Coaching
Resources to aid coaches, sport administrators, and athletic directors in implementing the True Competition approach.
By David Shields on April 14, 2010
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 [...]
Posted in Coaching, Free, Resources, Teaching, Working | Tagged achievement goal, character, coaching, competition, decompetition, enjoyment, excellence, extrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation, playing, sport, task orientation, true competition, youth
By David Shields on April 14, 2010
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 [...]
Posted in Coaching, Free, Resources, Teaching, Working | Tagged achievement goal, battle, character, coaching, competition, decompetition, enjoyment, excellence, extrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation, metaphor, motivation, playing, sport, task orientation, true competition, war, winning, youth
By David Shields on April 14, 2010
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 [...]
Posted in Coaching, Resources, Teaching | Tagged coaching, competition, playing, sports, youth
By Christopher Funk on April 14, 2010
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!
The more that you [...]
Posted in Coaching, Free, Resources, Teaching, Working | Tagged achievement goal, competition, task orientation, true competition
By Christopher Funk on April 14, 2010
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). [...]
Posted in Coaching, Free, Press Kit, Publications, Resources, Teaching, Working
By David Shields on February 3, 2010
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.
Posted in Coaching, David's Blog, Resources | Tagged battle, competition, excellence, metaphor, safety, sport, war