CHALLENGER AND NAIA

The Core Value of INTEGRITY
By Bruce E Brown, NAIA Special Presenter

What does integrity look like on an NAIA athlete of character?

"Truth has no special time of its own. Its hour is now - always." Albert Schweitzer

Integrity for an athlete is a simple concept. It is a choice of behaviors displayed in small daily decisions. The athlete has actions that follow their words and beliefs. Their core covenants and their behavior align. Their yes means yes and their no means no. The athlete says what they mean and follows that exact path. Their word is good, their handshake confirms the deal, and their signature is worth something. They are worthy of respect. The first step to building a successful team is surrounding yourself with people of integrity.

Please do not consider a person an "athlete" who says what is required and signs what is required, and then does whatever they want. Teams consisting of players without integrity have a tendency to self-destruct. Bad character and lack of integrity are always exposed in a team situation. When coaches focus on ability at the expense of character they are exposing the team to conflict and confusion within the inner circle and they are also creating potential problems for society. The model of the coach who focuses on strictly recruiting and developing the physical skills required to "win" games while overlooking their professional responsibility to teach character and hold our athletes to "standards higher than victory" is one that too often ends up producing outstanding individual performers who are destructive to their teams, to themselves, to their families and to society.

A lesson in integrity:
In a recent golf tournament, I overheard a commentary by television announcers about Tiger Woods. He had driven his ball in the fairway and it had come to rest in a divot. It was going to take what would normally have been an easy second shot and turn it into a much more difficult one out of a bad lie. One announcer said, "If Tiger would just slightly exaggerate his stance, his left foot would be on a sprinkler head and he could take advantage of the rule that would allow him to drop the ball to a different and improved location on the fairway." The second announcer simply replied, "Tiger has way too much integrity to do that." What a tremendous compliment about an athlete. What was said in those few words was that his beliefs are so strong about himself and his game that he predictably would not even consider gaining an advantage by stretching the rules. Athletes of integrity are the best representatives of their sport, of their families and of our society.

"If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you do not have integrity, nothing else matters." Senator Alan Simpson

Life is a journey of integrity. Being an NAIA athlete of character prepares you for it.

Champions of Character core values

For more information on the Champions of Character initiative, contact the NAIA National Office at 913-791-0044 or www.championsofcharacter.org.