“Go Hawks, Beat State!” and its counterpart will be oft-uttered phrases when the two teams compete throughout the year. The purpose of competition, it is oft-believed, is beating our opponent and hopefully by a wide point margin. Our value as individuals, and the value of our team, is derived from the result of competition. Coach Joe Ehrmann, however, offers another definition of competition below.

“The root word of ‘competition’ is the Latin word ‘petere’ meaning to search or strive for. Most often it is used in the context of striving or searching for something of value or excellence. The preposition ‘com’ means together. So, literally, competition can be defined as a ‘mutual quest or striving for excellence.’ It is more process oriented than outcome oriented, whereby competitors strive together or with each other to bring out the best by presenting a worthy challenge.”

“Competition, therefore, is not defined by winning or losing, but by the degree to which all competitors realize their fullest potential. Since true competition is a ‘mutual quest for excellence,’ there are no winners and losers; everyone who competes wins. This cooperative sense of competition is a value-driven process that leads to respect for others, personal and team integrity, and justice and fairness.” -Joe Ehrmann, InSideOut Coaching: How Sports can Transform Lives, pg. 213

After reading Coach Hermann’s definition, think about the best games you have ever watched. What made those games great? Were most of the games blowouts or examples of two teams playing to their highest potential? Would you rather your team beat a good opponent in a competitive game or blowout an underdog?

Be proud to be a Hawkeye or Cyclone and cheer loud for your team. Always remember excellence can only be reached when both teams maximize their potential. Cheer for your team, not against the other.

Click here to learn more about character education.

Watch the video and then ask your kids how you can best support them at sporting events (or other activities).

Via www.ILoveToWatchYouPlay.com

Click here to learn more about character education.

A 10-minute lesson for grades 2-12 (at home or school)

It’s March Madness!  Sixty-eight men’s and women’s teams enter their respective tournament and only one is crowned champion.  Can only one team be “successful?”  Are all the other teams failures?

Everyone wants to be successful, but how we define and measure success can be troublesome.  Often, people define success in ways that they cannot control.  It’s entirely possible that the team that loses in the championship game played to its absolute best and simply lost to a better team.  In that instance, if we define success as winning, then success was beyond their control.  Perhaps the officials made a poor call that gave the opposing team free throws to win the game – again, “success” was beyond their control.

So how should we define success?  John Wooden offers this definition:  “Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.”

School Activity
Ask students to brainstorm how they define success.  Put their ideas on the board.  Discuss each definition of success, and the instances in which success is defined in a way as to be out of their control.  Discuss why it is problematic to define success in ways that we cannot control.  What is a good definition of success?  How can students hold themselves accountable to doing their best “to become the best you are capable of becoming?”

Home Activity
Have a family discussion about success.  As each family member to share how they define success.  Discuss each definition of success, and the instances in which success is defined in a way as to be out of their control.  Discuss why it is problematic to define success in ways that we cannot control.  What is a good definition of success?  How can each family member hold themselves accountable to doing their best “to become the best you are capable of becoming?”

Click here to learn more about character education.

Learn more about character education.

See more character quotations in our quotations database.

Learn more about character education.

Good character in athletics is fairly common, as Lisa Brinkmeyer has begun to notice. Is this because of heavier implementation of character development in schools?

Being on staff with the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, I have the privilege to attend state tournaments year-round. We start with the State Cross Country Meet at the end of October and continue through July at the State Softball Tourney. It is encouraging and refreshing to watch good sportsmanship happen on the playing fields, tracks, courts, courses, pools and bowling alleys. It is apparent students are benefiting from the character education they have received. Rarely does a game go by without a member from one team helping up a team member from another.  Also, it is not uncommon to see a state participant telling their opponent “nice shot” or “great race.” Reflecting back on my playing days, there was no higher compliment than those that came from an opponent. To see it happening time and time again is extremely encouraging.

High school is not where the learning should begin or end. The Six Pillars of Character can be a great lesson on character education or at least a reminder for all ages. I think young people involved in the learning process can pass along valuable information to their parents and fans. Believe it or not, the loudest “grumbling” we hear at our state events comes from the stands, not the court or field.  Even my 2-year old son is exposed to character education at his daycare. The Pillars are displayed at the entrance of our daycare, highlighting six students’ pictures and a brief write-up honoring each child’s behavior.  There is no doubt the Pillars have made me more attentive to my actions by being exposed to character education through my son and my occupation.

Similarly to many young people in Iowa, the foundation of character education was instilled in my upbringing by my parents and the small community where I grew up, Hubbard, IA. Being related to a third of the town provided many watchful eyes that kept me accountable for my actions, which continuously built on my character as well. We are fortunate to have a program available like CHARACTER COUNTS! to compliment the guidance we receive from family, teachers and community members.

The CHARACTER COUNTS! program is crucial for educating  young people with the skills essential to becoming well-rounded and respectful individuals. After all, it teaches the importance of the Six Pillars: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.  It is comforting to know that the Six Pillars are helping thousands of young people become pillars of their communities.

Jim Hallihan, a board member and guest blogger, shares a story with us on the importance of communication between parents and coaches. 

For the first time ever at the Summer Iowa Games we had a fight between parents and coaches of a Gold Medal winning team in youth softball (12 and under). In the 2010 Games this same team had won the sportsmanship medals even thought they lost all the games by wide margins. So this year the coach decided to make the team more competitive  just two weeks before the Iowa Games by adding two players from other communities who were supposedly very good. Now remember these are 12 year olds.

Following the championship game a parent who was not happy with her daughter’s playing time assaulted the coach and the coach’s wife was assaulted by the unhappy parent’s niece. Three people were arrested including the coach on disorderly conduct. Even though the parent was completely out of line and probably was a problem all season long, adding players to make the team better is a recipe for disaster when you reduce playing time for those who have been on the team the entire season.

The most important thing coaches can teach is how to model the Six Pillars of Character and to develop better citizens. Communication between parents and coaches is essential with an emphasis on players learning the skills necessary to improve, having fun, as well as having an opportunity for equal playing time on the team.