Recently, our co-founder Dr. David L. Shields, was asked to speak on competition (and decompetition) by the Harvard Business Review. Here is a link to the full text of that article: http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2013/02/a_more_productive_way_to_think_about_opponents.html
Read more →Abstract For more than a century, the contention that sport builds character has been popular among educators. The more cautious perspective of researchers is that sport might build character, but only under the right conditions. In this paper, Brenda Light Bredemeier, Ph.D., and David Light Shields, Ph.D., report on three aspects of character that...
Read more →True Competition is a more than a catch-phrase, it is a provocative theory about the very nature of competition–how and when it works, its limitations, and its pitfalls. Our lives in a democratic, capitalist country are encompassed by competition, suffused by it, but it is something we rarely discuss without resorting to anecdotes and...
Read more →Are They Good for Kids To sport or not to sport? That is the question that many parents of school-age children are asking. Perhaps you’ve heard stories of tunnel-vision coaches who push children under the guise of making them champions or of narcissistic parents who try to relive their childhood (real or imagined) through...
Read more →David Shields, Ph.D. Whether you are in sports or business, whether you compete for fun or profit, there are hidden strategies both to boost your performance and find more enjoyment in the process. Here are five such strategies. First, to maximize your likelihood of winning (whether a game or a contract), forget about winning!...
Read more →To learn more about TrueCompetition.Org, please feel free to download ourGeneral Brochure. The brochure can answer many basic questions about TrueCompetition.Org: who we are, what we do, and who can benefit from the True Competition approach. For even more information, check out our Resources page, or the True Competition Bibliography.
Read more →I’ve been working with athletes and coaches for many years and over that time, I’ve become convinced that most people fall far short of their full potential – and, frankly, do not win or succeed as often as they might. So why is that? There are many reasons, of course. There’s performance anxiety; stresses...
Read more →Books: Shields, D., Bredemeier, B., & Funk, C. (2010). Becoming champions: Coaches’ manual. St. Louis: True Competition Publications. Shields, D., & Bredemeier, B. (2009). True competition: A guide to pursuing excellence in sport and society. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. Articles: Shields, D., & Bredemeier, B. (In press). It’s time to teach competition. Principal. Shields,...
Read more →Our political system, from local government through national politics, relies on candidates contesting for votes, and political representatives contesting over policy proposals. It is not surprising that commentators often use sport metaphors when talking about the games of politics. The same insights apply to political contests. Politics can be dedicated to...
Read more →Proposals for improving sport safety are hot topics these days. Injuries are too prevalent at all levels, from the Little Leagues to the big leagues. Beyond equipment and training, True Competition can help you decrease the likelihood of serious injury.
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