MOLDING CHARACTER AND SPORTSMANSHIP

written by Isobel Kleinman

During an episode of Parenthood (a series about three generations of a TV family, the Bravermans), two gym kids chose their teams, one classmate at a time. We watch until two boys are left standing, and we cannot help but feel for them. Who is left? Max Braverman, of course, a bright kid who we already know is a good player, a good person, and who loves the game. But, Max has Asperger's which makes him different. Max, aware and offended by the time the teacher decides to send the last two boys to a team, refuses to play and suddenly there is an issue for the teacher, for the kids, and for the parents.

I like to think that teachers do their homework, make equal teams before class meets, announce the teams, and conduct class so that no boy or girl is left standing the way Max Braverman was.

We are the adults in the room/gym. We have an obligation to make kids feel better about themselves, to help them develop sensitivity for their classmates, and to encourage them to stand up against things that threaten their feelings and the feelings of others. We must remember that we don't just teach physical education. We teach people. Hopefully, while we do, we are making those people, no matter how young, better at being citizens of their world. Being a better citizen starts with character and sportsmanship, and that cannot start without self-control and discipline.

Deal with vulgar language, bullying, and bad sportsmanship

Expect a code of behavior that works for you and your class, and follow-through when the code is broken. Offensive behavior is bad discipline, and it robs others of their experiences in physical education. Bottom line, do not allow it.

Most kids will stop being offensive if you take them aside, calmly explain how you feel about what they are doing, and how their classmates must feel. If you do that well, you can ask the student for an apology to you and their classmates before they can rejoin the group.

There is another breed of student I call the "incorrigibles" who seem to love having a negative impact, and love to keep at it. We know the usual responses and how they can escalate if the student continues in the same vein. First, we can handle the situation by removing him/her from activity in an effort to protect the other students. If that does not work, next we ask him/her to meet with us after school; hopefully for a serious talk. If that too fails, we can call his/her parents to let them know what is happening and to ask for help. And again, if that too doesn't do it, we can ask the administration to step in and/or even refer the child for social services.

Are there other things that work? Yes, there are. But, these are ways in which we can address students who refuse to follow the code of behavior that is in place.

Give the student responsibility

Give the student responsibility? You must be thinking, "get real." How can we give someone who is incorrigible responsibility? Won't that make them look even more important?

Group dynamics can go two ways. Students can work with you or against you, and often it depends on who they see as their leader. Let's focus on the times the class chemistry is not working and the class's natural leader is incorrigible.

You get into the class and everything that you expect will build enthusiasm does not. In short, the class thwarts you in being able to move the group forward. Worse, you could have a group of students who intimidate their classmates at every turn. You think you have tried everything, but nothing seems to work. Let me give you an idea that might seem like the last thing you should ever do. Turn the kid who is leading the class astray into a class leader who brings the class around.

Isn't that like rewarding someone who has driven you and the rest of the class crazy? The truth is that he/she has already robbed the class of fun so everyone is getting punished, but if you give him/her the attention he/she is seeking, it is possible to turn him/her around and everyone else with him/her. To succeed you have to give up your authoritarian hat and don your political hat. You have to win this kid over to your way of thinking and to your need for a partner in making the class work. Here are a variety of things you can ask him/her to do – in no special order - that work.

• Put a clipboard in the hand of the ring leader.
• Ask him/her to stand up in front of the class and lead the warm-ups.
• Give him/her a whistle to officiate the games.
• Ask him/her to take the stopwatch and time whatever needs timing.
• Ask him/her to record the scores on important things.
• Ask him/her to teach the class (with your preparation and guidance).

See him/her rise to the occasion. You will get a partner who is learning to be a responsible adult, who is learning to keep the rules, and who is learning to be helpful. It is like a miracle. So, choose the guy or girl who seems to call the shots and ask for help. You will find that by taking him/her into your confidence, by acknowledging his/her leadership skills, by giving him/her responsibility, he/she will apply the very rules and policies he/she once seemed keen on breaking. The turnaround is quite amazing.

It is easy to forget this simple approach to getting your class back in your pocket when things do not work in one class the way they work in the others. However, by using the student who seems driven to ruin your life to raise his/her goals, you do get to meet yours.

Teach students to respect individual differences

• Teach teams to play like teams. That means teaching students to respect that teammates have specific roles to play, that each player has strengths and weaknesses, and that to play as a team they must learn to adjust for them and let everyone do their team job.
• By reinforcing the idea that a team is only as strong as its weakest link, give the responsibility of building up the skills and confidence of everyone on the team to the team itself.
  • You need to be there to help, encourage, teach strategies, acknowledge assists, cheer on the player who went after the ball and didn't get it but caused turnovers. These things elevate confidence, self-respect and character.
  • Reinforce the team concept by providing opportunities to warm-up and practice together before competition starts. Make sure everyone is included.
  • Work with the stronger athletes on a team to get them to anticipate what could go wrong when the weakest player has a play to make - reminding him not to take over. Just to back-up.

Set up leadership opportunities

In class

• During competitive sports, teach the rules and help students understand the reason for them and why they are applied uniformly.
• Apply rules uniformly.
• Encourage a variety of students to become class leaders.
• Have students officiate games if they are not playing or are leader volunteers.

After school

• Consider creating a Leader's Club.
  • Club members come to play and learn the rules of what is being taught in class.
  • Club members can volunteer their free time (study hall or lunch) to come to the gym to help.

Let me close by reminding you that bad discipline robs everyone, but good discipline goes a long way to strengthening one's character and developing good sportsmanship. I hope I helped. If you need more ideas, you can always go to the second edition of my book, COMPLETE PHYSICAL EDUCATIONS PLANS FOR GRADES 5-12 for more ideas and how to organize them into your lessons.

- Isobel Kleinman

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