True-Sport-Report

VI. Ethics and Values Build True Sport
For when the One Great Scorer comes
to write against your name,
He marks—not that you won or lost —
But how you played the game. Grantland Rice (1880–1954)
The majority of adults responding to USADA’s survey believe that
sport should play a role in teaching morality. More than four-fifths
of respondents believe that it is important that sport overall promotes
positive values, while three-fifths agree that sport overall actually promotes
positive values (Figures 7 and 8). Adults believe that it is very important for
sport to reinforce a variety of wholesome values—led by honesty, fair play,
respect for others, doing your best, teamwork, and fun. Interestingly,
competitiveness and winning rank as the least important values to reinforce
through sport, but as highest in terms of the values that sport is actually
reinforcing. In addition, fewer than half of adults believe that sport is doing
a good job of reinforcing their top five important values. Thus, although
adults perceive a benefit in sport reinforcing key values, overall they believe
that sport is currently doing the opposite.
At its best, sport is about the honorable pursuit of victory. It is not just
about playing by the rules; it is also about playing within the spirit of the
rules. It requires sportsmanship, fair play, playing clean, and respect.
NCAA defines sportsmanship as exhibiting behaviors that are “based
on such fundamental values as respect, fairness, civility, honesty, and
responsibility” (p. 15). 186 Ethics violations and the desire to win at any cost
threaten the inherent value of sport in America.
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