Do Character Education Programs in Sports Work?
In 2005, the Competitive Sports Office in the Department of Physical Education at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, instituted a formal character education program with a goal of developing character in student-athletes through their participation in a mandatory competitive sports experience. “Baseline” data was collected in the Fall 2005, then three years later in the Fall 2008. The results from this three year assessment were mixed, with some teams/athletes improving while others stayed the same or got worse. These results were not surprising due to the relative infancy of the character in sports program. A follow-up assessment is planned for the Fall 2010 where “better” results are expected because the program will have been in effect for five years.
