Sportsmanship/Cooperation

Howard Blake

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Being a team player

“Not all are blessed with great ability, but with teamwork and perseverance, all can accomplish great things.”               

- M.D. Boyer

College athlete and high school coach Howard Blake was a Tampa native who believed that good sportsmanship and teamwork play an important role in the development of young people for effective citizenship.

What makes a good teammate? Who would you rather have on your team? A person that is a good sport or the person that is just good at the sport? Being a good “sport” is defined as someone who is characterized by his observance of the rules of fair play, or by his or her ability to get along with others. Someone that is good at the sport may be able to win the game, but he or she may not always be cooperative.

Cooperation is defined as getting along with others and working together to accomplish a goal. This character trait can be found on a playing field or even in a classroom within a group of kids working on a science project. Share a time when you were on a team or in a group and you were showed good sportsmanship. You may not have been the winner, but how did it feel knowing you cooperated with others as a group and you played with honor? Read these inspirational articles of sportsmanship and share your reactions.

"Fading Sports Ideals Get a Lift"
"A Shooter’s Touch of Sportsmanship"

What would you do in the following situation?
Sue and Sam arrived at the kickball field at the same time. Both volunteer to be the pitcher.
Dilemma: On the one hand, Sue and Sam knew only one of them could be the pitcher. On the other hand, neither one wanted to play another position. How could they cooperate to solve this situation?

Honesty

Josh Rodgers

Being truthful

“Integrity is doing the right thing, even if no one is watching.”

– Jim Stovall

Is honesty a character trait that is within everybody, or do you think it is hard to come by? Read the following articles about acts of honesty and tell us if you would have done the same thing.

"Student makes honesty his policy"
"Corporate scandals unearth taxpayer' honest streak"
"Honesty surprises retired tax lawyer"

Do you think people are only honest sometimes because they expect something as a reward? Honesty is using truthful speech and behavior. Share with us a time when you were honest. What happened? How did it make you feel? How does dishonesty make you and the people around you feel?

What would you do in this dilemma?
Sue finds a five dollar bill in the hallway at school.
Dilemma: On the one hand, Sue could give the money to the fundraiser to help her school. On the other hand, Sue could turn it in to the office knowing it probably belongs to someone.

Share your comments by clicking on the link below.

Courage

Judge William Fuente

Being Brave

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”

  - Muhammad Ali

What are some acts of courage that you have seen or heard of? What does courage mean to you? The definition of courage is being brave in difficult situations: challenging yourself. Courage is a quality that enables one to face fear with confidence and resolution. Tell us about a time when you had to show courage to get through a situation -- maybe it was a really difficult test or you had to take a stand against someone who was not doing the right thing. Read the following stories in the newspaper about some courageous people who made very brave choices despite the fact that they may have had no support for their decision or possibly made a situation worse.

"‘Mexican Schindler’ Honored for His Courage" 
"A Judge’s Act of Courage" 

What are your thoughts about these men? Would you have done the same thing if you were them? Were their acts courageous? Comment by clicking on the link below.

Discuss this dilemma in your comments:
Sue is walking in the hallway by herself. She sees a school bully picking on another student.
Dilemma: On the one hand, Sue could have the courage to speak out and tell the bully to “STOP,” then report the incident to an adult. On the other hand, Sue could walk away and not report to anyone what she saw. Do you have any advice for Sue?

Kindness

Logan Grutchfield

Being nice

“The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm.”

                                – A Swedish Proverb

Kindness is being nice and considerate toward others, being friendly and helpful. Comment about your own experiences of giving or receiving kindness. Click on the following links to read some newspaper articles about acts of kindness. How do these make you feel? What do you think about these stories of kindness?

"Boy Caught the Nice Bug" 
"Random Act of Kindness Ripples through Community"
"A Classy Act of Kindness"  

Here is a dilemma that you can give your own advice about:

Sam is given a partner that is a slow runner for Field Day. Even though Sam is the fastest runner at his school, his team did not win the race. Some classmates tease Sam because his team lost.

Dilemma: On one hand, Sam could blame his teammate for the loss. On the other hand, Sam could be kind and praise his teammate for trying his best. What should Sam say and do? Share your comments and opinions by clicking on the link below.