Six Pillars in Bobcat Athletic Program

G.W.Bush · Post by **G.W.Bush** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 9:34 am

I am sure a lot of you have heard of the Six Pillars of Character, and I think that maybe it is time for the Bobcats to implement it into their athletic system (both for recruited players and current players). I feel like the coaches must teach some of these young student athletes more than how to play their individual sport- they must teach them how to be good students and citizens. Perhaps instilling a program like this one will help our athletic department avoid these embarrassing headlines.

Pursuing Victory With Honor
Code of Conduct for Student-Athletes
of College and University Age

This Code of Conduct applies to all college and university student-athletes.
The Code has been adopted by ________________________________________________

Athletic competition of college and university student-athletes should be fun and should also be a significant part of a sound educational program, embodying high standards of ethics and sportsmanship while developing good character and other important life skills. Essential elements of character-building are intrinsic in the concept of sportsmanship and six core ethical values: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship (the “Six Pillars of Character”). The highest potential of sports is achieved when learning from the T.E.A.M. concept (Teach, Enforce, Advocate and Model values) and by committing to the ideal of pursuing victory with honor. Good-faith efforts to honor the words and spirit of this Code will improve the quality of our programs and the well-being of all teammates.

TRUSTWORTHINESS
• Trustworthiness — Be worthy of trust in all you do.
• Personal Integrity — Live up to high ideals of ethics and sportsmanship and always pursue victory with honor. Demonstrate the importance of good character by doing what’s right even when it’s unpopular or personally costly.
• Honesty — Live and compete honorably. Don’t lie, cheat, steal or engage in unsportsmanlike gamesmanship or any other dishonorable conduct. Cheating or plagiarism is not acceptable.
• Reliability — Fulfill commitments. Do what you say you will do. Be on time for practices and games.
• Integrity of the Game — Protect the integrity of the game. Don’t engage in gambling on sports. Don’t give information to or associate with gamblers. Be informed about the rules prohibiting gambling activities.
• Loyalty — Be loyal to your school and team. Put the team above personal glory.

RESPECT
• Respect — Treat all people with respect on and off the field. Treat your teacher-coach with respect. Don’t engage in disrespectful or offensive conduct of any sort including profanity, obscene gestures, sexual remarks, belligerent trash-talking or taunting, boastful celebrations, or other actions that demean individuals or the sport. Demonstrate a professional demeanor reflecting respectfulness, self-control and an unwavering commitment to fair play.
• Respect for Officials — Treat officials with respect. Don’t complain about or argue with calls or decisions during or after an athletic event. Help youth sports organizations fill their need for qualified officials as a way to promote greater understanding and respect for the referee’s role.
• Class — Live and play with class. Be a good sport. Be gracious in victory and accept defeat with dignity. Help up fallen opponents and show sincere respect in pre- and post-game rituals
RESPONSIBILITY
• Importance of Education — The primary responsibility of a student athlete is academic achievement. Be a student first, and commit to earning your degree and getting the best education you can. Be honest with yourself about your athletic future including the possibility of injuries; prepare yourself for life beyond competitive athletics. Not achieving passing grades will result in your suspension from the team until the deficiency is cured.
• Role Modeling — Participation in intercollegiate sports is a privilege, not a right. Represent with honor your school, coach and teammates on and off the field. Consistently exhibit good character and conduct yourself as a positive role model.
• Self-Control — Exercise self-control. Don’t fight or show excessive displays of anger or frustration. Have the strength to overcome the temptation to retaliate.
• Healthy Lifestyle — Safeguard your health. Don’t use any illegal or unhealthy substances, including alcohol, tobacco and drugs, or engage in any unhealthy techniques to gain, lose or maintain weight. Be informed about the health risks involved in the use of recreational and performance-enhancing drugs, tobacco and, for minors, alcohol, as well as in eating disorders.
• Teamwork — Think and play as a member of a team and encourage other players to put team success above personal statistics and recognition.
• Sexual Conduct — Sexual or romantic contact of any sort between students and teacher-coaches is improper and strictly forbidden. Report misconduct to proper authorities.

FAIRNESS
• Fairness and Openness — Live up to high standards of fair play. Be open-minded, always be willing to listen and learn.

CARING
• Concern for Others — Demonstrate concern for others. Never intentionally injure any player or engage in reckless behavior that might cause injury to yourself or others.
• Teammates — Help promote the well-being of teammates through positive counseling and encouragement or by reporting unhealthy or dangerous conduct to coaches.

CITIZENSHIP
• Playing by the Rules — Have a thorough knowledge of and abide by all applicable game and competition rules. Demonstrate and demand integrity.
• Spirit of Rules — Honor, observe and enforce the spirit and the letter of rules. Avoid temptations to gain competitive advantage through improper gamesmanship techniques that violate the highest traditions of sportsmanship. Do not engage in or allow any conduct designed to evade the rules governing fair competition.

I have read and understand the requirements of this Code of Conduct and acknowledge that I may be disciplined or removed from a team if I violate any of its provisions.

_______________________________________ _________
Student-Athlete Signature Date

Our athletic program endorses the Pursuing Victory With Honor Arizona Sports Summit Accord.

oldcatfan · Post by **oldcatfan** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 12:41 pm

What makes you think there is no character development program going on at MSU? Just because of the actions of a few? Look around--the college news sites are full of this stuff--we're nothing special. MSU has a great Life Skills program and the staff people there are trying to help these kids develop as people. Just because some screw up after they leave doesn't mean anything. Don't throw out the baby with the bath water.

mchammer · Post by **mchammer** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 1:33 pm

Actually the pillars are good reading and have a place in what coaches and athletes do. I will keep them and apply them to my group, so thanks for sharing.
I also appreciate the point about the baby and the bathwater. Awareness, and genuine concern, has never been higher with regard to values in the athletic department. Last night all of MSU's athletes listened to Kyle Rote Jr. speak about living honorably, as well as what it means to be a fool. A few weeks ago they listened to other speakers warning them about alcohol and drugs. Our department has been concerned with values for years, and Peter Fields has made it a priority since he arrived.
I could go on forever about the great people that I coach, and I mean all of them. I could brag about their fierce determination, discipline, honesty, generosity, and committment to living an honorable life. When the talk ended last night some of the athletes picked up every piece of litter in the stands. So things aren't as bad as they might seem.

HelenaCat95 · Post by **HelenaCat95** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 1:43 pm

mchammer wrote:Actually the pillars are good reading and have a place in what coaches and athletes do. I will keep them and apply them to my group, so thanks for sharing.
I also appreciate the point about the baby and the bathwater. Awareness, and genuine concern, has never been higher with regard to values in the athletic department. Last night all of MSU's athletes listened to Kyle Rote Jr. speak about living honorably, as well as what it means to be a fool. A few weeks ago they listened to other speakers warning them about alcohol and drugs. Our department has been concerned with values for years, and Peter Fields has made it a priority since he arrived.
I could go on forever about the great people that I coach, and I mean all of them. I could brag about their fierce determination, discipline, honesty, generosity, and committment to living an honorable life. When the talk ended last night some of the athletes picked up every piece of litter in the stands. So things aren't as bad as they might seem.

I've been pretty hard on the FB program this week, and will continue to be until I see some answers/changes. But it is GREAT to see that the foundations of character building are there. Speaking for myself, I don't see enough of this, and it is probably my fault for not looking for it. Great job Ath Dept.

On a side note, I saw the story msubobcats.com about Kyle Rote Jr speaking to the athletes. Here is my "brush with fame" - When my parents lived in Dallas (where I was born incidentally) they went to the same church as Kyle Rote - who was a Tight End with the Dallas Cowboys. My mom actually babysat little Kyle Rote Jr a couple of times.

Pretty weak brush with fame....but it's all I got.
Except I once had a beer with Ponycat.

WyomingGrizFan · Post by **WyomingGrizFan** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:58 pm

mchammer · Post by **mchammer** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:29 am

Walker won the Heisman his junior year.

HelenaCat95 · Post by **HelenaCat95** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:54 am

WyomingGrizFan wrote:
in Dallas (where I was born incidentally) they went to the same church as Kyle Rote - who was a Tight End with the Dallas Cowboys.
Actually, if not mistaken, Kyle Rote Sr. was a WR (#44) for the New York Giants that won the NFL championship back in 1956. He played for them for eleven seasons (1951 - 1961) retiring as the teams all-time receptions leader (300), reception yds (4,797) & TD's received. His affiliation to Dallas probably stems from his college days as he played for SMU (b. in San Antonio in 1928) from 1948-50 sharing the backfield with a Doak Walker in 1948-49; an All-American that was a runner-up in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1950 elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1964. Kyle Rote Jr. was one of the first American soccer stars as well if memory serves me correctly.

You're absolutely right. I emailed my Mom, and she told me that he was NOT playing for the Cowboys when they knew him. She also corrected me and said she didn't remember babysitting Jr., but she sadi that they did housesit a couple of times for them.
Boy did I screw that story up. Moral of the story? Always double-check with your mom.