DOCUMENT RESUME SP 037 659 ED 416 177 AUTHOR Nisivoccia, Joseph Dominick An Educational Model To Enhance Sportsmanship of Male High TITLE School Athletes during Interscholastic Athletic Events. 1997-00-00 PUB DATE 104p.; Ed.D Practicum, Nova Southeastern University. NOTE Dissertations/Theses PUB TYPE Practicum Papers (043) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC05 Plus Postage. Adolescents; *Athletics; Attitudes; *Behavior Problems; Data DESCRIPTORS Collection; Ethics; *High School Students; High Schools; *Males; Physical Education; Questionnaires; Self Control; Sport Psychology; *Sportsmanship; *Values ABSTRACT A solution for high school male athletes who demonstrate unsportsmanlike behavior during competition is discussed. In recent years, there has been an increase in unsportsmanlike conduct among high school athletes, including the use of profanity and obscene gestures, public expressions of dissatisfaction, negative comments, incidents of vandalism, on-court scuffles, and violent occurrences. Data gathered from a pre-test showed that male athletes had a low level of knowledge of the importance of sportsmanlike behavior and that many lacked an ethical code of behavior. Expected outcomes for 30 targeted male athletes from five different teams 15 out of 30 athletes will score at least 75 on the post-test; were: (2) (1) a decrease of warnings, fouls, and technical fouls by one third; (3) a decrease of disqualifications and suspensions by one half, and (4) an increase in the conference sportsmanship average for at least three of the five teams. To achieve these objectives a 32-week Sportsmanship Educational Model was implemented which educated the athletes and held them responsible for their behavior. After implementation of this program, three out of the four outcomes were achieved. Specific recommendations, including the establishment of a moral and ethical code in athletic programs, are given. (LH) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * * ******************************************************************************** An Educational Model to Enhance Sportsmanship of Male High School Athletes During Interscholastic Athletic Events by Joseph Dominick Nisivoccia Cluster 72 A Practicum II Report Presented to the Ed.D. Program in Child and Youth Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Education AND PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE HAS DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL BEEN GRANTED BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have heen Nova Southeastern University made to RESOURCES TH E EDUCATIONAL TO improve reproduction quality. ER (ERIC) ORMATION CENT INF 1 1997 Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. BEST COPY AVAILABLE PRACTICUM APPROVAL SHEET This practicum took place as described. Verifier: h Ciccone, Ed.D. Dr. Assistant Superintendent of Schools Title 100 Passaic Ave, Suite 2, Belleville, N.J. Address &71Vg7 Date This practicum report was submitted by Joseph D. Nisivoccia under the direction of the adviser listed below. It was submitted to the Ed.D. Program in Child and Youth Studies and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Education at Nova Southeastern University. Approved: Date of Final Approval of Report Dr. Richard Goldman, Ph.D. ii Abstract An Educational Model to Enhance Sportsmanship of Male High School Athletes During Interscholastic Athletic Nisivoccia, J.D., 1997: Practicum Report Nova Events. Southeastern University, Ed.D. Program in Child and Youth N.H.S. Sportsmanship Educational Design/ Studies. Resources/Athlete Assessment/Athlete Sportsmanship Questionnaire, Pre Test Post Test/Guide Lines of Model. The dilemma: There was a lack of ethical behavior and sportsmanship among the male high school athletes during The existing athletic interscholastic athletic events. program was not adequately addressing how the athletes should conduct their behavior while involved in sports activity. This Practicum Report discusses a solution for high school male athletes who demonstrate unsportsmanlike behavior This solution is effective during athletic competition. when athletes demonstrate a lack of ethical and moral reasoning in guiding their conduct. Analysis of the data revealed, overwhelmingly, that a comprehensive educational model to enhance ethical decision making would be a productive solution for male high school athletes who display poor sportsmanship behavior. It also revealed that holding the athletes personally responsible for their actions, after effectively educating them about proper ethics and morality, would increase the sportsmanship behavior in high school athletic events. Permission Statement As a student in the Ed.D. Program in Child and Youth give permission to Nova Studies, I do do not ( ) ( ) Southeastern University to distribute copies of the practicum report on request from interested individuals. It is my understanding that Nova Southeastern University will not charge for this dissemination except to cover the cost of microfiching, handling and mailing the materials. 1c\cI7 Ak)ek,is-i 13 (signature) (date) ' vi BEST COPY AVAILABLE Acknowledgement A sincere expression of gratitude to my family for giving me the support, encouragement, and strength to complete Practicum II. A special thanks to Joy C. Hammond for her inspiration, enthusiasm, and assistance throughout the project. Recognition to Dr. Richard Goldman, Ph.D. for his expertise and guidance, to Dr. Joseph Ciccone, Ed.D. for verification of the procedures, and to the student athletes who worked with me on accomplishing the sportsmanship learning project for this major practicum. iii Table of Contents Page Acknowledgment iii Introduction Chapter I: 1 Description of Community 1 Writer's Work Setting 1 Writer's Role 3 Chapter II: Study of the Problem 6 Problem Statement 6 Problem Description 6 Problem Documentation 7 Causative Analysis 14 Relationship of the Problem to the Literature 16 Chapter III: Anticipated Outcomes and Evaluation Instruments 21 Goals and Expectations 21 Expected Outcomes 22 Measurement of Outcomes 23 Chapter IV: Solution Strategy 26 Discussion and Evaluation of Solutions 26 Description of Selected Solution 30 Report of Action Taken 35 Chapter V: Results 41 Results 41 Discussion 53 Recommendations 78 Dissemination 80 iv Page References 81 Appendices 86 A. N.H.S. Athlete Sportsmanship Questionnaire 86 B. Student Athlete Behavioral Sheet 90 C. School Athletic Record Sheet 92 D. Athletic Conference Sportsmanship Ranking Sheet 94 E. N.H.S. Team Sportsmanship Ranking Scale 96 Tables 1. Pre Test Scores of the N.H.S. Athlete Sportsmanship Questionnaire 9 2. Data Collected from the Student Athlete Behavioral Sheet 11 3. Data Collected from the School Athletic Record Sheet 13 4. Data Collected from the Athletic Conference Sportsmanship Ranking Sheet 13 5. Post Test Scores of the N.H.S. Athlete Sportsmanship Questionnaire 46 6. Data Collected from the Student Athlete Behavioral Sheet 49 7. Data Collected from the School Athletic Record Sheet 52 8. Data Collected from the Athletic Conference Sportsmanship Ranking Sheet 52 v 1 Chapter I: Introduction Description of Community The community was a middle class suburban town located in the northeastern part of the nation. The 1994 census indicated the town's population was 36,500. The minority population in the town had grown from 5% in 1980, to over 50% in 1997. A 1994 "Home Language Survey," revealed that English was spoken in 50% of the students' homes with a total of 20 languages reported spoken in the other 50% of the households. Work Setting The work setting was a high school grades 9-12. The school system had approximately 4,000 students with about 1,200 of those students at the high school level. The school had 110 teachers on staff with an additional 25 professionals in guidance and administration. The school's student body included 45% white, 35% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 10% African American and 5% described as other nationalities. The school district recognized the impact of its changing population by accepting the opportunity to implement the "Guidelines For Education That Is Multicultural (GEM)." The GEM document and goals were 2 sponsored by the State's Department of Education, Office of Equal Educational Opportunity. GEM provided a comprehensive framework to assist local districts to meet the state and federal requirements for multicultural education. The district attempted to provide a comprehensive and flexible program that recognized the need for individual self-realization and for social and civic effectiveness. Offering a diverse program, the system provided the students with the opportunity to develop artistic and creative skills, as well as the command of a body of knowledge which contributes to the development of the total person. The school system was providing its students with the opportunity to develop technical skills with the use of computers and video technology. The school system offered the entire student body 16 team sports along with a wide variety of clubs and extra curricular activities. The athletic department was a member of the State's Interscholastic Athletic Association and was also a member of a local athletic conference. The school system's philosophy reflected the belief that involvement in sports contributes to the process of educating the youth and improves their mental, emotional, social, and physical health. The population for this practicum were male high school athletes in grades 10-12. Male athletes from the teams which had the most incidents of unsportsmanlike 3 conduct in the last season of play were selected. The target group was 30 selected male athletes, six from each sport, of the five sports which have the greatest problem with unsportsmanlike conduct. The teaching staff of the school system recognized their responsibility to provide students with a meaningful and relevant educational environment that contributed to their total development. Many knowledgeable, creative and concerned educators tried to provide a stimulating, supportive, disciplined and cooperative environment that encouraged growth of students and fostered the development of their physical, mental, moral, and social potentials as well as the intellectual. Writer's Role The writer's teaching experience had spanned over 19 years of instructing health and physical education for senior high school students. Holding a Bachelor of Science Degree in health and physical education, the writer was certified to instruct all subjects in elementary and high school physical education. Holding a Masters of Art Degree in educational administration and a Student Assist Counseling Certificate, the writer was also authorized to serve as a school administrator and to counsel students for substance abuse. The writer was one of 11 health and physical education teachers who were responsible for instructing physical education, health education, and driver's education to i D