GOOD CITIZENSHIP KEY FOR SUCCESSFUL ATHLETES

No matter the level of experience, athletes must realize they are their own billboard or personal advertising system. What athletes say, what they do and how they act in various situations is an indication of the type of person they are. Their actions are also an indirect reflection of their families, teammates, coaches and school community. These actions are referred to as citizenship. Good citizenship leads to success both on and off the field.

Citizenship means observing the basic rules of decency, respect, responsibility and loyalty. Decency means acting in an appropriate manner toward officials which goes a long way towards enhancing both a team�s and a school�s reputation. Respect means athletes should hold themselves to a high standard in their roles a students during the day. This wins the cooperation and support of faculty and administration not directly involved with a sports program. Responsibility means athletes must keep themselves out of trouble and avoiding those things that can hinder performance, such as drinking alcohol or not getting proper rest. Dedication means being committed and enthusiastic. Attending every practice on time and working hard during practice shows dedication. Loyalty means recognizing that a team is a family unit. Teammates must earn one another�s tryst by being dependable and trustworthy.

Athletes should also behave and speak appropriately on the field, in the hallways of the school and around town. Keep in mind that your behavior reflects positively or negatively on others. You not only represent yourself but also your team, your school, your parents and your community both on and off the field. In addition, all athletes must be equally committed and willing to sacrifice time and energy to its success. The price of greatness is responsibility. Finally, never disrespect or �bad Mouth� teammates or coaches. Energy spent complaining takes away from energy spent on working to become better and improving weaknesses.