Sports as character-builder
Published Nov 23, 2022 12:02 am
THE VIEW FROM RIZAL
Dr. Jun Ynares
Social media and the collegiate sports sector continue to be abuzz with talks on the fate of a young varsity basketball player who was recently involved in an on-court melee.
Last we heard, the young college cager has been taken off the team by his school’s sports officials, has been suspended from classes, has been ordered by his school to do community service even as he faces a host of legal action filed against him by parties on whom he allegedly inflicted physical harm.
As a parent and as a citizen, we join the collective expression of disappointment and concern over the conduct of the said young varsity player. We echo the principle that deliberate physical violence has no place in the world of sports. The principles of “sportsmanship” include the idea that athletes are involved in “friendly competition,” and that respect for each other – including the competition – must be upheld at the highest levels particularly, and most especially, while they are in the playing arena.
We laud the move of a number of sports bodies to conduct a full investigation on the ugly incident that was seen by many on the live television coverage of the game.
While we cannot excuse nor absolve the young varsity player from accountability for what he had caused, we share the view that the responsibility of other parties for the incident must be looked into.
Sports columnist Joaquin Henson expressed this sentiment well. He wrote: it is not just the young varsity player “who is facing the brunt of the uproar but also officials who were remiss in preventing the rampage.”
Henson called attention to the fact that the varsity league concerned “had not issued a statement about its shortcoming with regard to security, lack of control in the face of violence on the court and the inability to keep the crowd from inciting aggressive behavior of players.”
One question that has been raised is the role of the coach and the coaching staff of the young varsity player’s team.
This columnist had the experience of being part of a high school varsity basketball team. We prepared for both local competition and invitation matches played in other Asian countries.
Our coach and his staff made it a point to know each of the players well – the level of our skills and knowledge of the game, as well as our ability to withstand pressure and to respond to it. Based on these, they laid out some kind of a development plan.
The plan included “building character.”
There are two types of “character” involved here – “performance character” and “moral character.” Our coach and his staff knew they had to address both. They understood that the development of both aspects of our “character” were not only essential to creating a winning team – it was part of their responsibility.
“Performance character” refers to traits like self-discipline, aggressiveness, determination, and grit. These are important because they create the mental attitude and the behavior needed for teams to have what coaches call “winning ways.”
There is one other aspect of character that our coaches made sure we developed: “moral character.” These include values like integrity, caring, and – very important – respect for others.
“Performance character” helps win games. “Moral character” helps us find our place in society, build relationships and accomplish our goals in life. Both aspects of character are formed and tested in the playing court – with the guidance of the coach.
From what we know, the young varsity player at the center of the controversy has outstanding performance character. He has high skills levels and several schools had attempted to recruit him when he graduated from high school after a remarkable stint at the junior version of the league where he played.
The question is, did his coaches help him develop moral character as well? Has there been too much emphasis on winning games that the character traits of integrity and respect for other players had been put on the side?
Is it true that there were instances when team coaches were caught on camera allegedly giving instructions to their players to deliberately physically hurt the players of the opposing team?
If yes, then some coaches may have been remiss on that one important role – to help the student-athlete develop moral character. That failure may have contributed to the sad fate of the young varsity player with whom we can only commiserate.
Henson also called attention to this. He wrote” “Not a single (league) official has even inquired about (the young varsity player’s) mental state, how he can be helped and guided.”
“The player is 23, a student-athlete with dreams of someday playing in the PBA or an overseas league,” Henson pointed out. “The indefinite ban closes a major door to his future and leaves an ugly stain on his resume’ that could ruin his life for good,” Henson added.
We believe there was a major mistake on the young player’s part – and on the part of those who should have helped him develop his moral character.
(For feedback, please email it to [email protected] or send it to Block 6 Lot 10 Sta. Barbara 1 cor. Bradley St., Mission Hills Subd., Brgy. San Roque, Antipolo City, Rizal.)
Dr. Jun Ynares
Social media and the collegiate sports sector continue to be abuzz with talks on the fate of a young varsity basketball player who was recently involved in an on-court melee.
Last we heard, the young college cager has been taken off the team by his school’s sports officials, has been suspended from classes, has been ordered by his school to do community service even as he faces a host of legal action filed against him by parties on whom he allegedly inflicted physical harm.
As a parent and as a citizen, we join the collective expression of disappointment and concern over the conduct of the said young varsity player. We echo the principle that deliberate physical violence has no place in the world of sports. The principles of “sportsmanship” include the idea that athletes are involved in “friendly competition,” and that respect for each other – including the competition – must be upheld at the highest levels particularly, and most especially, while they are in the playing arena.
We laud the move of a number of sports bodies to conduct a full investigation on the ugly incident that was seen by many on the live television coverage of the game.
While we cannot excuse nor absolve the young varsity player from accountability for what he had caused, we share the view that the responsibility of other parties for the incident must be looked into.
Sports columnist Joaquin Henson expressed this sentiment well. He wrote: it is not just the young varsity player “who is facing the brunt of the uproar but also officials who were remiss in preventing the rampage.”
Henson called attention to the fact that the varsity league concerned “had not issued a statement about its shortcoming with regard to security, lack of control in the face of violence on the court and the inability to keep the crowd from inciting aggressive behavior of players.”
One question that has been raised is the role of the coach and the coaching staff of the young varsity player’s team.
This columnist had the experience of being part of a high school varsity basketball team. We prepared for both local competition and invitation matches played in other Asian countries.
Our coach and his staff made it a point to know each of the players well – the level of our skills and knowledge of the game, as well as our ability to withstand pressure and to respond to it. Based on these, they laid out some kind of a development plan.
The plan included “building character.”
There are two types of “character” involved here – “performance character” and “moral character.” Our coach and his staff knew they had to address both. They understood that the development of both aspects of our “character” were not only essential to creating a winning team – it was part of their responsibility.
“Performance character” refers to traits like self-discipline, aggressiveness, determination, and grit. These are important because they create the mental attitude and the behavior needed for teams to have what coaches call “winning ways.”
There is one other aspect of character that our coaches made sure we developed: “moral character.” These include values like integrity, caring, and – very important – respect for others.
“Performance character” helps win games. “Moral character” helps us find our place in society, build relationships and accomplish our goals in life. Both aspects of character are formed and tested in the playing court – with the guidance of the coach.
From what we know, the young varsity player at the center of the controversy has outstanding performance character. He has high skills levels and several schools had attempted to recruit him when he graduated from high school after a remarkable stint at the junior version of the league where he played.
The question is, did his coaches help him develop moral character as well? Has there been too much emphasis on winning games that the character traits of integrity and respect for other players had been put on the side?
Is it true that there were instances when team coaches were caught on camera allegedly giving instructions to their players to deliberately physically hurt the players of the opposing team?
If yes, then some coaches may have been remiss on that one important role – to help the student-athlete develop moral character. That failure may have contributed to the sad fate of the young varsity player with whom we can only commiserate.
Henson also called attention to this. He wrote” “Not a single (league) official has even inquired about (the young varsity player’s) mental state, how he can be helped and guided.”
“The player is 23, a student-athlete with dreams of someday playing in the PBA or an overseas league,” Henson pointed out. “The indefinite ban closes a major door to his future and leaves an ugly stain on his resume’ that could ruin his life for good,” Henson added.
We believe there was a major mistake on the young player’s part – and on the part of those who should have helped him develop his moral character.
(For feedback, please email it to [email protected] or send it to Block 6 Lot 10 Sta. Barbara 1 cor. Bradley St., Mission Hills Subd., Brgy. San Roque, Antipolo City, Rizal.)