Teaching Through Sports
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No matter how much an athlete accomplishes, he always has room to grow. To excel, he must be eager to learn and willing to accept instruction.The bigger issue here is humility and respect for authority. The coach might make decisions your child doesn't agree with; the referee or umpire might make a bad call. Still, your child needs to learn to deal with his frustration in a positive way. Learning this on the field or in the gym can translate into respect for other authority figures: teachers, bosses, police officers and church leaders.When things don't go well for your child, be willing to speak the truth. That might mean saying, "Your coach is testing your character." Or you might say, "You can't control what the coach decides, but you can control how hard you work to get better."
Integrity
Martin Luther King Jr. used to talk about an "11th commandment" that prevails in America: "Thou shalt not get caught." Many people still live by that tenet. But we must call our children to honesty and integrity, and sports provide opportunities to do that.I remember playing a game of touch football at a summer camp, where I was leading a group of boys for the week. When I threw a long pass to one of the boys and he caught it for a touchdown, our players celebrated wildly. But just as I was throwing the pass, I had felt one of the opposing players poke me on the back with his finger. The referee never knew, but that other player knew it, I knew it, and God knew it.So I had to tell the ref and take a loss instead of a touchdown. The kids on my team couldn't understand why I did that, but I think it was an important lesson for them — and for the other team. Our kids need to know that if they have integrity, they will be winners — no matter the outcome of the game.Modeling is the key to teaching your kids integrity. No matter what you say, your kids will remember your actions more than your words. Your integrity is reflected in the way you cheer at your child's game and the way you talk about the game afterward. Would you give back a victory in order to do the right thing? What is your attitude about stretching the rules in order to win?