When I was speaking to my wife recently about emphasizing virtues more in how I approach my sports coaching, she mentioned that she had read recently that the term “virtue” was now seen as old-fashioned in some circles.
I am not certain if this is true for some, but I am encouraged to see that my research appears to show more and more sports associations, teams, and leagues are emphasizing the teaching of virtues, even if not always using that word.
There may be many reasons for this trend, including the noted cases of bullying and abuse by sports coaches or the poor unvirtuous example of many high-profile athletes.
To get certification as a sports coach and supervisor in Canada now requires taking a course on respect in sport. Many of the leaders in virtue training are Christian and more specifically Catholic sports organizations.
With the significance sports plays in the life of youth today, the popularity of virtue-based training is great, and parents should consider this when deciding where to register their child. Here are just a few examples of groups who operate with this as at least a part of their mission.
Agape Tennis Academy in Georgia. Their mission is “HEART”: Honesty, Excellence, Attitude, Responsibility, Teamwork. They believe that while you may not always be a player you will be a person. Amy Pazahanick is the CEO of Agape, which offers workshops, after-school programs, seminars, and community programs aimed at getting kids to reach higher and learn their purpose for the betterment of society. This group has won numerous state awards.
Growing Champions for Life is a rapidly expanding American project that helps provide training for coaches and parents to help the child’s sports experience. Founder David Benzel states that “countless families are not having an enjoyable youth sports experience,” which should include having fun, grasping sports-specific skills, and learning life-long lessons.
SportsLeader is an organization that I personally communicated with and have obtained much of my teaching methodology from. This Catholic program has as its motto “Virtue equals strength,” which was originally produced for coaches, athletes, and directors of sports ministry at all ages and levels. After their initial success in many Catholic schools in Kentucky, Ohio, and New Jersey, the project has spread through parts of North America and is being utilized outside Catholic schools in larger numbers. Virtue, mentoring, ceremony, and Catholic identity are SportsLeader’s four pillars. Forming leaders and teaching virtues are the goals, as each practice, game, and training session focuses on a particular virtue of the week (e.g., humility, courage, persistence, fortitude, sportsmanship).
Catholic Athletes for Christ is an organization that deals with the faith-based needs of Catholic professional athletes and has many prominent athlete speakers who make presentations throughout the world. The group has significant involvement with high school athletes as well.
The Association of Catholic Coaches & Athletes provides young athletes a chance to develop in their sport and faith at the same time. “I have always wanted to do faith-based camps,” says founder Barry Dean. Mass and Catholic testimonials are part of the camp each day, and all instructors are practising Catholics. Their goal is to “educate, honor, inspire and evangelize coaches and athletes.” It is hoped that these individuals in turn will serve others.
Varsity Catholic is aimed at university athletes. The goal is to mentor athletes in building their relationship with God. They help athletes pursue excellence in all four areas of their life – sports, academics, relationships, and personal inner life. University of Mary in North Dakota has implemented the “Greatness through Virtue” theme into its athletic program. The athletic curriculum has returned to emphasizing the development of character as the first priority for all athletes at the school.
Many well-written articles and books on virtue in sport have been published in recent years. These are a few that I recommend:
“Cultivating Virtue Through Sports,” an article for Our Sunday Visitor by Patti Maguire Armstrong, argues that, with proper focus, sports can put athletes on a path to eternal life. She references the sportsman Pope St. John Paul II, who likened Christian life to an athletic contest directed to “the perfection of character, toward a goal which realizes in our humanity the ‘measure of Christ’s gift’ (Eph 4:7).”
The Book of Sports Virtues by Fritz Knapp details famous athletes’ stories in overcoming challenges and developing specific virtues. How to Coach Virtue First: A Guidebook to Relational Coaching is easy-to-read material from the Virtue First Foundation. Last I mention Youth Sport and Spirituality by Patrick Kelly, a book that looks at remedies to the unsportsmanlike nature of sports today.
Many sports circles are clearly recognizing we need to refocus on virtue development in our children’s sports. I urge parents to ask around about which programs best build virtue and to remind your sport association that you would like to see this as a priority.