The “Sports Builds Character” Myth

“Sports builds character” is a creed that has long been defended by proponents of sporting activities. 

However, with numerous examples of questionable, if not unethical, behavior prominent in the world of sports today, there are many who are questioning the validity of such a statement. 

In the past, character building through sports was almost automatically accepted, but in recent years, there has been some debate over whether sports actually build character or simply reveal it. 

At CSPN we believe that “Coaches Build Character”. That is why we have chosen this as a motto. 

Character building through the sporting activity itself is not automatic. In his book, The Coach, Ralph Sabock says, “It is possible that sport itself does not teach youngsters anything, but rather, they learn things from the adult who provides the leadership. Sad to say, not every coach understands this.” 

The process of character development through sports must be intentional. It doesn’t “just happen.”

Coaches need to be committed to building character “on purpose” even if it means their teams struggle sometimes on the scoreboard. In order to see character built in the lives of the young people who participate in competitive sports there must be committed coaches who “see the big picture” and have a broad perspective of the value and experience of competitive athletics. 

The development of character through sports must rely on coaches who are committed to it more than they are committed to building their programs, their resumes, or their reputations. They must be committed to building young lives regardless of the wins and losses. 

Unfortunately, many coaches now exist in an environment in which their job security is dependent upon winning. Character development of their athletes is of secondary importance to winning and keeping their jobs. Most of these coaches are at the elite levels of competition and there are numerous examples of the poor character shown by these elite athletes. 

However, this atmosphere of “winning is all that matters” has trickled down into the lower levels of sport and has begun to corrupt the development of character there. This compromise in the area of character development through sports is a trend that will be difficult to reverse. 

CSPN is up to the challenge of transforming the culture of competition. A new generation of coaches is desperately needed. A generation that believes that “Coaches Build Character.”