Ethics and Sportsmanship

Ethics Is More than Compliance

While illegal conduct in sports is unethical, an act is not necessarily ethical simply
because it is legal. An ethical person often does more than the law requires and less
than it allows.
Terminating Coaching Services. For example, a coach may have a legal right
to terminate coaching services in the middle of a season, but it might be unfair
to a team or an athlete to do so.
Recruiting. Similarly, it is not illegal for a college coach to recruit an athlete
who wants to come to the coach's institution to work with the coach even
though he knows it's likely the athlete will be moving on to a professional
team. However, it is unfair, disrespectful and dishonest (violating the principle
of candor) to do so.
"Is" Versus "Ought" Ethics
Ethics is not about the way things are, it's about how they should be.
SPORTSMANSHIP
Ethics is a much broader term than sportsmanship. Ethics refers to moral standards
that apply to all aspects of human activity while sportsmanship refers to the ethical
framework and standards of conduct that define the honorable pursuit of victory in
competitive activities. Though there is a long tradition and a core set of values and
behavior generally agreed to comprise the foundation of sportsmanship, there is
substantial disagreement regarding the precise content of those standards.
Arizona Sports Summit Accord and the "Six Pillars of Character." The essential
elements of character building and ethics in sports are embodied in the concept of
sportsmanship and six core principles: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility,
fairness, caring and good citizenship. The highest potential of sports is achieved
when competition reflects these "Six Pillars of Character." (Arizona Sports Summit
Accord 11)
Trustworthiness
The principles of ethics and sportsmanship require coaches and athletes to always
behave in ways that justify and generate trust. This includes demonstrating
scrupulous integrity and honesty, keeping promises, and being loyal.
Honor the Letter and Spirit of Rules. A sportsman/woman does not use manipulative
tactics or legalistic evasions to justify conduct clearly intended to be prohibited). This
includes the official rules of the sport and rules regulating recruitment, eligibility,
compensation, practice limitations, equipment tampering, drug and alcohol use, etc.
Never Cheat. Cheating is defined as deliberately violating the rules or traditions of a
game to gain an unfair advantage. In some sports like basketball and hockey, the
established traditions of the game permit a player to deliberately foul an opponent
and take a penalty as a matter of strategy. This is not cheating.
Don't Lie or Deceive in Communications or Representations. A coach should not lie
or deceive an athlete, parent or official in any representation. Of course, in many
sports, deception of an opponent during a game is "part of the game." Thus, it does
not violate the principle of integrity to "fake out" an opponent. Similarly, in baseball,
the practice of a catcher "framing" a pitch to make a ball look like a strike has
become a tradition so well accepted that it isn't considered unsportsmanlike.
Don't Fake Injuries. The concept of faking is for opponents, not sports officials. Thus,
it is consistent with integrity to fake an injury to gain advantage or extra time. There
is some disagreement on whether it is proper to fake a foul, pretend a ball was
caught though it hit the ground first, or try to convince a referee that an opponent
touched the ball last. The purest interpretation of sportsmanship would preclude
these attempts to dupe the official into making a bad call.
Sometimes Call Plays against Oneself. In volleyball, many coaches train their
players to call a "touch" if a ball hit them before going out of bounds and the official
missed the play. Similarly, in tennis, many coaches consider it proper etiquette and
sportsmanship to call a ball that hit the line if the umpire erroneously calls it out. And
golfers are expected to report extra strokes.
Respect
Good sportsmanship requires participants to behave respectfully, being civil, polite
even gracious. Coaches are expected to treat athletes, parents, officials and others
with respect. As sports deteriorate into entertainment spectacles, one of the first
things that goes is respect. In fact, taunting, fighting, insults, and dirty play are
encouraged as a way of heightening entertainment value. Thus, professional
wrestling has long abandoned any legitimate claim to be a true sport. Many people
feel that professional hockey is moving in that direction.
Win and Lose With Class. Sports should be looked at as an honorable contest of
athletic skill. The duty to show respect for one's opponents and the game itself
requires coaches and their athletes to demonstrate grace and respectful civility
whether they win or lose. Thus, bragging or boasting in victory are forms of
unsportsmanlike behavior, as are complaining, blaming bad luck or officials, and
whining in defeat.
Demonstrate Appreciation of Opponent. Coaches and their players should willingly
and graciously acknowledge good plays and outstanding effort of opponents and
applaud respectfully when they are introduced.
Help a Fallen Opponent. Coaches should teach their players to help a fallen
opponent get up.
Shake Hands With or Cheer Opponents With Sincere Respect. Coaches and their
players should sincerely and respectfully participate in pre- and post-game rituals
including hand-shaking, bowing, or giving formal cheers.
Don't Fight With Opponents. Other than in strict combat sports (boxing, wresting,
martial arts), it is improper to fight with, threaten or personally insult an opponent.
Don't Permit Taunting or Trash-Talking. Coaches should not permit their athletes to
engage in taunting, trash-talking, ridiculing or other disrespectful behavior.
Don't Use Profanity. Coaches of character do not use, nor allow their athletes to use,
profanity or obscene gestures in practice or games. Profanity is inherently
disrespectful.
Assist Opponents. One of the highest and most admirable forms of sportsmanship is
when an athlete does more than he/she has to by assisting an opponent (e.g.,
lending equipment, offering help in warm-ups, etc.).
Show Respect for Athletes. The USOC makes clear the ethical obligation of coaches
to treat their athletes with respect: When engaged in coaching, coaches must
recognize the power they hold over athletes and therefore make reasonable efforts
to avoid engaging in conduct that is personally demeaning to athletes and other
participants. (USOC 4.03(b)). Similarly: Coaches should interact with their players in
a respectful, non-degrading manner while encouraging them to perform at their
highest level. (Article 8, Rule #3, American Football Coaches Association Code of
Ethics).
Classroom Standard. To teach and model respect and to promote the
educational goals of athletics, a coach should not use techniques that would
not be proper in a classroom.
Respecting Beliefs. Coaches must respect the rights of others to hold values,
attitudes and opinions that differ from their own. (USOC 1.06)
Avoiding Harassment of All Sorts. Coaches must not engage in behavior that
is harassing or demeaning to persons with whom they interact in their work
based on factors such as those persons' age, gender, race, ethnicity, national
origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, or socioeconomic
status. (USOC 1.09)
Show Respect for Teammates. Coaches should encourage athletes to demonstrate
respect and appreciation for teammates by cheering, complimenting and supporting
each other before and after events.
Show Respect for Officials. Coaches must be sure that their conduct stays within the
bounds of respectful disagreement and should generally refrain from challenging or
protesting calls in an insulting or combative manner. Under no circumstances should
a protesting coach touch an official, kick dirt or throw anything at or in the direction of
an official. Don't publicly complain about bad officiating.
Show Respect for Parents. Though parents can sometimes be a major problem for
coaches, they have a legitimate and critical role in the athletic lives of their children.
Though coaches can and should establish ground rules that preserve their
autonomy, they should communicate openly and regularly with parents and be open
to discussions and feedback.
Responsibility
Exercise Self-Control. Coaches should demonstrate and require their athletes to
demonstrate self-control, avoiding visible displays of anger or frustration whether
directed at athletes, parents, officials or media. Under no circumstances, should a
coach engage in physical altercations.
Pursue Excellence. Coaches should be the best they can be in all phases of
coaching responsibilities from skill building to character building to counseling.
Develop and Maintain Competence. Coaches must develop and demonstrate
professional knowledge of the rules and strategies of their sport, basic coaching
principles adjusted for the age group that they coach, fundamentals of first-aid, and
methods of teaching and reinforcing good character through athletics.
Provide for the Safety and Welfare of Athletes Above AllElse. Coaches should take
all reasonable steps to assure that the safety and health of athletes is the priority
issue in practices, games and in the environment provided.
Protect Athletes Against Physical Abuse, Sexual Harassment or
Exploitation. Coaches must protect their athletes, never engaging in nor
allowing anyone under their control or influence to engage in physical abuse
of athletes or any form of sexual harassment or exploitation.
Prepare Athletes to Deal With Temptations and Pressures. We need to warn
and teach talented youngsters about the seductions they will face, seductions
that can demean and endanger them - easy sex, available drugs, intoxicating
praise and those who exploit the athlete economically, politically or socially.
Sport-Related Temptations and Dangers for Student-Athletes
NCAA violations including work, compensation and gifts
Use of performance enhancing drugs
Unhealthy practices to gain or lose weight
Unhealthy win-at-any-cost attitudes that promote cheating and
unsportsmanlike conduct
Imprudence or recklessness regarding personal health and safety
Excessive violence or the intent to injure another player
Taunting or excessive celebration
Disrespect for officials
Special off-the-field temptations and dangers for student-athletes
Distraction and minimization of importance of academic performance and
education
Ignoring social and emotional needs
Recreational drugs including alcohol and tobacco
Gambling and dealing with gamblers (e.g., point shaving)
Sexual promiscuity and related concerns including pregnancy and disease
Violence including fighting and sexual assaults
Unrealistic or imprudent dependency on making a living as an athlete

Being a Positive Role Model
While many aspects of personal behavior and private activities seem far removed
from official duties of coaching, all coaches should be sensitive to their position as
role models for their athletes. Private activities perceived as immoral or illegal can
influence the coaching environment and coaches are encouraged to observe the
standards of this Ethics Code consistently. (USOC 1.01)
Coaches must articulate and enforce policies that assure that athletes and others
under their supervision exemplify good character and conduct themselves as
positive role models on and off the field. (Arizona Sports Summit Accord 4)
Maintain the Integrity of the Sport. Coaches must assure that their sports are
conducted with the utmost integrity. Cheating of any sort should not be tolerated.
Though there is technically a choice between the gamesmanship and sportsmanship
models of sports, coaches have an ethical responsibility to pursue, teach and
demand the sportsmanship model.
Maintaining Safe and Respectful Conditions
Coaches should assure that those under their supervision treat the traditions of the
sport and other participants with respect. (Arizona Sports Summit Accord 11)
Protect Visitors. Visitors should be protected from improper and
unsportsmanlike behavior of fans. This includes providing adequate security
and enforcing reasonable rules.
Regulate Spirit Groups. Mascots, cheerleaders, drill teams, and bands are an
integral part of the atmosphere of a sporting event. It is the responsibility of
coaches and athletic administrators to assure that their behavior reflects a
sincere and solid commitment to the standards of good sportsmanship.
Regulate Spectators. The behavior of spectators can have a dramatic impact
on the atmosphere of a sporting event. All athletic contests should be
regulated to reflect high standards of sportsmanship.
Parents. Many of the most passionate spectators are parents and relatives of
the athletes. It is especially important that coaches consciously attempt to
educate this group as to its responsibilities. Inappropriate conduct from
parents (e.g., yelling insults to players, coaches and officials, "riding" a player,
etc.) not only pollutes the atmosphere of honorable competition, it also usually
embarrasses the athlete. The sport becomes unpleasant for many youngsters
who are mortified by their parents' conduct.
Create a Positive Environment. The sportsmanship ideals of an institution can
be advanced by positive signage at the venues (e.g., positive mottos on
scoreboards, fences, etc.), statements included in programs and schedules
and in pre-game announcements.



Fairness
Coaches should assure that their teams and athletes play by the rules and treat
everyone fairly. The concept of fair play is fundamental to sports. Anything that gives
one an unfair advantage violates the spirit as well as the integrity of the sport. Thus,
all forms of cheating violate the fairness pillar as well as the trustworthiness pillar.
Similarly, deliberate rule-breaking or evasions of the spirit of rules violate the fairness
principle as well as the citizenship obligation.
Caring
The professional duty of coaches to put athletes' welfare first is one element of
caring. Coaches also have a duty to care about the health and safety of opponents.
Good coaches are always sensitive to the psychological and physical impact their
words and decisions may have on athletes and others.
Citizenship
Coaches should model good citizenship by abiding by the rules and principles of
sportsmanship.
Rule Breaking Changes the Game. In sports, rules are worthy of special reverence
and respect. Rules define the nature of the sport and set the goals and objectives of
the game. When one violates these rules, whether they be rules of the game like
those that prohibit holding or rules regulating eligibility, they change the game in a
way that places value on skills or strategies not intended to be part of the game.
Rule Breaking Is Unfair. When one side breaks the rules, there is no longer a level
playing field and the nature of the competition changes.