From Sportsmanship to Technology and Beyond

written by Gerry Cernicky

This year National Sports Day will be on March 6th, 2012, under the auspices of the Institute of International Sport. There are essays, sports ethics, coaching and parenting manuals, videos, and the roles of sportsmanship for fair play - to celebrate non-violence - all available to readers as part of National Sports Day. In addition, a model school that meets the standards of the Institute of National Sport will be featured as an example to follow.

Turn on any sports related activity on any of the myriad of media sources and you just might see/read about various issues dealing with sportsmanship (or lack of) and character education. The news may range from a professional football player stomping on an opponent, to spectators at a youth football game rushing the field to attack the referees.

In a previous article, that can be found at the Sportsmanship link on my homepage, the qualities of an exemplary high school sportsmanship code are described. Building character and sportsmanship is a combined effort of physical educators, athletic directors, administration, students, parents and the community. Included with the Sportsmanship article are links that will serve as a resource to examine different models and examples of the character building process.

Recently, there was a brawl between two bitter state rivals in a college basketball game that ended in suspensions. It all started with a simple taunt to the bench area and escalated into a free-for-all in front of a national T.V. audience and a rowdy home town crowd. Sportsmanship includes all forms of building character and part of bad sportsmanship is the bullying problem. In this case, it all started with a simple taunt. One example from the sportsmanship code is to display an open respect for opponents at all times.

It is the responsibility of the coaching staff, athletic directors, and administration to have a document prepared before each season that covers what is expected of the participants, and the ensuing consequences of improper behavior. But, when the transgression happens, will the coaches follow through with the penalty and adhere to the rules set up by the ruling body or organization? A mission statement should educate, promote, and assist in the perception and the practice of those qualities which are inherent in good sportsmanship.

There are many methods that can be used to help promote good sportsmanship; parents hold the key. There needs to be open communication between coaches, the athletic director, and administration. Coaches are responsible for a code of conduct, that is sent home and gets signed by the parents, which covers what the coach expects from the family.

There are examples of the following from the sportsmanship link as follows:

• Pre-game speech
• Discussion questions
• Game scenarios
• Self–assessment forms
• Respect the game/sportsmanship summit

Another valuable link is Star Sportsmanship. With an interactive tool, students are guided through sportsmanship and character education materials that include critical thinking, skill development, and steroid/drug education.

Sportsmanship starts at the elementary level when children begin to build character traits by watching their parents and other adults. Physical education teachers carry on the process by demonstrating appropriate behavior and conduct, and promoting a safe atmosphere that is conducive to fair play. At the secondary level, activities should include more participation than competition. With the advent of the social networking programs, such as Facebook, students' behavior during athletic contests are taking on the antics of university students in the form of chants and barbs to opposing teams and players. This is when the athletic directors and administration should step in and work together for citizenship through sports alliance. Respect must be shown for opposing teams, officials, and teammates to maintain self control and integrity regardless of the circumstances.

Homework or Discussion

• Attend an athletic event on any level or watch a game on TV
• Keep track of any disruptive play among the players, coaches or spectators
• What caused the poor sportsmanship?
• What was done to stop the action or prevent any further improper activity?
• Write an article about the game action.
• Did you notice fair play, sportsmanship or respect for the opposition?
• How would you react if officials made a disputed call or play?
• How did you feel if your favorite team lost a game? Why?
• How do you help your teammates or other students during PE class?
• Choose any amount of questions. Or work together with a classmate.

Technology

The second part of this article deals with technology and all the apps available when using an iTouch, iPhone or iPad. In most cases, the apps are free from Apple and the iTunes store. Other apps are available for a nominal charge and one internet site where you can access a plethora of apps is PE GEEK. There is an excellent app, called Sports Tracker, that students can use to track their workouts each day. Using the built in GPS, students can track walking, running, biking, skiing, water sports, and even golfing. Calculations can be made with steps, heart rate, calories, and average pace and speed. Workouts are kept in a diary or dashboard type setting to keep tracking organized. Results can be shared with friends on Facebook, or by email with other users around the world.

Another app that can track workouts is called GPS+ and can be found in the iTunes store free of charge. It will track all accumulated steps, and will also note calories burned and average speed.

There is also an app that takes short video clips, called Vstrator Lite. If you visit the site you can see a demonstration on how it can be used in your classes. There is a tool icon where you can show a breakdown of skills, what positions a player is in, and make any necessary changes. It can be used with almost any sport/activity. Your data can also be saved in the camera roll application in the iPhone, iTouch, and iPad devices. For more information on physical education/fitness apps, read a great article on apps written by other pelinks4u authors.

My Favorite Apps:

ShopSavvy – find the right product at the best price. It is a barcode and QR code reader to searches for products and scans prices. Buy online and shop locally for the best deals. Scan a product for stores that offer the same item, and prices will be listed so that the best price can be obtained.

Norton Snap QR code reader – this is from Norton Labs (Symantec) that protects you, your mobile devices, and your important stuff from online threats by warning you of dangerous QR codes, and by blocking unsafe websites before they load on your device.

Audible – is a provider of digital audiobooks that features the most comprehensive audio experience for a wireless transfer of books along with a player. John Ratey’s book, Spark, can be found in the audio library. There is a sign up for membership on the website at Audible.

Shoe Box 1000 memories – is the fastest way to scan old paper photos, organize them, and share them with family and friends. All photos are saved online and can be accessed at http://1000memories.com.

Vocabology – is an application that helps you to build a vocabulary, and also includes several foreign languages. There is a "word of the day" along with the pronunciation and meaning of each selection. The words can be saved by choosing the appropriate icon.

WatchESPN – Now you can stay connected to your favorite live sports and shows from ESPN wherever you go. Access to WatchESPN live video is determined by your TV provider and, in some instances, your Internet service provider.

Golf Card GPS – is an advanced GPS range finder of your favorite golf courses. In an animated view, Golf Card GPS marks each hole and places markers for trees, water, bunkers and the distance to each hole after a shot. This is similar to the GPS on golf carts and SkyCaddie systems.

Overdrive – is a media console that can download books from your library directly to your device (Apple, Kindle, Creative, and many others). The books are in Epub and WMA format. You must first sign up at your library to access the digital books, and then there will be a designated time limit to return the books (7-21 days).

Free Books – there are 23,469 books that include the classics, plays, philosophy, letters of leaders, and autobiographies and selections in theology, romance, and banned books. There is a night mode, font change, and an easy swipe to change pages.

Homework/Project Examples

Handout a fitness calendar for each student to either update in class or take home to share with family or friends. Follow the directions from the webpage and choose the March calendar. When completed, the calendar is sent back to the PE teacher, making the student eligible to take home a fitness bag that comes with a skill sheet and equipment. The bag is kept for one week and then brought back for another student to borrow.

Look for this QR code symbol in newspapers, magazines, or anywhere you see this symbol. Scan the QR code and track where it takes you. What did you find out? Your task is to find out information about the web site or product. If you don’t have a scanning device (one is listed below) ask your parents, friend, or store employee to help you. Many grocery stores have apps to help with their products. Scan the barcode of an item, and discover information about the nutrition facts from the label or box.

RedLaser is a free scanning application for iPhone, Windows Phones, and Android that has been downloaded over 15 million times and has about as many uses.

PE Applications

iHeartRate (2.99) – With this you can measure your heartbeat using an accelerometer or microphone and store it on your device, using your own marks and notes. Your device will measure the heartbeat count, which can be after a jog, aerobics, or after any sport or activity.

Team Shake ($ .99) – is the technological and friendly way to choose teams. All you have to do is enter a friends name on your device and give it a shake. The screen will display a random set of color coded teams.

Coaches Eye ($4.99) – is the ultimate instant video analysis app. Record any sport or activity and get verbal and video feedback about form or technique. Whether you’re working on a golf swing, football drill, soccer kick, or yoga posture, Coach’s Eye delivers "ah-ha" moments that help athletes improve performance. The video can be viewed in frames.

Timer+ (free) – is a single countdown timer that can run multiple timers from a list of presets. It lets you pause and resume timers and set timers within seconds. Timer+ will even alert you even when running in the background.

The iPad2 can be used for presentations, along with a cord that can be attached to a projector to display pdf files and videos. By using the iMovie app you can make fabulous HD movies. You can add music, photos, and edit the show immediately. There is a plethora of themes, music and sound effects available in your sound library. This will give your finished project a professional touch. Share the movie on You Tube, Vimeo, or Facebook or send an email from the Camera Roll option. The video can be played on an HDTV with an Apple adapter.

The iPad2 can save photos. They can be displayed on the bulletin board to show various movement patterns, the students health records, and important contact information. The students can engage in a free app, called Nexercise, which is an exciting way to provide motivation to stay in shape and or lose weight. It is set up to play with friends, defeat challenges, earn rewards, and track your progress on a mobile and interactive game. The game is free of charge to encourage motivation, track your workouts, and make fitness fun.

The apps for all of the Apple devices are endless and new ones seem to appear every day. As the advertisement on TV mentions; that there are millions!

Conclusion

Have students take photos or videos of a high school event and have them note any good sportsmanship that may take place, or a transgression that ends with a negative result. Share the project with the class, administration, parents, other teachers, or the community. Have a round table discussion of what could have been prevented, or applaud the opposition or home school for its sportsmanship decorum. Supporting good sportsmanship through the use of technology and communication is a great way to help students become well rounded athletes and citizens.

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