The Six Pillars of Character
in a Sports Context
TopTrustworthiness
- Always pursue victory with honor.
- Demonstrate and demand scrupulous integrity.
- Observe and enforce the spirit and letter of rules.
- Don't compromise education and character-development goals.
- Don't engage in or tolerate dishonesty, cheating or dishonorable conduct.
TopRespect
- Treat the traditions of the sport and other participants with respect.
- Don't engage in or tolerate disrespectful conduct, including verbal abuse of opponents and officials, profane or belligerent "trash talking," and taunting or unseemly celebration.
- Win with grace and lose with dignity.
TopResponsibility
- Be a positive role model on and off the field and require the same of your athletes.
- Further the mental, social and moral development of athletes and teach life skills that enhance personal success and social responsibility.
- Maintain competence including basic knowledge of: 1) character building; 2) first aid and safety; and 3) coaching principles, rules and strategies.
TopFairness
- Adhere to high standards of fair play.
- Treat players fairly according to their abilities.
- Never take unfair advantage.
- Be open-minded.
TopCaring
- Assure that the academic emotional, physical and moral well-being of athletes is always placed above desires and pressures to win.
TopCitizenship
- Avoid gamesmanship and promote sportsmanship by honoring the rules and goals of the sport.
- Establish codes of conduct for coaches, athletes, parents and spectators.
- Safeguard the health of athletes and the integrity of the sport by prohibiting the use of alcohol and tobacco.
- Demand compliance with all laws and regulations, including those relating to gambling and the use of drugs.
Top40 Developmental Assets
Search Institute® has identified the following building blocks of healthy development—known as Developmental Assets®â€”that help young people grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. Files are in PDF format.
Developmental assets for K-3rd graders
Developmental Assets for 8-12 yr olds
Developmental Assets for 13-18 yr olds