Should Elite Athletes Be Role Models For Children? The idea that when growing up as a child, we lose some illusion in order to obtain new ones tie in with the understanding that children’s minds are not matured enough to adequately understand the meaning of a true role model. Children do not understand that athletes are performers and are paid to be performers because that is their job. Professional athletes are not paid to be a role model hence, they are not obligated to live up to the expectations that exceeds beyond performing on the field. According to the National Academy of Science, National Academy of Engineering, and Institution of Medicine (1997), a role model is “someone who takes a special interest in helping another person develop …show more content…
In order to truly understand the reasons, children must have the knowledge and the representation of knowledge about the subject. But ultimately, children must be able to show “the formal manipulation of symbols representing a collection of believed propositions to produce a representation of new ones” (Brachman, Levesque, & Pagnucco, 2004, p.4). This will allow children to effectively reason beyond the athlete’s athletic skills, abilities, and competencies on the playing field. As a of effective reasoning children will be able to define their role models as by morality, honor, citizenship, generativity, meritocratic personality traits, self-actualization, and interpersonal qualities (Guest & Cox, 2009). Connecting with my view that children cannot interact with athletes on a daily basis and form meaningful relationships creates a barrier preventing children from justifying why athletes should be role models. In order for children to agree that athletes can be role models, they would have to be around them on a daily basic and form a reputable relationship. And since athletes do not form reputable relationships with fans because it is not obligated as part of the athlete’s profession, it leaves athletes unqualified to be role models. So athletes are poor choices of role models for children because there are many favorable qualified individuals who can have more direct impact on the character of children and can interact and form meaningful relationships with the children. Therefore, elite athletes should focus on just being athletes, and children should just focus on being fans. This supports my teleological view of the greatest happiness and greater good for the greater
Every child at some point in their lives dream about becoming a rock star, doctor or an astronaut, but the career that stands out the most is becoming a professional athlete. Why? One reason could be the ever increasing media coverage on each individual sport with certain channels devoted for just that particular sport, keeping viewers updated and thirsting to get out and play. Another could be the ease of getting out in the backyard as a kid to shoot the basketball, throw a football, or hit a baseball because it is harder to perform heart surgery or fly to the moon when you're only a child. With that being said; it is easy to look up to a professional athlete and put your heart and soul into them wearing
Rodriguez and Degnan also had a part in their newspaper article of the “parents role” this showed the way most parents react to children when they play sports. “Parents must make a serious effort to take an active role in the youth sports experience of their children, providing positive support as a spectator, coach, league administrator and/or caring parent“ (Degnan, Rodriguez). This quote shows the serious effort that parents do take to make their child's sport as fun and enjoyable as possible. Published in the NY Times, Bill Pennington wrote an article about competitive sports and in his article he had a quote that shows how sports are good for kids “ sports teams for children is simply a sign of changing times; it is a valuable way, they say, to teach fundamental principles and competencies like teamwork, accountability, self-reliance and dealing with adversity “ (Pennington). Since many parents believe that there are no positive effects to sports and they just bring your confidence down, this quote lists the reasons why sports are so important to young kids. Although sports are a great way to keep kids on track, some still believe they have less time for learning. “Individualized instruction for athletes, once limited to individual sports like tennis, has become a national phenomenon in team
In a post in the Huffington Post states,“Much of the inordinate primacy of sport is based on a pervasive, anecdotal, understanding (at least amongst those in power) that sport is always and necessarily a ‘powerful teacher of valuable, positive tangential lessons’ (‘respect,’ ‘teamwork,’ ‘motivation,’ etc.)”(Quora). Athletes act as teachers to the youth, and teach lessons that can not be easily taught in the household. Getting experience is exactly what these events provide, and is exactly what minorities need in today's society. Teaching the children at a young age how to be leaders and work as a team, will guarantee a bright future for the nation as well as create many great adults for the future. New York Times states, “For the past 75 years, parents have enrolled their children in local Little League programs.
For example, Brene Brown once said, “ Sometimes the bravest and most important thing a child can do is just show up.” Not giving children a trophy after a long exhausting season teaches them that there is no value in trying. As Woody Allen once said, “ Eighty percent of life is showing up.” Sports can be a reflection of life, and teaching children that life is bigger than winning or losing is important. When children receive trophies, they get the message that being accountable, showing up, and working hard means something. Most children will not be a Michael Jordan or have the opportunity to be on winning teams, but that does not mean they are not embodying winning values
Everyplace you travel you see sports fanatics and most them as a child didn’t do thus good in sports, then they attempt to put their kid in sports programs. They would wish to get the athlete they never were. In sports you see athletes get hurt all the time. As a parent you would hate to see that happen to your child. Children who have a big risk of injury and could easily hurt their bodies. That doesn’t defeat the purpose of them being able to stay fit and learn lessons from playing. As a kid I enjoyed watching and playing sports, so it’s important for my kids to be able to enjoy it too.
Though it does not sound like a big issue, it is a major problem in our society. As little kids, they are incapable of doing activities. Thus, kids tend to copy their parents/guardian as the parents would set a good example. Mainly, in Australia, the country is known for sports such as AFL, NRL and the Australian Open. It can be enjoyed all over the world, no matter what age you are. “Sports Illustrated for kids did a survey from ages 7-12 about who their role model was. 96% answered that the person they looked up to was a professional athlete and the other 4% answered one of the parents was their role model.” Already we can see how many kids are influence over athletes. Kids who are in leagues, will learn consideration, teamwork and dedication through watching their role model’s games. To continue this attitude, athletes even off the field, go to hospitals, visit children at school or start an organization to help the needed and ill. However, not all athletes have this kind of heart and not considerate knowing they have people looking up to them. These athletes are not just cold hearted, but love to cause trouble. “Around 20%-60% of professional athletes stepped forward and have admitted to use some kind of performance enhancing drugs.” Kids are now hearing talks about drugs on news and talk shows on TV involving their role
Theoretical practices of sportsmanship in sports provide adolescents with positive attitudes about fairness, honesty, and responsibility. Athletes learn to reflect these values of sportsmanship and apply it to their daily lives, once again providing positive psychosocial benefits to youth athletes. “From the perspective of sport psychology, the sphere of research that encompasses the key concepts of sportsmanship, ethics, and morality has been termed moral development in sport” (Goldstein & Iso-Ahola 2006, p. 19). Moral development is influenced by the sporting environment that the adolescent is exposed too. The adolescent’s psychological growth is dependent on “moral cognitions (thoughts of right and wrong),
II: Why athletes shouldn’t be bad role models and why kids shouldn’t look up to
It is currently a contentious argument over whether professional athletes are proper role models for the youth or not. This essay will discuss both these views prior drawing a conclusion and giving my own perspective.
Often, even without trying an elite athlete becomes a role model for young people, this is because they are fit, focused and famous.
A role model, as described by Google is “a person looked to by others as an example to be imitated” (hello read me and find a god damn source!!!). Charles Barkley, a professional basketball player, said in a popular Nike ad, “I’m not a role model. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids” (Don’t forget bout me u dipwad!!!). This sparked the debate; “Should pro athletes be role models?” Children need a true hero to look up to, and these athletes satisfy that need. These athletes show the features of a hero, not a criminal. Adolescents need athletes as their role models to emulate their positive traits.
Michigan State University's report, "Sportsmanship: Building Character or 'Characters'?" on the Youth Sportsman Institute webpage, explains the basic idea of how the role of children's participation in sports affects their sportsmanship. The report gives examples of how good sportsmen, and bad sportsmen are viewed by society. The Youth Sports Institute says, "participation is viewed as a double-edged sword that may have either negative or positive effects on the child"("Sportsmanship",1) and that "the critical factor in determining whether the youth sports experience has a positive or negative effect on children is the quality of adult leadership"("Sportsmanship, 3).
Another critical factor to consider is the obesity epidemic as it is one of the greatest challenges facing Australia and many other developed nations. Australia is one of the most overweight nations, with 62.8% of adults and one in four children being overweight or obese (Health, 2014). One of the greatest problems facing youth sport is drop-out rates. Therefore, having successful elite athletes as role models to help inspire children to continue with their chosen sport, is vital. A study from Lockwood and Kunda found that “having successful athletes as role models provoke inspiration and self-enhancement when their success seems attainable to the observer” (Lockwood, P & Kunda, Z, 1997). Personally, I have witnessed a significant drop in sports
Role models have an astounding effect on the lives of young people in our society. A role model has the ability to shape the views, ideals, and actions of a young person. Role models help youth to discover how they wish to become in the future. The influence that role models have over young people is tremendous. It is important for role models to be positive and responsible in instilling good morals and values because future generations are directly dependent on the role models of today. By examining the influence of role models, role models in the community, and role models in the media, we will be able to determine the true effect that role models have on the lives of youth.
For generations people have turned to sporting events as a form of entertainment, but they also turn to sports as a way to be inspired and to be uplifted. Jesse Owens, Muhammad Ali, Cathy Freeman, and Michael Phillips are just some of the notable world-class athletes throughout history that have captured the minds of millions of people around the world and, in turn, have furthered the perception of an Olympic champion being a hero. To be a hero, one needs to have incredible discipline and determination, mental and physical strength, and a charisma and personality that is admirable and respected by people of all ages and from all backgrounds. Therefore, to fit the idea of a ‘hero’ is obviously not an easy one, especially in today’s world where