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International Coach Education Conference Proceedings

Impact of Sports on National Culture

Michael S. Josephson
Josephson Institute of Ethics, USA

At its best, athletic competition can hold intrinsic value for a society as a symbol of a great deal: pursuing victory with honour.

Because the love of sports is deeply embedded in the national consciousness of many societies, the values of millions of participants and spectators are directly and dramatically influenced by the values conveyed by organised sports.

Above and beyond other responsibilities to pursue victory for their own teams or organisations, athletes, coaches, athletic administrators, team executives and boards and game officials have a duty to assure that their sport is conducted in a manner that promotes high ethics and good sportsmanship fosters good character.

The higher the visibility, the higher the duty.

Negative actions that undermine the positive impact of sports

On field cheating – such as equipment or field tampering, use of performance enhancing drugs and deliberate rules violations

Unsportsmanlike conduct – such as taunting, disrespectful celebrations, whining or complaining, selfish conduct/no teamwork

Discrediting off-field conduct – such as criminal conduct especially acts of violence, vandalism, drugs, drunken driving and other behaviour that discredits the sport, the team or otherwise sets a bad example for youngsters who look up to the coach or athlete.

Mission and values: Five models of sports

1. Recreational model: fun and enjoyment
2. Educational model: personal development
3. Pride and glory
4. Business model: money
5. Personal career model

Trustworthiness

• Honour the letter and spirit of rules
• Never cheat
• Don't lie or deceive in communications or representations
• Don't fake injuries
• Candor: sometimes call plays against oneself

Respect

• Win and lose with class
• Demonstrate appreciation of opponent
• Help a fallen opponent
• Shake hands with or cheer opponents with sincere respect
• Don't fight with opponents
• Don't permit taunting or trash talking
• Don't use profanity
• Assist opponent
• Otherwise show and require respect for athletes, teammates, officials, parents and fans.

Responsibility

• Exercise self control
• Pursue excellence
• Develop and maintain competence
• Provide for the safety and welfare of athletes – protect athletes against physical abuse, sexual harassment or exploitation and prepare athletes to deal with temptations and pressures
• Be a positive role model
• Maintain the integrity of the sport
• Maintaining safe and respectful conditions – protect visitors, regulate spirit groups, regulate spectators, create a positive environment.

Sportsmanship vs Gamesmanship

Much of the disparity in viewpoint as to what is required of an ethical coach or athlete is a direct result of one's philosophy about the very nature of sport. There are two major models of sport based on very different values and assumptions: the sportsmanship model and the gamesmanship model.

Gamesmanship

Under the gamesmanship model, all that really matters is winning.

Gamesmanship approaches adopt the values of marketplace, encouraging and sanctioning clever and effective ways of bending, evading and breaking the rules when it provides a competitive advantage is part of the game.

It's only cheating if you get caught

Gamesmanship coaches and athletes often believe that they have no ethical or sportsmanship obligation to abide by rules because it is the official's job to catch violations and impose penalties. The operational standard of gamesmanship is: 'if it works it's right', and 'its only cheating if you get caught'.

No criteria for what is acceptable

Gamesmanship coaches and athletes are pragmatists believing that ethical standards are determined by practical considerations of what works, rather than principles of what's right.

One of the serious problems with gamesmanship is there is no criteria at all for drawing a line between what is acceptable and what is not.

Examples:

• faked fouls
• illegal head start
• doctoring equipment
• surreptitious personal fouls
• physical intimidation
• espionage.

Sportsmanship

Under the sportsmanship model of sports, the way one plays the game is central.

Sport is seen as a very special activity where nobility and glory is found, not in winning, but in honourable competition in pursuit of victory.

Commitment to principles – the sportsmanship model demands a commitment to principles of scrupulous integrity (including compliance with the letter and spirit of the rules even when one could get away with violations), fair play, respectfulness and grace

Disadvantage – one who plays by the sportsmanship model is often at a substantial disadvantage when competing against others who adopt the gamesmanship theory of sport.

Must be willing to lose

In sports, as in business and politics, the more important it is to win, the higher the stakes, the harder it is to adhere to ethical standards. A true sportsman/woman must be willing to lose rather than sacrifice ethical principles – even when the stakes are high. If you are not willing to lose, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to win.

Counterfeit victories

A victory attained by cheating or other forms of unethical conduct is counterfeit. A sportsman/women believes that winning without honour is not a true victory. Coaches must remind themselves and their athletes that true sports is a process of pursuing victory with honour.

What is part of the game?

How can one know the difference between improper gamesmanship tactics and legitimate techniques and strategies that quality under the sportsmanship model?

There are two major considerations:

1. safety
2. the integrity of the game.

What is part of the game? Safety

Many rules are designed to prevent conduct that creates unnecessary risks of injury. Generally, techniques that inflict pain or endanger athletes violate the fundamental premise of athletic competition – physical intimidation, intentional injuring, tripping and similar tactics often justified as 'part of the game' introduce unacceptably dangerous elements into the game.

What is part of the game? Integrity

Every sport has developed over the years with rule refinements. The rules not only establish standards of fair play they actually define the game.

Changing the nature of the game: To correctly say that a particular tactic is 'part of the game' is to say that it is consistent with the intended nature of the game, that it doesn't introduce irrelevant or inappropriate factors that distort the outcome. Thus, gamesmanship tactics that change the nature of the game are unethical because they violate the essential integrity of the sport.

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