep them on track for completing everyday tasks. Sports also teaches children how to

work towards a goal. Having a determined mindset and a strong work ethic at any age is super

valuable and is greatly needed in today's world.

In conclusion, sports are about more than a win or loss, they teach the development of a

child. Not just physically but mentally. It gives a child hope, spirit and a good foundation. And

through youth sports character can be instilled at a young age. These valuable character traits are

powerful. And they carry on through life. Learning from coaches and parents at a youthful age is

beyond beneficial and needs to be encouraged throughout the world. So we can form more

relationships and encourage this healthy behavior of encouraging moral character and

performance character. No matter what activity level a child is on, whether it be competitive or

recreational there is something out there for everyone.

Works Cited

Agans, Jennifer P., et al. “Peer Motivational Climate and Character Development: Testing a

Practitioner-Developed Youth Sport Model.” Journal of Adolescence, vol. 62, Jan. 2018,

pp. 108–15. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2017.11.008.

American Psychological Association Division 47’s Science Committee. Moral and Character

Development . SPORTPSYCH Works - APA Divisions, May 2015,

https://www.apadivisions.org/division-47/publications/sportpsych-works/character-devel

opment.pdf.

HUITT, WILLIAM G., and GORDON G. VESSELS. "Character Development." Encyclopedia

of Education, edited by James W. Guthrie, 2nd ed., vol. 1, Macmillan Reference USA,

2003, pp. 259-263. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3403200101/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid

=a230023e. Accessed 20 Mar. 2022.

Keener, Stephen D. “Can Playing Ball Be Bad for Children?” The New York Times, The New

York Times, 10 Oct. 2013,

https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/10/10/childrens-sportslife-balance/sports-t

each-kids-valuable-lessons.
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Krohe, Burk. “Doctoral Student Pete Paciorek Connects Character Education and Sports.” UMSL

Daily, 6 Oct. 2021, https://blogs.umsl.edu/news/2021/10/06/pete-paciorek/.

Ohlsson Walker, Dr. Sheila. “Coaches of Character: Optimizing Positive Youth Development

Through Sport.” Character.org, 1 Oct. 2020,

https://character.org/coach-of-character-optimize-positive-youth-development/.

O'Sullivan, John. “Do Sports Actually Teach Character?” Changing the Game Project, 6 Oct.

2019, https://changingthegameproject.com/do-sports-actually-teach-character/.

"Team-building tips from the top." Washington Times [Washington, DC], 5 Oct. 2003, p. D03.

Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/A108554100/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=d

1ea3642. Accessed 20 Mar. 2022.

"Undefeated", Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin, Zipper Bros Films, Five Smooth Stones

Productions, and Level 22 Productions, 2011.