Coaching for Character (Paperback)

~ Craig Clifford (Author), Randolph Feezell (Author) "The best place to start this process is with your own experience..." (more)
Key Phrases: teaching sportsmanship, respect for teammates, mutual striving, Coach Skeptical, John Wooden, Bjorn Borg (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"

""Clifford and Feezell have done an excellent job of identifying that fine line that exists between participation-only and win-at-all-costs attitudes. This is must-reading for ALL coaches, but especially for those younger coaches just entering the profession. This book really made me think about the expectations I have for our players, both on and off the basketball floor.""
Lon Kruger
Head Men's Basketball Coach
University of Illinois

""The educational purpose of high school athletics and fine arts programs must be about more than teaching a young person to hit a curve ball or throw a perfect spiral or play an instrument or even earn a scholarship. Our No. 1 goal should be developing good people for our country--good citizens who will contribute to the quality of life in America and the world. Through this book and our NFICEP Citizenship Through Sports training, we will be better able to accomplish this mission.""
Robert F. Kanaby
Executive Director
National Federation of State High School Associations

"

Product Description

This guide provides coaches with a valuable tool to help them understand the basic principles of sportsmanship.

Combining years of coaching and teaching experience, Clifford and Feezell provide clear guidelines to help coaches teach their players respect for

• opponents,

• teammates and team,

• officials,

• coaches, and

• the rules and traditions of the game.

Coaches' responsibilities as models and educators are brought to life through real-life situations that confront them on and off the field. The authors provide numerous questions that help readers to become more reflective about sport. The book also urges coaches and athletes to strive for a healthy balance between the playful side of sport and the seriousness of competition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Human Kinetics (June 20, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0880115122
• ISBN-13: 978-0880115124
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #928,151 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A philosophy of sportsmanship, January 31, 2001

By	Stosh D. Walsh (near Chicago, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is written by two philosophy professors who also have some experience in sport (one in archery, the other in baseball). Their philosophy bias is clear throughout the book, as they take time to define the term "sportsmanship," and explain why it has value in terms of respecting teammates, officials, coaches, and the game itself. The book does raise some relevant and specific questions, (for example: "Is it ever acceptable to give less than a best effort to conserve energy?" and "Explain the difference between respecting an opponent and liking an opponent.") mostly in the "time for reflection" portions that are interspersed throughout the book, but it falls short in that its arguments are very much idea-based and conceptual rather than suggestions for practical application. The appendix does provide some practical advice, but it is included almost as an afterthought rather than a priority. The book does well to provoke thought and provide the "why," but the "how" is left almost completely to the reader. It is for this reason that I think the book would have been better had it been titled "A Philosophy of Sportsmanship" or something to that effect.