Our Centers for Ethics:

Links related to sportsmanship

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These organizations are not necessarily affiliated with or endorsed by the CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition, but many of them are doing terrific work!

• Active.com: The online community of the Amateur Athletic Union, Little League Baseball, North American Soccer Camps, and NFL Youth Football.

• American Sports Institute: Includes information on programs and services aimed at "bringing forth the human spirit through mental discipline and physical endeavor." Also available on the site is an audio clip from an interview with former UCLA coach John Wooden.

• American Youth Soccer Organization: A long-time member of the CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition.

• Athletes for a Better World: According to its mission statement, it seeks "to change the culture of sport by developing individual character, teamwork, and civic responsibility through commitment to the Code for Living." This code is available online and may be printed and signed.

• California Interscholastic Federation: Features a Pursuing Victory With Honor program developed in conjunction with CC! Sports.

• Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport

• Citizenship Through Sports Alliance: Includes links to pages of professional sports leagues, plus articles on sportsmanship.

• CoachWooden.com: Includes ideas from and interviews with legendary former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden.

• eTeamz.com: Seeks to connect players, coaches, and families by offering free websites for all of the above (along with sites for teams and leagues). Hundreds of tips and drills are also available.

• flexxCOACH: Offers consulting services, clinics, camps, and products to improve youth sports programs.

• GetPsychedSports.org: Advocates "a written sport and cognitive-behavioral psychology curriculum for coaches and a text for kids to lessen violence in society."

• Institute for International Sport: Conducts the annual National Sportsmanship Day.

• Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State University: Conducts research and offers training programs, coaching handbooks, and other materials for parents, coaches, officials, and administrators.

• The Mental Game Plan: Offers information about programs to help coaches, players, and parents communicate and to help student-athletes improve attitudes and mental focusing.

• Michigan High School Athletic Association: Offers a pioneering sportsmanship program and downloadable kit.

• National Alliance for Youth Sports: Lots of general information and links for parents, coaches, and kids.

• National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics: Began a "Champions of Character" initiative to create an environment in which every NAIA student-athlete, coach, official, and spectator is committed to the true spirit of competition through respect, integrity, responsibility, servant leadership, and sportsmanship.

• National Association of Sports Officials: Publishes Referee, a monthly magazine for officials of most sports at all levels.

• National Congress of State Games: A membership organization comprised of State Games across the country that provides information about events and links to other youth sports organizations.

• National Council of Youth Sports: Offers a newsletter and news alerts, coordinates citizen-action campaigns, and conducts conferences related to amateur athletics.

• National Federation of High School Associations: Includes links to all U.S. and Canadian member associations.

• National High School Coaches Association: Provides leadership and support to coaches and their programs.

• National Institute for Sports Reform: Seeks to create a more healthy sports culture by "curtail[ing] the proliferation of poor sportsmanship, violence, unethical conduct, and misbehavior of players, coaches, and fans." It also offers a list of recommended books and websites.

• North American Youth Sport Institute: Offers online training, information, and youth-sports materials for sale.
  

• Ohio University Coaching & Athletic Administration: Coaching Youth Sports: A guide with tips on being a responsible coach, communicating with players, and working with parents.
  

• PELINKS4U: A biweekly online magazine for professionals in physical education, health, fitness, and coaching.

• Positive Coaching Alliance: A nonprofit organization based at Stanford University that seeks "to transform youth sports so sports can transform youth."

• Sports PLUS

• SportsLink.org: A directory of sports organizations that also sells products and services.

• USA Volleyball

• World TEAM Sports: Organizes sporting events, with a special focus on athletes with disabilities, to promote teamwork and cooperation.