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Excellence Through Sportsmanship

CoachesEducatorsParents

Two young boys shaking hands before a wrestling meet.Is there a difference between “winning” and “striving to win”?

If you ask author David Light Shields, the answer is a definitive ‘yes’. Founder and executive director of non-profit TrueCompetition.org and author of True Competition: A Guide to Pursuing Excellence in Sport and Society, Shields recently spoke to TrueSport about the relation between competition and pursuing excellence through sportsmanship.

 

The Goal of Youth Sport

“Developing your own excellence should be the goal of sport,” Shields said. “I’m all for winning, but if you’re focused on self-excellence, chances are you’ll do as well as you can in the game. If that effort produces a win, that’s great. But the idea that you could be called a failure for losing a game is the problem with sports’ emphasis on winning.”

The idea that competition is about more than winning and losing is hardly a new one.  But Shields also believes that in a proper setting, competition fosters excellence and positive character development while making success an attainable achievement for all involved.

“Focusing on achieving personal excellence puts success in the hands of everyone participating in sport, rather than those who are gifted at a particular talent,” he explains.

 

The Pursuit of Excellence, With Your Opposition

An example of this came in summer of 2011, when the sports blogosphere was abuzz when it discovered that NBA stars LeBron James and Kevin Durant were spending time in the offseason training together. “We pushed each other every day,” James said to ESPN. “At the time, I envisioned us getting to (the Finals) against each other.”

While it’s important to note James’ comment recognizes the goal to reach the NBA Finals, it’s even more important to note his desire to see Durant on the other side of the court facing him. He may be rooting for himself to take home the trophy, but he’s also rooting for—and helping—his opponent to be there with him. In James’ pursuit to “strive for greatness,” he sought the help of an opponent, which eventually pitted them against each other in the 2017 NBA Finals.

The idea of two competitors joining forces to improve one another is still foreign even to some high-profile athletes like Kevin Garnett. It may still cause others to ask, “why would you work with someone you’re trying to beat?”

Shortly after, Bleacher Report writer Stephen Babb offered a rebuttal to these critics, arguing that, “When you’re playing at this kind of level, it’s hard to find a peer group. Most of the players who even begin to rival them in talent are point guards like Chris Paul or Rajon Rondo. If you’re 6’8″ all-world, MVP-caliber swingman, who’s going to make you better right now?”

When it comes to general strength or fitness, both James and Durant can train and improve individually. But how else are they expected to improve their overall game-play skills if they are not continuing to play against the best players possible?

 

Redefining Success

Shields’ mindset can be compared to that of John Wooden, who famously remarked that “success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best that you are capable of becoming.” In striving for personal excellence, athletes maximize their opportunities for success. In some case that personal success culminates in a victory, while in other cases it can still end in defeat.

A great example of this was goalkeeper Tim Howard’s performance against Belgium in the knockout stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Despite making the most saves in a World Cup match since they became an official statistic in 2002, the loss eliminated the Americans from the tournament. But afterwards it wasn’t the disappointing result that was being discussed among fans, players, and broadcasters; it was instead the excellence that Howard displayed.

By turning one’s attention to personal excellence as opposed to a game’s outcome, one may begin to look at fellow competitors in a different light. Competition requires two sides, and Shields elaborates further, saying, “The motivation to pursue excellence, which requires an opponent who is performing well, will bring out our best much better than simply desiring to win, even if the desire for victory is quite strong.”

 

Pursuing Excellence Through Sportsmanship at The Youth Level

The LeBron-Durant  partnership, says Shields in his book, enables both to strive for excellence together. This form of true competition also exemplifies the positive character development and sportsmanship Shields references in his book and that so many try to champion at the youth level. As Babb explained in his article, “We should be happy that a rivalry has turned out to be so cordial. We should want to see the same thing when our kids are competing, and the notion that two beloved superstars are actually modeling this kind of sportsmanship is refreshing.”

When we turn our attention to pursuing excellence as opposed to pursuing victories, we better ourselves as athletes and as individuals while deepening our love and passion for sport. That mindset can be carried over to life long after our playing days are over. By understanding that success and failure isn’t measured by wins and losses, but by achieving personal excellence, we give ourselves the best opportunity to succeed in sport and in life.

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Goal-Setting Lesson Video Transcript

Hi. I’m Trevon, Trey, Jennifer. Team USA wheelchair basketball player, paralympian, and true sport athlete. Today, I want to talk to you about goal setting. And there are three things that I would like you to know. First, successful athletes set goals and a planned roadmap. Second, goals should be written down, assessed over time, and changed if necessary. And third, goals need to be challenging in order to be worthwhile. As a freshmen at Edinboro University, I was a part of a team that made the national championship game. And at that time I recognized I was the low man on the totem pole, but I felt in my heart that I knew my dreams were so much bigger than winning a national title. I wanted to make Team USA. I knew what achieving my lofty goal was not going to be easy and that I would need to work hard every day.

So, as a reminder, I created a pyramid of goals that I kept right above my bed. This pyramid reminded me of the accomplishments that I was working towards and visually represented my need to create a solid foundation underneath me before reaching the top. In the bottom roll of my pyramid of goals I listed goals such as obtaining my bachelor’s degree, becoming a scholar athlete award recipient, and becoming an All-American. The middle row listed winning a national title and playing for a professional team. And at the top row, the most challenging of them all, I listed becoming a gold medalist for Team USA.

By understanding that there are smaller stepping stones to achieving my ultimate goal of being on Team USA, I was able to stay motivated and to stay focused on completing the smaller stepping stones fully before moving onto the next one. Now I’ll be the first to admit that not every goal that I listed on my pyramid was accomplished, but seeing my goals every day when I went to bed, I was able to push through the days that I felt like doing nothing in hopes of achieving the bigger picture. Remember, create a clear goal roadmap, assess your goals often, and continue to challenge yourself. I hope that you never stopped dreaming big or reaching for the stars. And I look forward to seeing where your roadmap takes you.

Body Image Lesson Video Transcript

Hi, I’m Kara Winger, Olympic javelin thrower, and true sport athlete. Today I want to talk to you about body image and I have three things I’d like you to know. First, healthy thoughts often lead to healthier bodies. Second, there are varying body types and no one’s body is exactly like another. And third, true beauty goes deeper than the skin. As a multi-time Olympian, I’ve experienced a lot of variation and progression in my training. My coaches and I adapt to my training frequently, all with the goal of supporting my long-term success and health in the sport of javelin. I’m talking to you about body image today because sometimes even with the best of intentions and a common goal in mind, the changes you make to your training habits can prove to be detrimental if made for the wrong reasons. In the lead up to the 2012 Olympic trials, I was told in order to improve my performance on the field, I should try to become a leaner, skinnier version of myself.

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A Good Sport Lesson Video Transcript

Hi, I’m Izy Isaksen, Team USA, Modern Pentathlon, Olympian, US Army Sergeant, and True Sport Ambassador. Today, I want to talk to you about being a good sport. There are three things I’d like you to know. First, real winners act the same toward their opponent, whether they win or lose. Second, follow the rules and be a gracious winner and respectful loser. And third, sportsmanship reveals your true character.

I started competing in Modern Pentathlon eight years after my older sister and three-time Olympian, Margaux Isaksen, began competing. I soon realized that people often compared the two of us. I would overhear spectators and teammates asking, “Who’s the better athlete,” and “Who’s going to beat the other.” Instead of letting outside pressures create a negative experience for us, I chose to practice winning and losing with grace and respect. I know that it would have been easy to let our hyper competitive mindset affect our relationship, but instead we decided to support and cheer for each other, regardless of our own performance. My experience of competing against and being compared to my older sister, taught me to focus on how to perform at my best, rather than putting wasted energy into wishing for others to fail.

I believe that sportsmanship reveals true character. So, no matter what situation I encounter during competition, I know it’s important to always treat people with respect and be a good sport. Remember, be a fierce competitor, find grace in all your victories and losses. And I hope to see you out there.

What Kind of Coach Do You Want to Be? Video Transcript

Edwin Moses: You’re a coach. Maybe what you want is very simple, for everyone to just run in the right direction, score for their own team, to try and try again and again. Maybe you want your athletes to become all stars. You want them to earn trophies, medals, win titles. You want them to reach the highest height their sport allows. And wanting all of that, of course, that’s good. But as every great coach discovers, developing a great athlete means nurturing, nurturing the even greater person within. Truth is, you have even more influence than you know.

You have the ability to affect even deeper change, to take what’s in your hands and do something even more extraordinary. You can be both the coach who provides the skills needed to win the game and the coach who helps them learn and succeed beyond the sport, to become all stars wherever they land in the future, and to enjoy their lives more now, because the confidence and courage they find working with you will stay with them when they need it the most. There are games to be won, lives to change. Coaches have the power to do both.

I’m Edwin Moses, and the lessons I’ve learned through sport have challenged me, guided me, and shaped my life forever. What kind of coach do you want to be?

THE SIMPLE TRUTH: DECODING THE SUPPLEMENT INDUSTRY VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

At first glance, dietary supplements look the same. They seem safe and healthy, but just because the label says a product is a dietary supplement, that doesn’t mean it’s safe. Unfortunately, you can’t tell whether a product is safe or not just by looking at the label. Most vitamins, minerals, fish oil, and other supplements containing nutrients are probably just fine, but supplements are not evaluated or approved by FDA before they are sold. Although it is rare for vitamins or minerals to be contaminated with drugs, there has been at least one case of a vitamin containing an anabolic steroid.

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When you pick up a supplement, especially one that promises performance enhancement, you don’t know if it belongs in the “Mostly O.K.” pile or in the “Dangerous” pile. After all, two products might look the same, but one might contain just amino acids and other legitimate ingredients, while the other also contains anabolic steroids. Because of this, FDA has issued a warning about certain categories of supplements: body building products, weight loss products, and sexual enhancement products. Be extremely careful when considering a supplement in one of these categories. We strongly recommend that you avoid products in these categories.

Even when FDA tests supplements and finds dangerous ingredients, companies sometimes refuse to recall them. Sometimes, they simply repackage their product and continue selling it under a new name. Just because a product is on a store shelf doesn’t mean it is safe. You need to do your research and be an informed consumer. The dietary supplement industry is enormous. Supplements that appear to be safe could actually be dangerous products in disguise. If you use dietary supplements without doing your research, you may be taking serious risks with your health and your career. Please visit USADA’s Supplement 411 for more information about dietary supplements.