GROWING OUR PROFESSIONAL FOOTPRINT

Dear Department Chair/Athletic Director,

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I recently had the opportunity to delve into the book over the weekend, and I must say, it resonated profoundly with the concepts and ideas I have been discussing in my academic sessions over the years. The insights presented in the book are invaluable, and I firmly believe that it serves as an essential read for coaches across all levels, offering reflective knowledge and methodologies that are pivotal in modern sports coaching.

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Reflecting on my personal journey as an athlete, I found a deep connection with the athletes' narratives presented in the book. My upbringing, under the guidance of my father, who was a coach himself, ingrained in me the essence of critical thinking in every aspect of life. This trait, however, often posed challenges, particularly in sports environments like football and wrestling, where questioning or analytical thinking was not the norm. The internal conflict this created was significant, and although I managed to navigate these situations, they were not without difficulty.

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The book's emphasis on cultivating critical thinking through sports is commendable. This approach effectively transforms sports from being merely an extracurricular activity to a co-curricular one, thereby integrating it seamlessly with academic experiences and enriching the overall value of sports education.

I would like to highlight a couple of research areas that might pique your interest, should you explore them further. The first area pertains to the integration of moral reasoning in sports coaching. Research indicates a gap in this area, with college and high school athletes often falling below expected levels in moral reasoning, despite the common notion that sports inherently teach sportsmanship and good values. This gap signifies a need for a greater number of adept coaches who can effectively reverse this trend by incorporating moral reasoning in their coaching practices.

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Another area of interest is the attribution theory, which underscores the significance of the rationale behind outcomes. This theory is particularly crucial during the formative years when developing a robust self-concept. For instance, the perception of failure in an exam can profoundly influence future performances, depending on whether the failure is attributed to personal incapacity or external factors like the exam's difficulty or inadequate preparation. The Book's approach to teaching shooting techniques is a prime example of steering clear of negative self-attribution, such as considering oneself a poor shooter due to a missed shot. Instead, the focus is shifted to aspects of the shooting process, promoting a healthier and more constructive mindset that emphasizes correctable errors. This approach is evident in my daughter Elena's experiences at the gym, where she focuses on the process rather than the outcome, a mindset that promises positive long-term results in her shooting skills.

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Thank you once again for the opportunity to review this enlightening piece. I look forward to further discussions and explorations in this field.

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Sincerely,

Dan Mahoney President, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC Department of Sports Management