Youth Soccer
"Sportsmanship, Ethics and Character-Building Resources"

The PVWH Perspective: The PVWH Summit on Youth Sports, which brought together leaders of many prominent youth sports organizations, established a consensus on the advisability of background checks (Gold Medal Standards for Youth Sports). While no statistics yet quantify the spread of screening, cost has often been a major obstacle, and if more companies follow ChoicePoint's example, kids are sure to benefit from the increased availability of added security.

HIRING COACHES OF CHARACTER

Few factors affect the climate of a sports program more than the character of the people administering it. This makes hiring coaches and other personnel one of the most important parts of any administrator's job. The following sample interview questions, adapted from those used by Vice Principal Eric Riegert of Lancaster (California) High School, should help determine the qualifications of prospective coaches, and their level of commitment to character education. They will appear in the Josephson Institute's upcoming "Ultimate Tool Kit" of sportsmanship, ethics and character-building resources.

• What is your experience or background in the sport you are interviewing for (high school, college, etc.)?
• Were you a head coach? An assistant?
• How would you organize and maintain the day-to-day aspects of a program?
• Explain your typical practice day for the entire team. Include warm-up and cool-down.
• How would you choose your lower level/assistant coaches, and what would be their assignments?
• Do you have any prior commitments or situations that would prevent you from being with your players, attending practices or games, or being on campus for club meetings?
• How would you handle an objection from an athlete, or his or her parent, who was cut or released from your team due to a discipline reason?
• What are examples of your policies about playing time, practice, team discipline, etc.?
• How would you have your entire team show and practice good character on the athletic field?
• How would you incorporate the Six Pillars of Character trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship) into your program?