The Ten Christian Virtues and Civic Responsibilities for Coaches and Leaders of Sport in the 21st Century

Ethics and Sportsmanship

Abstract

Coaches and sports leaders are responsible for fulfilling their roles ethically and with integrity.  The Ten Christian Virtues and Civic Responsibilities for Coaches and Leaders of Sport in the 21st Century describe the characteristics of exemplary leaders in sport.  Three of the most important virtues are poised, relentless, and enthusiastic. The first virtue, or responsibility, poised means coaches and leaders maintain composure and dignity.  The second virtue or responsibility is relentless, it means coaches and leaders are determined to do something and refuse to give up. The last virtue, or responsibility, is enthusiastic, which means coaches and leaders show great passion and joy for what they do. 

Christian Virtue and Civic Responsibility

Coaches and athletic administrators are leaders and models for good sportsmanship and ethical behavior. They are responsible for upholding the codes of conduct, standards of behavior, and integrity of all program members, from the coaches and support staff to the student-athletes. For this reason, those who lead and set an example for others must clearly understand the virtues and civic responsibilities they are to uphold. The Ten Christian Virtues and Civic Responsibilities of Coaches and Administrators as Leaders of Sport in the 21st Century serve as a guideline for the men and women who teach, coach, and lead (Appendix H). Poised, relentless, and enthusiastic are virtues and responsibilities essential for coaches and leaders today. 

Poised

The word poised comes from poise, which is defined as “easy self-possessed assurance of manner : gracious tact in coping or handling” (Merriam-Webster, n.d., Def. 2a). As a coach and leader, it is important to maintain poise at all times. “Great leaders exude a sense of dignified composure when times get tough. Swearing and fits of anger in the heat of battle shows diminished balance and never impresses those who have to listen” (Vieselmeyer,2022b, para. 6). Players and parents of players are committed to coaches who show poise on the sidelines or dugout. Coaches who demonstrate rage, shout inappropriate words at the officials, and turn to the players to shout at them, also display poor sportsmanship. 

Mike Candrea is one of the most respected coaches in the softball nation. Candrea coached softball at Arizona for thirty-six years, and is known for his public poise and style of play. Candrea coached the USA softball team to Gold in 2004 and Silver in 2008. 

Coaches and leaders have a responsibility to the organization that they represent. They must maintain their composure and self-control as they represent the school and the team. Failure to remain poised may result in loss of donations and membership, or affect recruitment and player development. Coaches instill life lessons in athletes, keeping composure and dealing with emotions is one of many lessons. Coaches cannot expect athletes to maintain composure if it is not modeled in front of them. Teaching the youth about maintaining composure, is helping them in their future. As adults and parents then will need to remain calm when children who are learning to drive put a dent in the car. As an employee, they will maintain self-control when a coworker or supervisor is angry and falsely accuses them of failing to meet a deadline or obligation.  

Enthusiastic

The word enthusiastic comes from enthusiasm, which is defined as “a strong excitement of feeling” (Merriam-Webster. n.d. Def. 1a). Coaches and leaders that demonstrate excitement, high energy, and passion for the sport motivate the players. “Great teams demonstrate enthusiasm” (Brown, 2003, p. 90). Enthusiastic coaches motivate players to work hard, enjoy the game, and reach their potential athletically and personally. Enthusiasm is an important attribute as it demonstrates the love of the game. Enthusiasm comes from “en theos” which is the Greek word for “in God” (Vieselmeyer, 2022a, Video Presentation). Philippians 4:13 said, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Coaches and leaders need to find the strength to coach and bring enthusiasm.

Earl Weaver was the Baltimore, Orioles skipper for seventeen seasons. Weaver is known for his very enthusiastic ways with umpires, players, and staff. Weaver was animated, loud, and a genius. He was a smart baseball coach, who knew how to push his players and make smart moves. Weaver was passionate about the game and brought life onto the field. 

“The profession of coaching is an awesome privilege and responsibility. A quality athletic experience should make a significant contribution to the life of each individual participant” (Brown, 2003, p. 81). Coaches and leaders are responsible for teaching and modeling enthusiasm. They remind players that this virtue is important in sports and in their lives as adults. As parents, they will be excited and enthusiastic about their children’s accomplishments, academic success, and participation in sports, music, scouts, community service, and clubs. As employees, adults look forward to being with coworkers and approach tasks in their job description with eagerness and energy. As a result, they have a positive attitude, accomplish more, and build lasting relationships. 

Relentless

The word relentless can be defined as “showing or promising no abatement of severity, intensity, strength, or pace” (Merriam-Webster. n.d. Def. 1). To be relentless, the players need to have coaches and leaders who demonstrate enthusiasm and poise. Coaches demonstrate work ethic, communication, enthusiasm, poise, and more by modeling and shaping these athletes. 

George Herman Ruth, who is also known as Babe, The Great Bambino, Sultan of Swat, and The Caliph of Clout, is a prime example of someone who was relentless. Babe was born in (Pigtown) Baltimore, Maryland. One of eight children, he had limited supervision and got into trouble many times. In grade school, Babe was sent to St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys, which provided the strict and orderly environment that he needed. There Babe grew a passion and love of baseball. Babe was relentless with baseball. The brothers from the school had the Baltimore Orioles owner come watch him play, and Babe signed a contract to play ball. He was a powerhouse, on the field and at bat, he could do no wrong in the game of baseball. 

Relentless players persevere through difficult practices, games, and the pain of injuries. This also teaches them to be relentless in life, school, relationships, and in God. Babe Ruth once said, “You can’t beat the person up who won’t give up” (Vieselmeyer, D. 2022b). Coaches and leaders do not want their players or teams to give up and quit. They need to have the desire and drive to fight for what they want. 

Conclusion

The Ten Christian Virtues and Civic Responsibilities for Coaches and Leaders of Sport in the 21st Century described the characteristics of exemplary leaders in sport.  Coaches and sports leaders are responsible for living and coaching in accordance with the virtues and responsibilities. They teach and model all the virtues; however, enthusiastic, relentless, and poised are most important for leaders in sports today.