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 Christopher Funk on April 14, 2010
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 of various sorts. But one of the most pervasive and profound reasons goes largely unnoticed. It originates in the way people think about the very meaning and purpose of competition.
Posted in Press Kit | Tagged coaching, decompetition, interviews, media kit, Teaching, true competition
By David Shields on February 16, 2010
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 pursuing excellence in public service or they can degenerate into entrenched battles over narrowly defined ideologies and personal careers. Debates over policies can be honest efforts to allow the best ideas to surface or they can be manipulated sound bites designed only to placate donors and voters.
Posted in David's Blog | Tagged competition, congress, decompetition, politics