Sport in America: Builder of Character or “Characters”‪?‬

A dual citizen of Canada and the United States, Dr. Zeigler has taught, coached, researched, and administered programs at four universities. (Western Ontario [twice]; Michigan, Ann Arbor; Illinois, UIUC; Michigan, Ann Arbor; and Yale.) He has published 58 books and 445 articles. Eight of the top awards in his held in North America have been bestowed on him. He has received three honorary doctorates and is listed in Who’s Who in Canada, Who’s Who in America, & Who’s Who in the World.

As author, I (Earle Zeigler) thought “the world” would be a better place for all people by the turn of the 21st century. However, it doesn’t seem to be heading in that direction; so, I am forced to conclude: (1) that in many ways we are confused about what our values are at the present, (2) that we need to reconsider them and then re-state exactly what we believe they are in light of the changing times and, finally, (3) that we will then need to assess more carefully—on a regular basis!—whether we are living up to those values we finally choose and then so often in the past have glibly espoused with insufficient commitment to bring them to pass.

My main concern in this book, however, is (1) the way that America is using competitive sport in society for the wrong purposes and (2) the fact that America doesn’t recognize that physical activity education, including related health education and intramural athletics for the large majority of children and youth in education, has not been recognized for the outstanding contribution it could make to the lives of children and young people in their formative years especially.

Looking at sport specifically, we are permitting the type of sport competition in which fair play, honesty, and sportsmanship actually decline in the course of a university experience. We continue to promote the idea that winning is the only thing that matters! Further, we promote the idea that competitive sport is good for young people, but then neglect to arrange for intramural athletics in the schools for the large majority of children and youth. At the same time we arrange for athletic scholarships whether the young person has financial need or not! Finally, I regret to say that we have just scratched the surface with what I have reported above. And I haven’t even mentioned the “doping problem”!