CHARACTER IN SPORT
Many of us encourage young people to participate in sport because of the positive qualities we believe it fosters. The ability to work as a team, have respect for others, grit and determination are all admirable and desirable qualities in an individual. We believe these attributes begin to form what we call character, and this has become a factor which is now often described as highly desirable in elite sport. Most recently we have seen a new and young England football team described at length by their character; what struck me was the apparent fondness and respect they have for each other as people, and as players, plus their ability to maintain composure as well as their willingness to play freely showing the sheer pleasure they have for their sport. This undoubtedly has been led by Gareth Southgate and the sport psychologist Pippa Grange and it was inspiring to see how these young men had discovered what they as individuals could bring to their team, yet where no single individual viewed themselves as having greater importance than another, or the team. Understanding the positive qualities and strengths associated with one’s
character can be transformational and can also contribute hugely to athletic performance. Taking the time to consider your strengths is useful; what ways are you able to think, feel and behave in a way that allows you to perform optimally? These qualities in an individual’s character can be perceived to be as valuable as technical skill but arguably these strengths can allow a person to extend beyond merely the ability to cope with the challenges of high-performance sport which can be critical to survival in the environment. Elite sport can have a detrimental impact on athletes’ well-being by promoting a focus solely on the sport which can encourage a narrow identity and the sheer competitiveness can be anxiety inducing. However, research suggests clear positive relationships exist between using one’s character strengths and well-being, thus knowing one’s strengths and being able to utilise them could lead to an improved sense of well-being and potentially performance. Furthermore, I encourage athletes to understand their character strengths to maximise their potential ahead
of entering the world of work after sport. This can be an additional tool in the career coaching process which allows an individual to better identify which career they may wish to pursue; specifically, what types of work and environment would be of interest. Along with assessing one’s values it can help the right choices to be made and subsequently a more fulfilling and enjoyable work life. Identifying strengths can be done through a variety of strengths-based profiles but also through good conversations with a person that knows you well. I would encourage everyone to think about their strengths, assess whether they are used in work, family life and every day interactions and experiment how using them can enhance experiences. Most importantly taking the time to reflect on how they can be optimised could lead to some realisations around how to enhance your own well-being. Dr. Arabella Ashfield BSc, PhD | Senior Performance Lifestyle Advisor British Cycling & PL Research Lead, English Institute of Sport
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