Building Character in Sports

A University of Idaho professor is conducting groundbreaking research that is helping coaches and teams develop a sense of unity built upon a foundation of character.

THE PROJECT
Sharon Stoll, a professor at the University of Idaho College of Education Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, is conducting groundbreaking research that is helping coaches and teams develop a sense of unity built upon a foundation of character. At a recent American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) event attended by 6,000 plus coaches, Stoll was part of a panel discussion about character in sports. She and her former graduate student also talked about the Servant Leadership concept — a program that she and her team of graduate students have been working on in the Center for ETHICS* at the University of Idaho College of Education.

The Servant Leadership concept began when College of Education doctoral student David Brunner was looking for a project. Since he was a graduate assistant with the University of Idaho football program and a former high school football coach, Stoll suggested he do a project on servant leadership that would help coaches understand what it’s all about.

“We have some good role models in football right now with Tony Dungy, coach of the Indiana Colts and Lovie Smith, coach of the Chicago Bears, who advocate leadership from a servant position,” Stoll said. “These models use the terminology regularly. You wouldn’t believe how many times the word “love” came up at the conference, which was interesting in a room full of coaches.”

THE IMPACT
The AFCA focuses on promotion, legislative matters, ethics and professional standards related to the game of football. Stoll’s concept of servant leadership in sports has the potential to make a profound impact on thousands of high school athletes across the country.

After developing the idea of offering servant leadership training to coaches, Stoll, Brunner, working through the Center for ETHICS*, developed a program for coaches in which they could earn a Servant Leadership Certificate. Stoll and her staff began developing a curriculum that they hope will assess whether or not the program can change a coach’s perspective on leadership.

THE VISION
The Servant Sport Leadership Program helps coaches and teams develop a sense of unity built upon a foundation of character. The program will help define servant leadership and distinguish it from the more traditional styles of coaching.

“Servant leadership is not about being the most important person, it’s about the followers becoming better because of leadership,” said Stoll. Assessment and evaluation of the lessons, which are not graded, will be important to the Center for ETHICS* in understanding whether or not the curriculum can help change the way coaches think. “We want to know if coaches are open to a different way of thinking,” said Stoll.

The cost for the program is $50.00 and participants will earn 3.0 continuing education credits upon completion. To register, visit www.conferences.uidaho.edu and click “Online registration” and choose the course “Sport Servant Leadership.”

THE PEOPLE
Sharon Stoll, a professor in the University of Idaho Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; David Brunner, Center for ETHICS*doctoral student, who has also received the 2008 University of Idaho Graduate Teaching Award