SPORT ETHICS

1. SPORT ETHICS "To educate a person in the mind but not the morals is to educate a menace to society." �Teddy Roosevelt

2. DEFINITIONS Ethics is the study of morals or character; a study of the principles of human duty or the study of all moral qualities that distinguish an individual relative to others. Moral pertains to an individual�s motives, intentions, and actions as right or wrong, virtuous or vicious, or good or bad. Values are anything having relative worth. Moral values are the relative worth that is placed on some virtuous behavior. Principles are universal rules of conduct that identify what kinds of actions, intentions, and motives are valued.

3. MORAL REASONING PROCESS Moral Reasoning is the systematic process of evaluating personal values and developing a consistent and impartial set of moral principles by which to live. Moral Knowing is the cognitive phase of learning about moral issues and how to resolve them. Moral Feeling is the basis of what we believe about ourselves, such as self-esteem, and society, such as empathy for others Moral Acting is how we act based on what we know and value.

4. MORAL REASONING �Moral reasoning does not promise behavioral change, but it does promise individual soul searching and reflection on personal beliefs, values, and principles. Without this process, cognitive moral growth will not increase, behavior change will never occur, and the potential for consistent moral action become little more than a hit or miss proposition.�

5. KOHLBERG�S STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT Stage Six states that universal ethical principles and the individual conscience serve as the basis for all actions. Stage Five expects people to fulfill the social contract and show genuine interest in the welfare of others. Stage Four assumes that people act in conformity to the social system and social order. Stage Three suggests that people react to the expectations of parents, peers, and authority figures to gain their approval. Stage Two emphasizes following rules for self-interest. Stage One focuses on obedient actions performed to avoid punishment.

6. SOCIETAL ATTITUDES TOWARD ETHICAL CONDUCT Relativism this belief advocates that what is right or wrong is determined based on the situation (situation ethics) Absolutism there is an absolute moral code that should be applied without partiality in every situation Consequential (utilitarian) theory states that the ultimate standard of what is morally right is dependent on the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people. Non-consequential (Kantian) theory holds that there is an inherent rightness apart from all consequences.

7. WHAT ARE RATIONALIZATIONS FOR UNETHICAL BEHAVIORS IN SPORT? There is no rule against it. Everyone else does it. This action is not unethical because no one will ever know about it. Circumstances require acting in this way.

8. MORAL JUSTIFICATION The unethical action was really ethical; that is, muddy the waters and make the wrong look right. The unethical action was a non-issue in the sense that the action caused no harm to another individual or was unseen by an official; that is, no foul, no harm. A rule was violated but the amount of good accomplished overshadowed the small amount of harm that occurred; that is, the end justifies the means.

9. ETHICS AND SPORTSMANSHIP �Ethics is a matter of being good (character) and doing right (action).� �Sportsmanship is a matter of being good (character) and doing right (action) in sports.� �The majority of acts that we consider bad in sports and call �unsportsmanlike� are bad precisely because they are unfair, dishonest, disrespectful, or against the rules.�

10. WHAT DOES SPORTSMANSHIP LOOK LIKE? Playing fair Following the letter and spirit of the rules Respecting the judgments of officials Treating opponents with respect Shaking hands at the end of the game Never running up the score Never cheating Never taunting

11. GAMESMANSHIP Video

12. TEACHING HOW TO REASON MORALLY The systematic process of evaluating personal values and developing a consistent and impartial set of moral principles by which to live Moral reasoning occurs when you decide that you will always strive to do what is right. It takes moral courage to act upon what a person values.

13. PROBLEMS WITH TO MORAL REASONING The longer athletes participate in sport, the lower their moral reasoning. Males have lower levels of moral reasoning than do females. Team sport athletes show lower levels of moral reasoning than do individual sport athletes. The moral reasoning of interscholastic athletes is less consistent, impartial, and reflective than is that of non-athletes.

14. THE MORAL ETHOS OF SPORT Is an intentional rule violation congruent with the moral ethos of sport? Is a tactical rule violation, or the breaking of the rules on purpose to gain a benefit even though there is an associated penalty, ethical? Is this an ethical way to attempt to secure a victory? Is cheating, which is an intentional deception or circumvention of the rules that were established to maintain fairness, ethical? Is the intent of sport to get away with things to gain an advantage? Are rule violations ethical if they are not caught and penalized? If rule violations are attempted and penalized, then are these rule violations deemed to be acceptable?

15. ARE THERE ETHICAL ISSUES IN YOUTH SPORTS ABOUT THESE? Cutting a child trying out for a sports team Playing the best players (some do not play) Keeping the best players in the �key� positions Competing for championships and trophies Requiring a child to play a sport Specializing in one sport Offering teams for one gender only

16. ARE THESE ETHICAL ISSUES IN INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS? Requiring athletes to pass all subjects Specializing in one sport Treating male athletes preferentially Playing while injured Using drugs to enhance performance Teaching athletes (by coaches) how to break sport rules to gain an advantage Giving athletes money or other benefits Taunting and gamesmanship

17. ARE THESE ETHICAL ISSUES IN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS? Requiring athletes to maintain academic eligibility and progress toward a degree Giving money or tangible gifts to prospective college athletes during their recruitment or while playing Treating male athletes preferentially Teaching athletes (by coaches) how to break sport rules to gain an advantage Making money from the performances of athletes while they receive only grants-in-aid

18. ARE THESE ETHICAL ISSUES IN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS? Using drugs to enhance performance Requiring college students to pay fees to support athletics Allowing students and other fans to shout obscenities at or harass visiting athletes Using psychological ploy, such as taunting and gamesmanship to gain an advantage Allowing a television network to dictate the date and time of a college competition

19. Agree Slightly Agree Slightly Disagree Disagree 1 2 3 4 Teamwork is important for winning. I would taunt my opponent. A team must have a good coach to win. I would spit on my opponent. Luck is a part of winning. It is important to shake hands with my opponent after a game. I have never been in a game where any rules were violated. Referees� decisions will affect a game�s result. Intramurals are a waste of time. I would deliberately injure my opponent to help me win. A team must have a �star player� to be a winning team. Respecting my opponent gives me a better chance of winning. The team that prepares the best should win the game. �Winning isn�t everything, it is the only thing.� I have never seen or heard someone taunt or trash-talk an opponent. Respect is an important attribute for a winning team. Football is a more violent sport than ice hockey. I must respect my opponent to play my best. Basketball is a non-contact sport. I would trash-talk my opponent. Soccer is a non-contact sport. I compliment an opponent for a good play. It is �OK� to run up the score against an inferior opponent. Basketball players are better �athletes� than baseball players. I would "bend the rules" to win. It is not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game. It is not up to players to enforce rules (it�s the referee�s job). Integrity is an important attribute for a winning team. Intercollegiate athletics are bad for a university. I would retaliate if I was given a �cheap shot� by my opponent. Skill in a sport is more important than hard work. I play fair. Being a good sport (showing sportsmanship) is important to winning. �Every student an athlete, every student challenged.�