© 2009 Josephson Institute

Instructions

This self-assessment should take about 10 minutes. Your answers will be kept private and confidential. Please answer every question honestly.

If a question does not apply to you, or you aren't comfortable answering it, just leave it blank.

This assessment is for coaches, administrators, and parents. If you're an athlete, please go to the PVWH webpage and click on the link for the athletes' self-assessment.

To see how others answered these questions check back on the Pursuing Victory With Honor web page (above) or leave your e-mail address at the bottom of the test so we can send them to you when they are ready.

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* 1. Gender.

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* 2. Age.

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* 3. Residence.

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* 4. What level of sports are you predominantly involved in?

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* 5. What is your current role? You may check more than one box.

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* 6. In which of the following sports have you been involved in during the past year (you may check more than one). If you're a sports administrator dealing with multiple sports, leave blank.

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* 7. Which, if any, of the following are problems in your sport that you think should be addressed more aggressively? (You may check more than one box.)

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* 8. Which of the following statements comes closest to your view as to what ought to be THE MOST IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE for a coach at the level you're involved in?

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* 9. FOR COACHES ONLY. At the end of your coaching career, a testimonial in your honor is planned. Which of the following forms of tribute would you be most proud of?

PLEASE INDICATE WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS.

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* 10. Sportsmanship is an overrated concept. I would rather win than be considered a good sport.

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* 11. Because most high school coaches accept responsibility for character-building, varsity athletes cheat and steal less than the average high school student.

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* 12. In sports, people who are willing to break the rules are more likely to succeed than people who are not.

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* 13. Because officials don't see or call every infraction, it's generally proper to do whatever they let you get away with.

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* 14. An athlete or coach should do whatever is not specifically prohibited by the rules if it helps him or her win.

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* 15. People should always play by the rules even if their opponents aren't and/or it means losing.

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* 16. Effective taunting and trash-talking that throws an opponent off his/her game is a legitimate part of competitive sports.

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* 17. Whether an athlete takes performance-enhancing substances should be a personal choice, not a matter of rules.

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* 18. A coach who has good reason (though not certainty) to believe an athlete has an eating disorder or is taking performance-enhancing drugs should pursue the issue until he/she is either convinced there is no problem or the problem is being adequately addressed.

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* 19. In today's society, one has to lie or cheat at least occasionally to succeed.

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* 20. I am more ethical than most people I know.

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* 21. If I thought I could get away with it, I would lie on a resume to get a job I really wanted.

WHAT'S PROPER AND ACCEPTABLE SPORTS BEHAVIOR? Whether or not you would personally engage in the conduct, indicate whether you agree or disagree that the conduct described below is an acceptable part of the game.

IF YOU HAVE INSUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE, NO OPINION, OR THE QUESTION DOES NOT APPLY, JUST SKIP THE QUESTION (leave it blank).

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* 22. After making a great play, an athlete pounds his/her chest boastfully and does an "in your face" celebration dance in front of an opponent.

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* 23. A coach who learns that one of his/her athletes is using performance-enhancing substances tries to discourage further use but does nothing else -- even after the use continues.

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* 24. A coach instructs the groundskeeper to alter the field believing it will give his/her team an advantage (soaking a field to slow down opponents, sloping a foul line to keep bunts fair, letting grass grow long, etc.).

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* 25. In order to energize his/her team, a coach deliberately swears at an official to get thrown out of the game.

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* 26. A coach deliberately makes the visitors' locker room uncomfortably hot or cold to throw the other team off its game and gain an advantage.

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* 27. A coach, knowing the star player on the other team is a hothead, instructs his/her team to taunt, provoke, and foul the star to get the player to react and get thrown out of the game.

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* 28. An athlete who knows other athletes have done so without getting caught, illegally alters his/her equipment (e.g., hockey stick, baseball bat) to gain an advantage.

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* 29. Before an important game, a coach receives an anonymous envelope containing an opponent's playbook the coach is certain is current and authentic. The coach uses it to prepare his/her team.

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* 30. In a sport where certain types of contact with an opponent are illegal (e.g., holding, hand-checking, pushing, or grabbing), a coach teaches his/her players to violate the rule in ways that will be least likely to be detected.

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* 31. In a sport where only a certain number of team time-outs are allowed, a coach with no time-outs left instructs a player to fake an injury to get an "official" time-out.

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* 32. In baseball or softball, a player is hit by a pitch. The next inning, that team's coach instructs his/her pitcher to throw at one of the opposing batters.

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* 33. In soccer, a player deliberately fakes getting fouled by an opposing player in the hope that the ref will give the opponent a red card and remove him/her from the game.

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* 34. In soccer, during a penalty kick, a goalie deliberately leaves the line too soon to block the kick hoping the referee won't see or call the violation.

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* 35. In a contact sport, a coach instructs players to go after the injured shoulder of the other team's leading player to slow him/her down or get him/her out of the game.

PERSONAL CONDUCT.

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* 36. In the past year, I used offensive racial slurs or insults.

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* 37. In the past year, I lied or misrepresented myself to save money (e.g., got a discount I wasn't entitled to).

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* 38. In the past year, I was given too much change by a cashier and kept the money.

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* 39. In my senior year in high school, I cheated on an exam. (If you don't remember, leave blank.)

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* 40. In my senior year in high school, I stole something from a store. (If you don't remember, leave blank.)

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* 41. If a coach of ATHLETES 17 OR UNDER wanted to, he/she could have a significant positive impact on an athlete's values, attitudes, and conduct in which of the following areas? (You may mark more than one box. If you have no opinion or think a coach can't have a significant impact, don't check the box.)

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* 42. If a coach of ATHLETES 18 OR OVER wanted to, he/she could have a significant positive impact on an athlete's values, attitudes, and conduct in which of the following areas? (You may mark more than one box. If you have no opinion or think a coach can't have a significant impact, don't check the box.)

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* 43. FOR COACHES ONLY. As a coach, I try to positively impact my athletes' values and conduct in the following areas: (You may mark more than one box.)

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* 44. How important is religion in your life?

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* 45. Number of questions on this assessment that you did not answer with complete honesty.

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* 46. If you would like to receive the results of this survey, please put your e-mail address here. This is optional. We will put you on our regular distribution list ONLY if you ask us to below.

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* 47. Would you like us to use the above e-mail address to put you on our distribution list for other surveys, our free monthly sportsmanship newsletter, and other notices? (You can unsubscribe easily at any time.)

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* 48. What is your opinion of this survey? (You may check more than one.)

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* 49. How did you learn about this assessment?

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* 50. Comments, thoughts, or suggestions:

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* 51. If you are a coach or athletic director are you interested in encouraging your athletes to take the Athlete's version of this assessment? If so, please let us know below and direct them to www.charactercounts.org/sports

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* 52. We are seeking to build a national cadre of trainers to promote the principles of Pursuing Victory With Honor (see www.charactercounts.org/sports). If you are interested in finding out more please put your e-mail address here:

 
 100% of survey complete.

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