|
Following are resources on ethics and
virtue in the field of
athletics and sports
gleaned from Internet reference searches.
No compensation received for
these listing, except an occasional link exchange.
Please report "dead" links to
appleseeds[at]franciscan[dot]edu
updated:
09/26/2024
Councils, Institutes and Foundations:
Index
-
Church and Sport - Pontifical Council for the Laity.
"To foster a sports culture, as a means of
bringing about the holistic growth of the person at the service of peace
and brotherhood between peoples."
Pope Pius XII: Quotations on Sports
"Sporting Activity in the Thought of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI" by
Bishop Josef Clemens
"Coaches: Educating People" –
May 14-15, 2015 International Seminar
by Pontifical Council for the Laity, Church and Sports Section.
Sport at the Service of Humanity (Vatican): Declaration of
Principles. "…guiding values that articulates how sport and faith can
harness their combined influence to serve the greater good…"
Vatican: "Giving the Best of Yourself: A Document on the Christian
Perspective on Sport and the Human Person", plus other interviews.
Vatican: The Dicastery for Laity,
Family and Life, June 1, 2018 (MS Word file).
Sport: School of Virtue - A Field of Christian Mission.
Statements promoting sports from Popes and Vatican offices.
Association of Church Sports and Recreation Ministers (CSRM): Train,
equip and resource local church staff and volunteers, mobilizing them to
build bridges in their communities using sport, recreation and leisure
activities for the purpose of leading people into a personal
relationship with Christ.
Catholic Athletes for Christ: There are seven core virtues that
Catholic Athletes for Christ consider to be very valuable in the
practice of the faith for athletes and those involved in the world of
sports. They are Charity, Honesty, Humility, Meekness, Moderation,
Purity, and Good-Sportsmanship.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes: challenging coaches and athletes
to use the powerful medium of athletics to impact the world for Jesus
Christ through Integrity, Serving, Teamwork and Excellence.
Foundation for the Study of Sports & the Christian Spiritual Life:
"our hope is that the community of believers might come to view their
participation in sports not as yet another activity on an already busy
schedule, but instead as an intentional and active desire to encounter
the sacredness of Christ amidst even the most seemingly profane
activities."
The Institute for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development at
Neumann University is rooted in the Catholic Franciscan tradition and
believes that sport possesses an inescapable spiritual and ethical
dimension that merits academic exploration and practical application.
-
Publications and Resources that help student-athletes, coaches,
administrators, and mentors foster the growth of their communities.
Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics (JIIA): Critically
examining ethical, social, economic, and political issues surrounding
college sport in the United States and providing readers with
thought-provoking editorials, research articles, and reviews.
John Paul II Foundation for Sport – Peace Through Sport. "A sports
foundation inspired by John Paul II’s vision for sport, which has as its
primary focus the building of character through sport skills and
fitness."
NAIA: The Champions of Character — "Five Core Values" (National
Association of Intercollegiate Athletics):
Help young people – and
those associated with their development – make good choices in all aspects
of their life and reflect the true spirit of competition. 5 Core Values:
Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Sportsmanship, Servant Leadership.
SportsLeader:
a virtue-based mentoring and motivation program for coaches of all ages,
youth through professional, for boys, girls, young men and young women.
Check out the Latest Updates section.
Varsity Catholic: "With a desire to serve the formative needs of
student-athletes,…We offer them an opportunity to learn how to live as
Christian athletes on the college campus."
Verité Sport
- International Sports Ministry: Promotes a Christian presence in sport, to take the
teachings of the Bible and to apply them to sport.
Articles
|
Theology of
Sport |
Sports Devotionals.
Blessings and
Prayers:
Index
"An Athlete's Prayer"
Compete Inside
"Believe"
Fr.
Brian Cavanaugh, TOR
(PDF)
"Beloved Young Athletes…"
Saint
John Paul II
A Coach's Prayer
"Competition"
Harold Myra
(PDF)
A Golfer's Prayer
Golf
Tournament Prayer
(PDF)
"On Our
Team..."
adaptation from 1 Thess. 5:11, 13, 15-18
(PDF)
Prayer for the Game of Life
Richard Cardinal Cushing
Press On Toward The Goal - Philippians 3:13
(PDF)
Rugby Team
Prayer - Franciscan University, Steubenville OH
"Team Prayer"
Coach Lou Holtz
(PDF)
"Team Prayer"
Fr.
Brian Cavanaugh, TOR
Chaplains:
Index
-
Athletic Commissioning Mass: Fr. Sean O. Sheridan, TOR, President of
Franciscan University of Steubenville, delivers his homily at the annual
Athletic Commissioning Mass. The Mass is offered up for all of the athletes,
coaches, and support staff that participate in Franciscan University's NCAA
Division III athletic programs.
Baseball
Chapel: an international ministry recognized by Major and Minor League
Baseball and is responsible for the appointment and oversight of all team
chapel leaders. Includes Daily Devotions and resource materials.
Coaching Staff and Sport Chaplain Expectations (FCA Chaplains)
"Collegiate Sport Chaplaincy: Problems and Promise" by Steven
Waller, Ph.D., D. Min., Lars Dzikus, Ph.D., Robin Hardin, Ph.D. Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics, 2008, 1, 107-123
107. © 2008 College Sport Research Institute."An
Epic Spiritual Development Plan for Athletes" by Coach Jay Phillips.
But what on earth is a spiritual development plan? Where do we start
when designing a spiritual development plan?
Online Meetings for Character Coaches and Sports Chaplains (YouTube)
Role
of a Chaplain – Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
PDF (FCA): clearly communicates the
Gospel message in the context of the athletic mindset.
Role of a Sports Chaplain:
Sports Chaplaincy UK - Serving Sport Through Excellence in Chaplaincy - provides ‘holistic pastoral and spiritual
care…all towards the well-being of people in sport.’
Role of a Sport Team Chaplain
The Sports Chaplain – Educator and Pastor
(Pontifical Council of the
Laity – Church and Sport).
Sports Chaplain/Character Coach Blog (Roger Lipe, FCA Southern
Illinois): This is a blog for my colleagues who are engaged in ministry
with people of sport. In particular it is for those of us who refer to
our roles as "Sports Chaplain," or "Character Coach."
(PDF)
Sport Chaplaincy: Adding a Game Face to the Many Faces of Chaplaincy
by Anthony Maranise (in "Inside Homeland Security" as well as edited
into a chapter in the textbook, "Sports Chaplaincy: Trends, Issues, &
Debates," edited by Drs. Andrew Parker, Nick Watson, & John White),
2014; 2016, respectively.
"Sports Clichés to Avoid Using" by Roger Lipe
Sports Team Chaplains: offer a special ministry to student-athletes
and make them aware of God’s presence on the field, court, and rink.
The Institute for Sport, Spirituality and
Character Development – Neumann University.
Sports Team Chaplaincy Guide.
Team Chaplain Resources: Neumann University Institute for Sport,
Spirituality and Character Development. Team chaplains offer a special
ministry to student-athletes and make them aware of God’s presence on
the field, court, and rink. Here, we offer resources aimed at guiding
you through the formation of team chaplains in your own athletic
program.
Theology of
Sport |
Sports Devotionals:
Verité Sport - International Sports Ministry
Virtues, Ethics & Character Development:
Index
Catholic News Agency - Resources - Virtues: Includes
The Nature of Virtue,
Character Action Media: consists of video-based lessons of inspiring
stories of individuals living out the personal and civic virtues in ways
that are relevant to youth. Lessons help students understand the
virtues, inspire them to live out the virtues, and present individual
and group activities relevant to the focused virtues.
Character Education:
The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa
Clara University.
“Citius. Altius. Fortius.” by Michael Pakaluk, August 5,
2021. Latin for “Faster. Higher. Stronger.” But that is not the
Olympic motto, as you may suppose. It’s the original motto,
indeed, proposed by a French Dominican, Fr. Henri Didon, and
adopted by his friend, the reviver of the Games in modern times,
Pierre de Coubertin. But on July 20, 2021 the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) revised it to become, Citius, Altius,
Fortius – Communiter: “Faster, higher, stronger – together.”
“The Choice of Gratitude”
Henri Nouwen
(PDF)
"Choose a Virtue in the New Year": Instead of taking the traditional
route of making resolutions, how about selecting one word, a virtue?
This virtue can support your vision for the year ahead and be a steady
guide and inspiration for what's to come."
-
Virtues List: Virtues are the essence of our character and
character does indeed determine destiny. The more we recognize the
potential impact that practicing virtues can have on our lives, the
more our lives open up to new possibilities and to greater joy and
fulfillment.
Christian Reflection: A Series in Faith and Ethics
(Baylor University): Helping to think
with a Christian mind about the ethical issues in our society.
(Center for Christian Ethics
at Baylor University), © 2009, Darin H. Davis and Paul J. Wadell.
Moral education should provide the young with an understanding of
life worthy of themselves – a
compelling account of goodness and how to achieve it. If we ask the
young only to pursue their desires, should we be surprised if,
instead of being uplifted by the freedom we hold out to them, they
become bored and disenchanted?
Christian Reflection - Ethics Library
(Christian Reflection - Baylor
University)
"The Content of Our Character: Ten Essential Virtues" by Tom Lickona
adapted from Character Matters. What is the content of good
character? How a school defines character – what it includes or omits in
its target virtues – will shape the goals and activities of its
character education initiative.
EthicsFinder (Australian Catholic University): expertly curated
ethics search engine database gathering and displaying thousands of
links to existing high-quality articles, books and videos from across
the web, it is a comprehensive and continually updated 'one-stop shop'
for anyone interested in a broad range of ethical, philosophical,
cultural and social issues and, in particular, Catholic approaches.
Guzman_The Virtuous Man— The Catholic Gentleman
Habits You Can Use To Be Successful (And Some To Avoid): One of the
best ways to improve yourself is through good habits.…it really can make
a difference in how successful you are at accomplishing your goals.
The Life of Virtue - Virtue in Sport?
The English Dominican
Studenate, Saturday, September 05, 2009
"An Open Letter to the College Athlete in 2020"
Kailyn Stone
"Players' Code of Conduct"
Joe Ehrmann
(PDF)
The Power of
Choice #2
(PDF)
"Sport: a School of Moral Values": Homily by Fr. Brian Cavanaugh,
TOR - Franciscan University Athletic Department Retreat - August 11,
2020.
What is Servant Leadership?
(Greenleaf Center for Servant
Leadership): The phrase "Servant Leadership" was coined by Robert K.
Greenleaf in "The Servant as Leader," first published in 1970.
(PDF)
Pope Francis: Cycle of
Catecheses. Vices and Virtues
-
1. Introduction: Safeguarding the Heart. General Audience |
Wednesday, 27 December 2023
-
2. Constant Spiritual Striving. General Audience | Wednesday, 3
January 2024
-
3. Gluttony. General Audience | Wednesday, 10 January 2024
-
4. Lust. General Audience | Wednesday, 17 January 2024
-
5. Avarice. General Audience | Wednesday, 24 January 2024
-
6. Wrath. General Audience |
Wednesday, 31 January 2024
-
7.
Despondency of the Soul | General Audience | Wednesday,
7 February 2024
-
8. Acedia (Lack of Care) |
General Audience | Wednesday, 14 February 2024
-
9. Envy and Vainglory | General Audience | Wednesday, 28
February 2024
-
10. Pride | General Audience | Wednesday, 6 March 2024
-
11. Virtuous Action | General Audience | Wednesday, 13 March
2024
-
12. Prudence | General Audience | Wednesday, 20 March 2024
-
13. Patience | General Audience | Wednesday, 27 March 2024
-
14. Justice | General Audience | Wednesday, 3 April 2024
-
15. Fortitude | General Audience | Wednesday, 10 April 2024
-
16. Temperance | General Audience | Wednesday, 17 April 2024
-
17. Life of Grace According to the Spirit | General Audience |
Wednesday, 24 April 2024
-
18. Faith | General Audience | Wednesday, 1st May 2024
-
19. Hope | General Audience | Wednesday, 8 May 2024
-
20. Charity | General Audience | Wednesday, 15 May 2024
-
21. Humility | General Audience | Wednesday, 22 May 2024
"Virtue and The Art of Living" by Dr. Edward P. Sri. A
10-part series of essays on virtue and the art of living. Lay Witness is a publication of
Catholic United for the Faith, Inc.
Dr. Edward P. Sri
The Art of Living: The First Step of Prudence.
Dr. Edward P. Sri
(PDF):
Cardinal Virtues of Prudence, Justice,
Fortitude & Temperance
The Art of Living: Agony, Anxiety, and Decisiveness.
Dr. Edward P. Sri
The Art of Living: Patience and Perseverance.
Dr. Edward P. Sri
Called to Greatness: The Virtue of Magnanimity.
Dr. Edward P. Sri
Vainglory: Seeking the Praise of Men.
Dr. Edward P. Sri
Temperance and the Art of Eating.
Dr. Edward P. Sri
Anger and Virtue.
Dr. Edward P. Sri
Whose Rights? The Paradox of Moral Relativism.
Dr. Edward P. Sri
"Don't Impose Your Morality on Me!
Dr. Edward P. Sri
The Virtue of Prudence by Douglas McManaman
"The Virtue of Discernment"
Confraternity of Penitents
(PDF)
The Virtue-Driven Life by Mark Lowery, Ph.D. There are four cardinal
moral virtues: prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude. They are
called "cardinal" from the Latin word for "hinge," (cardo,
cardinis) since
the whole life of natural virtue pivots on these four key virtues. Think
of these as "grooves" in your life that keep you headed toward your final
destiny. Every particular virtue
- patience, magnanimity, gratitude,
trust
- belongs to one of these grooves.
Virtue of Sport - St. John Paul II
(PDF) Catholic Register – Canada, 25 July 2012
Virtues for Life: Designed to inspire and coach you in the daily
practice of virtues so that you can achieve your personal best and,
consequently, lead a more extraordinary life.
-
Virtues List: Virtues are the essence of our character and
character does indeed determine destiny. The more we recognize the
potential impact that practicing virtues can have on our lives, the
more our lives open up to new possibilities and to greater joy and
fulfillment.
Virtues For Well-Being: Living With Peacefulness In Any Life Situation
by Rachel Perry.
Virtuous Leadership: A 12-point summary of Alexandre Havard’s model. Havard states that "Leadership is intrinsically linked to virtue." This
summary includes the virtues of magnanimity and humility, prudence
(practical wisdom), courage, self-control and justice. "By practicing
the virtues, leaders become mature in their judgments, emotions, and
behavior."
Articles:
Index
-
"A Christian Perspective on Sport" by Fr. Brian Cavanaugh, TOR.
St. John Paul II said, "Sportsmanship, as an ideal, is all about
character. It’s about humility, honesty, loyalty, respect and
generosity. It is not a quest for perfection but, like a faith journey,
sportsmanship is a quest for virtue."
(PDF)
-
10 Types of Negative Self-Talk (and How to Correct Them): Nick
Wignall | July 27, 2018 | IN Guides. "A lot of mental and emotional
suffering comes from the way we talk to ourselves in our own minds, what
psychologists call negative self-talk.
-
"10 Ways to Be a Great Teammate"
Jon Gordon & Dr. Lauren Gallagher
(PDF)
"11 Thoughts About Teamwork"
Jon Gordon
(PDF)
"Anxiety & Competition" Roger Lipe
(PDF)
Appreciate the Things You Have
Coach John Wooden
(PDF)
Are You Praying for Victory? There can be an Uneasy Intersection
Between Faith and Sports: by Jim Fair, April 6, 2021 | Exaudi Catholic
News.
"Are You a Real Team?
Jon Gordon
(PDF)
"Aspire
and Persevere" Coach Frank DiCocco
(PDF)
“Attitude”Roger D. Lipe
(PDF)
Be A Man: Joe Ehrmann at TEDxBaltimore (Feb 20, 2013). Joe Ehrmann
has been an educator, author, activist, pastor and coach for more than
25 years. He was a college All-American athlete who played professional
football for 13 years. Among numerous awards, Joe has been named "The
Most Important Coach in America" for his work to transform the culture
of sports.
"Be Grateful for all Your Skills and Talents"
Rabbi Zelig Pliskin
(PDF)
Between Active & Contemplative: The Co-mingling of Sports & Christian
Theology by Anthony Maranise (in "The Church Health Reader"), 2015.
Catholic Sports Not Just about Wins, but the Common Good – CRUX: by
Father Patrick Kelly Jan 31, 2017.
"Clarity is a Virtue"
Joe Ehrmann
(PDF)
"Character and Sports" by Dan Roloff. The High Calling, Oct. 10,
2005.
"The Christian's Competitive Instinct" by Earl Palmer. "The word for
competition in the New Testament is the Greek word athleo, from
which we have the English word athletic.…[St.] Paul uses the word
athleo. He competes as one of a team of runners united against
hardships, dangers, fears, and time – not against people or one another.
This is the best way to compete, because it focuses not on my
superiority or inadequacy alongside fellow athletes but our work
together in a grand race to God’s glory…"
"The Coach for Our Lives: Role of
the Holy Spirit in the New Millennium." © March 2007, Fr. Brian
Cavanaugh, TOR.
"Coaches' Code of Conduct"
Joe Ehrmann
(PDF)
"Cooperative Competition"
Joe Ehrmann
(PDF)
"Discipline & Knowledge - Proverbs 23:12"
Roger Lipes
(PDF)
"Don’t Let Conflict Keep You from Success" by Chris Widener
Emotional Health of Athletes and Coaches in Sport - Part 1:
Interview with Assistant Professor Benjamin Houltberg from Indiana
University–Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW);
Part 2 of interview with Assistant Professor Houltberg.
Faith and Athletics Blog: Creating the Intersection of Faith and
Athletics
God is Greater than the Game by Anthony Maranise (in "The West
Tennessee Catholic" newspaper), 2009.
Honoring God through Sports (YouTube): Famous athletes that are not
ashamed of whom they belong 2. Using your talent and winning is not a
problem as long as your heart is on the right place and putting God
first.
"How Not to Determine Your Self-Worth" by Jay Phillips (FaithandAthletics.com).
There is a problem in contemporary athletics that is played out in our
homes, high schools, colleges, with our idols of the game, and in
plenty of movies. Many young men and women derive their self-worth from
their success or failure in sport.
"Incarnational
and Redemptive - Theology of Sports" by Richard McGrath, OSA,
Momentum, Nov./Dec.2009, pp. 8-12. When done well and initiated from an
appropriate Gospel perspective, the good experiences in sports spill
over into the lives of players, parents and siblings, into the lives of
their coaches and teachers and to the entire Catholic community.
"Inspiration Evokes the Vision - Motivation Empowers the Mission"
(PDF)
Learning from Observation and Study
(PDF)
"Look For The Notetakers"
Mike Deegan, Life
Lessons Learned through Sports
(PDF)
Love the Game
(PDF)
Life Lesson from Coach Dabo Swinney
(PDF)
"Lessons From the Racquetball Court"
Steve Goodier
(PDF)
"The Man Who Is Not Afraid of Failure Seldom Has to Face It"
(PDF)
"Olympians & the Book of Hebrews: Running with Perseverance". Institute
For Faith, Work & Economics – Hugh Whelchel | August 11, 2021. “And let us
run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,
the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Heb 12:1-2.
"Perfectionism Doesn’t Look Like We Think it Does": Most of us
associate perfectionism with achievement, but they are not the same.
Aleteia | Calah Alexander | Jul 20, 2017.
"The Pernicious Folly of Comparison"
Roger Lipe
(PDF)
Philosophic Reflections in Sport ~ A Collection of Essays.
Jerzy Kosiewicz, Academy of Physical Education, Warsaw, Poland,
September 2005.
Philosophy of Sport: news and views related to the philosophical
dimensions of sport.
Policy Standards on Formation of the Human Person in Catholic School and
College Sports: October 8, 2021 | The Cardinal Newman Society.
“The goals of a Catholic institution’s sports program include
student-athlete growth in physical skills and strength, growth in
Christian character and virtue, and becoming a selfless and supportive
member of a community. Through integral and holistic Catholic education,
student-athletes will come to understand who they are as unified persons
of body and soul, as sons and daughters of God, and as responsible
members of a community.”
Practice Makes Perfect: Growing Spiritually through Sports Participation
by Anthony Maranise (in "The Catholic World: A Journal at the
Intersection of Faith & Culture"), 2009.
Press On Toward The Goal - Philippians 3:13
(PDF)
"Proverbs 13:4 - Lazy of Diligent?"
Roger Lipe
(PDF)
"The Pursuit of Excellence and the Scourge of Doping: Ethics in Sport as
a Social Paradigm" by Fr. Kevin Lixey, LC, International Sport
Forum, June 2, 2010, Brussels.
"A Reason To Win – The Only Disability in Life is a Bad Attitude":
Matthew Jeffers, a senior acting major at Towson University in Maryland
wrote a letter to the Baltimore Ravens, his favorite NFL team. It was a
perspective of his struggles with Skeletal Dysplasia, in relation to the
struggles of winning a Super Bowl, with the ultimate lesson that, "Life
is not fair," it doesn't care about feeling sorry for yourself or
self-pity.
"Self-Talk of Persistence & Perseverance"
Rabbi Zelig Pliskin
(PDF)
"The Smallest Good Deed is Better than the Best Intention"
Coach John
Wooden
(PDF)
"The Spirit in Competition" by Tim Stafford. The High Calling, Jan.
15, 2008.
"The Spirituality of Sports in Catholic Schools" by Chad Evans,
Momentum, Nov./Dec.2009, pp. 36-38.
"Sports and Character: Five Question! Five Answers" by Edward
DeRoche, Momentum, Nov./Dec.2009.
Sports and Christianity:
Articles on issues and topics in
Christianity and Sports.
"Sports and God" – Remarks by Ray McKenna, Catholic Athletes for
Christ, Presented to the International Seminar on Sports at the Service
of Humanity, Vatican Pontifical Council for Culture, Vatican City,
September 2, 2014.
"Sports and Spirituality in Jesuit Higher Education" by Mark
Bandsuch, S.J. Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education, Volume 21
Article 6, 4-1-2002.
Sports Are Not Only Play, But Are a Way to Sainthood.
July
23, 2018 | ZENIT interview with Fr. Patrick Kelly, SJ, Ph.D., associate
professor, Seattle University: "…sports has a significant impact on
human beings and relationships between cultures, nations and religious
traditions."
"Sport in Light of the Year of St. Paul and in Response to the
‘Educational Emergency’" by Fr. Kevin Lixey, LC. Sports Symposium in
conjunction with the XX Parafiada Games, John Paul II Olympic Center,
Warsaw, July 7, 2008.
Superstition & Religious Ritual: An Examination of their Effects &
Utilization in Sports from a Judeo-Christian Perspective by Anthony
Maranise (in "The Sport Psychologist"), 2013.
"Team - Spirit"
Swen Eric Nater
(PDF)
"Timeless Lessons From John Wooden, the Greatest Coach of All Time"
– SUCCESS March 13, 2016. Four essays from those influenced by the
leadership icon and legendary basketball coach
Toward a Theology of Competition and Sport by Dr. Greg Linville.
"Triple-Play: Linking Sports, Spirituality, and Catholic Higher
Education" by Michael Galligan-Stierle and Lee M. DelleMonache.
Reprinted by permission of National Catholic Reporter,
ncronline.org.
The Ultimate Guide to Strength Sports for Masters Athletes (And Why
They’re for You): Nick English | Updated on June 9, 2020. What we
really want to focus on is how being a regular old amateur who takes up
strength sports as a hobby — like your buddies who play pickup
basketball or football — can experience huge benefits to their physical
and mental health.
"What Do Sports and Prayer Have in Common?" by Charles Bouvier –
Aleteia, March 4, 2017.
What Makes a Team Strong?
"Whether God Has a Rooting Interest" by Marek Fuchs (NY Times)
Wooden Wednesday: Try to Help Others Every Day
(PDF)
"Work & Play: What is the Spirit of the Game?" by Dan Roloff. The
High Calling, Sept. 14, 2009.
Quotations on Sports:
Index
Books on Sports:
Index
Miscellaneous:
Index
Top
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