Character Lessons from the 2006 Winter Olympics
By Brad Miller
The 2006 Winter Olympics offered viewers much of what we look forward to-wonderful displays of patriotism, sacrifice, team spirit, and athletic achievements.
One of my favorite moments occurred when Apolo Anton Ohno led from start to finish in the 500 meters short track speed skating final, grabbing the gold in an upset over the talented South Korean skater. I hope you, too, have a few great memories from this year's Winter Olympics.
However, if you watched the games closely as I did, you might have also been struck by a kind of crisis that seems to be coming out of U.S.A. 's Olympics program. Not all of our athletes are acting like the kind of winners that we hope our children emulate as they grow up.
In fact, there were some downright embarrassing moments for U.S.A. Olympics: one aerialist was expelled for punching a teammate, one hockey player skipped the final team meeting and publicly criticized the team and coaches, two teammates on the speed skating team bickered publicly.
And perhaps worst of all, the medal-hopeful Bode Miller spent his nights at the local bars and competed miserably as a result. In interviews he showed no remorse, and genuinely seemed mystified about why Americans were upset with his behavior.
As the founder of a kids sports camps program here in Colorado Springs , I have a vested interest in the role that athletes play in our society today. And, probably like many of you, as a parent I am trying hard to raise my kids to be people of character and compassion. So, these role models cause me to pause.
In fact, these Winter Olympics convince me once again of the importance of sports in the development of our children. Let me share with you three key principles that we have used at Great Starts Sports Camps (
www.gscamps.com) that you can also use to help your children become people of character and compassion.
Be intentional about teaching character traits through sports activities. At Great Starts Sports we use a simple acrostic, DESIRE, which stands for discipline, enthusiasm, self-control, integrity, respect, and endurance. Which traits you choose are not so important as your plan to integrate specific character qualities into your discussions with your child. Be bold and intentional about teaching character through sports and competition.
Choose excellent role models for your child. Some of the most important people in your child's life include teachers and coaches. To the extent that you are able, get your children around those kinds of teachers and coaches who will help you connect athletics with character training. If you are choosing sports experiences for your children, be sure the coaches know their sport and love working with kids.
Build strong relationships through sports. Competition provides the opportunity for kids to bond in ways that we often don't have these days. The heat of the battle provides this. Also, working hard, learning together, and achieving goals all provide opportunities for friendships and long-lasting relationships.
There was one final memory that the Winter 2006 Olympics gave to us. Perhaps you saw it as I did. American gold medal hopeful Sasha Cohen was skating her long program. But, four long years of training didn't turn out to produce what she had worked toward in these final four minutes. Less that one minute into her program she fell twice.
After this unthinkable catastrophe, however, she managed to accomplish the impossible-the remaining three minutes she skated a flawless program. Sasha said, "I was able to believe when everything looked very dark and gray."
That "believing" in the midst of adversity resulted in a silver medal. Sasha Cohen demonstrated a kind of resilience and mental toughness that helped her to overcome setbacks and disappointment. Now, those are character qualities that I would like my children to develop.
You can't change the wind, but you can correct your sails-
There is an interesting phenomenon occurring in our culture today: social scientists tell us that the Bridgers and Mellenials (those born after 1985) are more like the WWII generation in their beliefs than their parents or grandparents. This means that they are more likely to trust in authority, to believe in a purpose larger than their own life, and to have an optimistic outlook on life. They tend to be more generous and selfless. We only need to think of the stories of young men and women in the faraway lands of Iraq and Afghanistan who are defending America and the notion that all men and women should be free to see this in action.
At the same time, we continue to see an unraveling in values and beliefs in our culture. As a result, our kids are exposed to an extraordinary amount of violence, drugs/alcohol, sex, pornography, and other forms of destructive behavior. What are we to make of these seemingly contradictory facts? The answer very simply is this-we have an incredible opportunity before us to mold and shape a generation of children who want to be molded and shaped. They cannot do it on their own. They do not know how. They need parents, teachers, coaches, community leaders, and other adult and young adult leaders in their lives who will take an interest in them, model good values, and take the time to explain why it is important to live with character and integrity.