“Conversations on Character in Sport”

NCAA Division III Initiative Grant – Final Report: July 1, 2002

In September 2001 the NCAA Division III Initiatives Task Force awarded the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference $39,025 to conduct multi-faceted “conversations on character” among key constituent groups throughout the conference.

NCAA funding allowed the conference to involve players, coaches, fans, officials and campus administrators in a series of steps:

Ø Review of literature and research in the area of sportsmanship in intercollegiate athletics.

Ø Completion of an attitudinal survey among key conference stakeholders as a benchmark for campus conversations and to measure changes in future years.

Ø Facilitated “conversations on character in sport” on each WIAC member campus to discuss the definition of positive sports behavior, the relative importance of the topic, accountability for behaviors in each group, and specific actions that might influence attitudes and behavior in the long term.

Ø Identification of realistic strategies as part of an action plan for implementation throughout the conference in future years.

Review of literature and research

During the review, it became clear that there is a good deal of material on youth and high school sports, but considerably less for the college community. Researchers, writers and others consulted recognize the void and have a high interest in conducting additional research and discussion related to college sports.

Several common themes emerged from the review:

1. Sports continue to shape character and remain a positive influence in society. But the traditional values and perceived worth of sportsmanship are under attack from all sides and at all levels. Incidents of unsportsmanlike (and worse) behavior are growing.

2. Because intercollegiate athletics exist within the context of higher education, declines in civility in sport should be of critical interest to educators and administrators on college campuses. Those who influence the sports environment (athletes, administrators, educators, coaches, officials, media and fans) share responsibility to understand the nature of sports, take seriously the decline in sportsmanship and ethical conduct, and take steps to safeguard the values of competition.

3. The influence of college coaches on character development and ethical conduct cannot be overstated. At issue is not whether this is good or bad for sports and society, but how coaches can be involved intentionally and intelligently, with the direct support and involvement of athletics administrators.

4. Most sportsmanship initiatives are well-intentioned but often tend to oversimplify solutions. There is general agreement on the importance of the following as cornerstones of any program:

Ø Establish a clear set of rules and expectations.

Ø Reward good behavior and penalize bad behavior, as in society.

Ø Building a comprehensive program that involves everyone who contributes to the competitive experience.

Ø Constantly repeat and practice messages of value and ethics.

Ø Communicate standards and positive examples, both internally and externally.

A 90-page summary and compilation of selected readings will be distributed by the conference office in July 2002 to each member institution.

Attitudinal survey

The WIAC attitudinal survey was completed by 1113 individuals in Fall 2001. The survey assessed current attitudes regarding sportsmanship among the constituent groups noted above and included responses from over 700 WIAC student-athletes and 130 WIAC coaches.

The survey contained three sections: (1) a section regarding attitudes about sporting behaviors , and how often people engaged in those behaviors; (2) a section assigning responsibilities for the behavior of athletes and fans; and (3) a section comparing sportsmanship in the WIAC with other colleges and professional athletics.

Results of the attitudinal survey reflected several notable points:

1. Coaches in the WIAC are viewed as having by far the greatest impact on the behavior of student-athletes, well ahead of even the players themselves or their teammates.

2. Male student-athletes generally were more tolerant than female student-athletes when rating various behaviors (e.g., faking injury to stop the clock, holding a player’s pants or jersey) as either acceptable or unacceptable.

3. Student-athletes overall were generally more tolerant than other groups surveyed when rating sports behaviors (i.e, student-athletes were less likely to rate a particular action as unsportsmanlike than non-athletes).

4. Coaches were more likely than any other group to find that coaches’ arguments with referees were acceptable.

5. WIAC players, coaches and fans were seen as having better sportsmanship than major college players, and much better than professional athletes.

Copies of the final survey findings were distributed to each member institution and the WIAC conference office in February 2002.

Campus conversations

Nine separate campus forums from December 2001 to March 2002 included campus administrators, faculty members, student-athletes, conference staff members, boosters and game officials.

At each campus, participants were asked to share thoughts about ways athletics programs contribute to the educational mission of the university. Responses centered around contributions to individual development (including physical fitness, mentoring opportunities, sense of community, and promotion of values and life skills) and contributions to the university (in terms of pride and identity, enrollment and retention, financial support, and connections to alumni and the broader community).

Campus conversations also included discussion of problems associated with each of the constituent groups:

Fans. Most participants did not feel there were serious problems with fans, and apathy was cited as a problem more often than overzealousness. A significant number of comments attributed problems to a failure on the part of fans to recognize the different role and mission of Division III athletics. Other issues raised included:

Ø Use of offensive language

Ø Hassling officials and players

Ø Overemphasis on winning; confusion of success with winning

Ø Lack of understanding of the rules

Coaches. Participants notes the tremendous influence of coaches on individual players and the overall climate in which athletics are conducted. Many felt the pressure to win too often results in problematic attitudes and behaviors. A number of specific concerns were identified, including:

Ø Modeling of poor behavior

Ø Overemphasis on winning

Ø Inappropriate treatment of players

Ø Negative or unethical recruiting

Players. Among the problems identified:

Ø Lack of emotional control

Ø Trash-talking, taunting and use of profanity

Ø Physical intimidation

Ø Talking back to fans, officials or opposing coaches

Officials. Most participants felt the overall quality of officiating was good, but a number of problems were identified, including:

Ø Inconsistency in interpretation and application of rules

Ø Lack of sufficient or clear communication with coaches or players

Ø Hidden agendas or bias toward coaches or teams

Ø Inadequate training or experience

Ø Lack of teamwork or coordination among officials

Faculty/Academic Administrators. Among the problems identified:

Ø Faulty perceptions about student-athletes’ academic goals and performance

Ø Stereotyping and unidimensional view of student-athletes

Ø Failure to see athletics as an integral part of the university

Ø Lack of appreciation for the mission of athletics in Division III

Athletic Administrators. Among the problems identified:

Ø Game management and hospitality issues (e.g., greeting opponents and officials, locker room management, security and crowd management, halftime arrangements)

Ø Lack of communication or mixed messages concerning values and priorities

Ø No clear philosophy concordant with the university administration

Ø Insufficient control or oversight of coaches

Campus conversations also devoted a substantial amount of time to the identification of possible strategies or solutions to address the problems noted above. Strategies were categorized as either relevant at the individual, university or conference level. A complete listing of the potential strategies and solutions were circulated to selected campus administrators and are included with this report as Attachment No. 1.

WIAC action plan

Representatives of all nine WIAC members and the conference office met on three occasions – March 11 in Tomah, Wisconsin, and April 23 and May 7 by telephone conference – to develop the following plan of action for positive sports behavior in the WIAC.

Strategies to Promote Positive Behavior

Establish clear expectations for the behavior of administrators, coaches, players, fans and officials.

1. In consultation with selected campus administrators, coaches and conference officials, develop a broad statement for the WIAC regarding expectations for the behavior of administrators, coaches, players, fans and officials at campus and conference athletic events.

2. Submit the conference statement to the WIAC student-athlete advisory committee, athletic directors, faculty athletics representatives and chancellors for approval.

3. Adopt a recommended policy within the WIAC that each campus establish specific expectations (and standards of accountability) related to the behavior of administrators, coaches, players, fans and officials at campus athletic events.

4. Include specific expectations for coaches in job descriptions, discussions regarding employment and evaluations of athletic administrators, coaches and other athletic staff members.

5. Incorporate sportsmanship expectations into student-athlete handbooks.

Increase campus and public awareness of the WIAC commitment to sportsmanship, including expectations for positive behavior.

1. Emphasize the WIAC commitment to positive sports behavior at campus athletic events.

a. Display banners or signs prominently at athletic events emphasizing standards of behavior. (Conference funds may be available for this purpose.)

b. Include information in all game programs.

c. Make a public announcement just before the start of each event; include consequences for violation.

2. Encourage administrators at each campus to designate individuals as WIAC “ambassadors” to monitor and promote positive sports behavior at events. (Conference funds may be available for apparel to identify ambassadors, and for free admission to any WIAC athletic event, home and away.)

3. Communicate the importance of positive behavior in communications with parents and boosters in settings other than competition.

1. Through periodic reminders in public settings or at booster club meetings, encourage booster club members to promote a positive sports culture.

2. Include expectations for sportsmanship in booster club newsletters and through other existing methods of communication.

4. Make character in sport a primary focus of conference and campus student-athlete advisory committees.

1. Incorporate messages from student leaders as a significant part of the WIAC public awareness campaign.

2. Use advisory committees as the means to develop recommendations for player behavior.

3. Encourage players to become officials after graduation.

4. With the assistance of members of the conference student-athlete advisory committee, encourage development of expectations at the campus level regarding the role of team captains in promoting sportsmanship.

Increase opportunities for coaches and officials to receive feedback concerning their influence on players’ and fans’ behavior at campus athletic events.

1. In the sports of football, men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball, include a sportsmanship evaluation or rating as part of officials’ game reports.

2. Establish a mechanism for coaches and administrators to provide feedback to officials concerning their effectiveness in promoting positive behavior.

3. In addition to immediate feedback from the conference office related to significant problems, share information from feedback instruments in aggregate form with coaches and campus administrators.

WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner completed an evaluation of the initiative grant process and forwarded a report to the NCAA national office June 27, 2002. Following the completion of all financial transactions related to the grant process, funds not used from the original grant award will be returned to the NCAA.

Attachment No. 1

Strategies & Solutions Identified in WIAC Campus Conversations

The following suggestions for strategies or solutions were taken from suggestions offered during the campus conversation group discussions and from “Action Plan” sheets completed by participants. They are divided into ideas that are most relevant at the individual, university, and conference level, and by subgroup to which they are most relevant. They are offered without editorial comment.

Individual Strategies:

Pertaining to players:

· Captains need to lead by example

· Athletes can hold one another accountable

Pertaining to coaches:

· Coaches should set the tone and model good behavior. They need to set the tone at the beginning and be clear about their expectations; need to enforce expectations at practices as well as at games

· Coaches need to be more willing to communicate values and ideals and look for opportunities to reinforce them

· Coaches need to deal with problematic behaviors immediately

· Coaches need to listen to their players and communicate with them.

· Coaches can encourage team captains to take a leadership role in the area of sportsmanship

University-Level Strategies:

Pertaining to fans:

· For the major spectator sports, it is important to communicate (through multiple channels) the expectations for appropriate behavior; these should be announced, published in the game bulletin, posted; mention should be made of both positive and negative – what is welcome, and what isn’t

· Prior to each game, expectations regarding sportsmanship need to be announced, together with consequences for violation

· Have our sport teams and coaches communicate to fans the importance of a positive sport culture

· More emphasis could be placed on the family nature of the events

· Enlist booster clubs in effort to promote positive culture

· Offenders need to be removed

Pertaining to players:

· Bring in motivational speakers

· Develop player councils

· Athletes need better vehicles to communicate with one another and work together

· Organize meetings among athletes through the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC)

· Players should be encouraged to become officials after graduation

Pertaining to coaches:

· Each team could develop its own code of ethics

· Include value discussions and expectations in team meetings

· Annual required retreats or seminars for coaches with administrators present

Pertaining to faculty and/or academic administration:

· Educate the campus community about the importance of athletics and how they contribute to the mission of the university

· Have university meetings with all faculty to remind them that the athletes are representing the university and to not give them a hard time

· Orient new faculty/staff regarding athletic program

· Widely publicize within the university the positive information about student-athletes, e.g., their GPAs, graduation rates

· Organize additional “campus conversations” that bring divergent groups together

· Hold a campus-wide forum on sportsmanship

· Build bridges across diverse groups of students who are involved in extracurricular activities (sports, band, student government, etc.)

· Lobby with the Strategic Planning Committee on the importance of athletics

· Use media to promote values; role of Div III

Pertaining to athletic administration:

· Develop and implement a consistent and coherent educational philosophy of sport that is consistent with that of the university as a whole

· Develop a vision or mission statement that includes how we want to affect our players; what behaviors can we all agree on

· Communicate the mission clearly at beginning of each year; it should be coordinated with conference-wide philosophy

· Develop a clear definition of what sportsmanship looks like for each population

· Have a procedure for communicating expectations and dealing with those who depart from those expectations

· Reprimand coaches who exhibit poor behavior or who do not follow the philosophy of the department

· Include a focus on value priorities and expectations in department meeting agendas

· The Athletic Department should hold an annual retreat focused on sportsmanship

· Provide professional development for coaches that includes training in how to improve sportsmanship, develop character

· Assign new coaches to a mentor veteran coach who exemplifies department philosophy

· The reward system for coaches needs to be changed so coaches are not just rewarded for wins

· Move more of the fund-raising burden to the foundation office and out of the job description of coaches

· The best time for addressing sportsmanship and character concerns, particularly among coaches, is during the hiring process; coaches who understand education sport need to be hired

· Hire faculty who coach

· Educate booster clubs about what is expected

· Promote positive media coverage; use PSAs, articles, announcements

Conference-Level Strategies:

Pertaining to fans:

· Adopt conference-wide rules regarding appropriate and inappropriate behavior

· Promote the use of expanded pre-game sportsmanship messages

Pertaining to players:

· Players should shake hands prior to events

· Academic and sportsmanship awards

· Means could be developed for athletes to get to know competitors outside the athletic arena (e.g., conference-wide service projects)

· Develop player councils

Pertaining to coaches:

· WIAC should develop a sportsmanship code that all coaches sign; it should be posted at every game

· Annual coaches’ meetings should have a focus on sportsmanship

· Use sport & coaches meetings and summer workshops to develop conference-wide character-related strategies, publicity materials, etc.

· Work to build a consensus among coaches across campuses on what a positive sport culture is

· Provide training (workshops; seminars) in “how” to promote sportsmanship & character

· Implement a zero tolerance policy: coaches should not be allowed to disagree with officials

Pertaining to officials:

· The conference should assign officials in all sports

· Officials should be assigned on a rotation; avoid “homer” perception

· Officials should meet with coaches and team captains before each season (go over rule changes and interpretations) and before each contest

· Empower and encourage officials to enforce sportsmanship

· Have all officials turn in sportsmanship evaluations post-game

· Send officials the evaluations that the coaches complete

· Hire supervisors of officials in all sports

Pertaining to faculty / academic administration:

· Encourage more faculty to speak up for sports; invite faculty supporters to a focus group for this purpose

Pertaining to athletic administration:

· Develop hospitality and game management guidelines that include hospitality for officials, locker room policy, cheerleader and P.A. behaviors; enforcement of fan behavior, physical location of media (away from fans, etc.), etc.

· Push for gender equity, not just in dollars, but in treatment of coaches and athletes by officials, etc.

General Suggestions Related to Conference-Level Strategies:

· Develop a sportsmanship “motto”

· Develop a conference-wide statement of principles (through representative committee)

· Provide truly “neutral” observers

· Take a leadership role in reaching out to lower levels of sport (youth / high school)

· Use media to promote values, role of Div III, mission of WIAC

· Have conference-wide “campus conversations”

· Keep a conference-wide focus on sportsmanship; expect each institution to commit to it

· Conference-wide sportsmanship awards and other recognitions

· Find ways–formal and informal–to reward the positive, from personal letters of praise up to a conference award for individuals, teams, or schools

· Obtain feedback; monitor and report progress of each campus

· The WIAC office should let universities know when they are deviating from a positive sport culture; this needs to be public

· Organize a “Sportsmanship for Life” campaign; establish a task force with representation from all campuses to organize; then put together a tour of the state where coaches, student-athletes and administrators would talk with media, parents & youth groups

· Make sure every school in the conference has equal money; pool all student fees across conference and issue an equal allocation to each school

· Level the playing field with regard to facilities, coaches, and budgets within the conference

· Publish comparisons of all aspects of all programs at all schools to everyone

· Promote sportsmanship/character on conference website