essay sporting heroes should try to be good role models

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The Pros & Cons of Athletes as Role Models

Whether people like it or not, sports celebrities are now more influential than ever before.

And while not all people think athletes as role models are a good thing, the truth is, there are both positive and negative sides of the issue to explore.

In this piece we’ll be answering the age-old question: are athletes good role models?

Why Athletes Are Good Role Models

Although athletes get both negative and positive coverage in the press and in general, the truth is, there are plenty of reasons why it’s a good thing that athletes are role models.

For starters, professional athletes as role models makes sense because there are simply so many to choose from. There’s a handful of widely popular sports, each of which has its own celebrities, stars, and leaders, which means that there’s never a shortage of accomplished people who can share their stories and provide inspiration to all types of audiences.

This diversity means that almost anyone can find an athlete with a similar background who they can relate to and whose message resonates particularly well with a specific group of people.

What’s more, the variety of different examples of success makes it very easy to relate to and the stories that the best role models share can usually be applied to any aspect of life, not just sports performance or achievement.

Another strong argument for good athlete role models is that many of them are overachievers who have incredible discipline and dedication to their craft. These people are the top 0.01% of their sport and have achieved things that most people only aspire to.

That’s why it’s no surprise that the best athlete role models are able to capture the imagination of audiences by sharing their stories – many of them have risen to where they are today from humble beginnings – which can help audiences relate and believe that whatever their aspirations may be, they can achieve it with hard work as well.

Finally, the confidence that most successful athletes possess can be contagious and allow people to believe in themselves and overcome their own limiting beliefs.

Why Athletes Are Bad Role Models

Even though there are many positive role models in sports, the truth is that there is a negative side to athletes as role models in society.

For one thing, it’s important to remember that athletes are regular people, no matter how successful and accomplished they may be.

That means that they will also make mistakes, just as anyone else, but those mistakes are magnified and covered in the press, the result of which can not only disappoint their fans but also serve as a bad example to aspiring athletes and young people.

Another reason why not all professional athletes make good role models is that they don’t always consider themselves to be role models in the first place.

Some athletes are solely focused on their sport and only want to win and experience the success that comes with it. This leads them to not really care about how their public image or personal story impacts people that look up to them.

While most athletes are excellent role models, especially those that have matured and learned from their past mistakes, it’s important to be careful about which athletes to look up to as some sports star role models might not always set the best example.

The Importance of Context

Now that we’ve explored the positives and negatives of athletes as role models, we need to look at the most crucial aspect to be considered – the context behind every situation.

The examples that we explored above clearly show that even though an athlete has the potential to be a very influential, persuasive, and positive role model, each situation has its own nuances that need to be analyzed.

Every athlete, no matter how prominent, has their own backstory, their own character and their own values, so each individual must be carefully considered before deciding if they are fit to be a role model.

In the end, even though this decision is subjective, the signs are usually there – the athletes that are the best role models typically have an impeccable track record (or have at least moved on from past mistakes). They also actively participate as role models in their communities and by using their public platforms.

Sports Speakers 360

When deciding whether a specific athlete is a good role model for your audience, it’s essential to evaluate how he or she fits in with your event, your audience, and the message that you want to get across.

At Sports Speakers 360, we have the experience to help you find the best sports speakers and role models that can make the biggest impact. If you want to learn more, please call 303.747.4087 or fill out our online contact form .

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sporting heroes should try to be good role models

IELTS essay sporting heroes should try to be good role models

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The UCSD Guardian

Athletes Are Role Models, But What Do They Teach Us?

“Athletes are role models… [but] what do they teach us?”

That’s the question that former Black Panther member and politically active prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal left readers with in his interview with activist sports writer Dave Zirin back in 2007 for Zirin’s book , “Welcome to the Terrordome: The Pain, Politics, and Promise of Sports.”

Abu-Jamal, an impactful activist despite decades of incarceration, mentioned himself that he did not fit in cleanly to the archetype of the mid-century American teenage boy. Sure, Abu-Jamal had idols growing up, but instead of Willie Mays or Henry Aaron, he idolized Noam Chomsky. And like his idol, the man known as the “Voice for the Voiceless” saw sports as “a diversion from the real struggle.”

But by 2007, Abu-Jamal had softened that stance. Though still skeptical of sports, he understood their power and pervasiveness in our society, especially in creating role models for children and teenagers. In the 1960s, as Abu-Jamal dove more fully into activism, the young man did idolize one athlete: Muhammad Ali. 

The Ali of today has been stripped of much of his historical luster, largely in the name of commercialization and blind patriotism. Much like Michael Jordan , his athletic prowess and pervasiveness were turned into corporate profit and public relations fodder later in his life. But during his political heyday, he was there in the streets, protesting and throwing away monetary gain for lasting and impactful fame. He was The Greatest, and at a young age, Abu-Jamal latched on to him from a distance, not as much for his athletic prowess but for his actualization of a ‘man of the people’ persona and his bold political stances.

In the decades since Abu-Jamal’s youth, money has become far more intertwined with sports, and at the same time, athletes have become even more pervasive and globalized. Jordan, Tiger Woods, LeBron James, all of these athletes and many more can be recognized and are adored across hundreds of countries thanks to the rise of mass social media . 

But while the sports world has provided a site of economic uplift for a few, it has coincided with the deepening inequality and globalized capitalism that plagues our society today. In this new sports universe, with increased visibility and economic interest, what do the athletes of today teach us? And what values do these role models represent?

Growing up, I had a few sports idols. Playing primarily baseball as a kid, I modeled my swing after MLB superstar Barry Bonds, my fielding after Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal, and my baserunning after veteran Juan Pierre, another Dodger of the early 2000s. When I started pitching, I channeled Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel, two up-and-coming closers of the day now entering the twilights of their MLB careers.

In these idols, I found on-field inspiration. I tried to hit home runs, make slick plays, and steal bases like my heroes. When I started watching hockey, I adopted my favorite player’s number as my own, and Anze Kopitar’s #11 remained plastered to my back for nearly a decade.

At first glance, these men, for all of their skills on the field, did little to change my young mind off of it, which certainly is due largely in part to the media and the primarily conservative institutions that major sports leagues have become. Modeling myself after these heroes, I cared about personal and team success on the field. But beyond that, I wasn’t greatly impacted by their exploits. Was I?

In his interview with Zirin, Abu-Jamal talked frankly about the downside of sports figures today as role models. With their futures tied to contracts worth millions of dollars, and with thousands of young athletes hot on their tails, the modern athlete has little room to deviate from the path of least resistance: obeying authority and working hard.

That was the case, at the very least in his view, back in 2007. And as a child of that time, the role models I listed above largely follow that model. Bonds was outspoken, but was covered less as an activist and more as a pariah. And Furcal, Pierre, and Kopitar all largely stayed out of even local media as far as I could tell. 

Are today’s athletes the same? In my view, not entirely. 

To become a role model, athletes have to be visible. With TV and social media, this isn’t a high bar to reach. But still, role model athletes are generally those who receive the most media attention, and to capture that attention, one must be a star at their craft.

Recently, those who have reached the acme of the sports world are beginning to speak out. Sure, there aren’t athletes leading tens of thousands of protestors as was the case in the 1960s. But the contributions of NBA players during the George Floyd protests, WNBA players during the Georgia runoff election, and NBA and MLB players following the murder of Jacob Blake all account for more unified activism than athletes were accomplishing even five years ago.

To be fair, Colin Kaepernick still is without work in the NFL, but his mantle has been lifted by athletes that corporate collusion simply cannot afford to keep out of the spotlight. 

In this new wave of activist sports role models, there is one clear constant: on-field talent. When James or Giannis Antetokounmpo speak out against social injustice, owners cannot simply choose to leave their talents on the bench or avoid signing them altogether, as they have done with Kaepernick. These are MVPs playing during a moment where players across the NBA, MLB, and NFL are having success demanding trades and demanding to be released from their contracts. 

In the burgeoning era of player empowerment and individual choice, which is occurring without a rise in minority executives or the end of oppressive institutions like the Draft, players are becoming more and more powerful and less dependent on lily white franchise owners. Even more powerfully, Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs has already earned enough to gain entry into the ownership class , as he and his fiancee have purchased stakes in his local MLB and NWSL franchises.

The connection of money and sports certainly is not all positive though. As Abu-Jamal alludes to, money leads to silence and sticking to the status quo that has allowed you to earn that money. It also means not only that activists like Kaepernick can be left off of rosters, but that men far less deserving of being role models end up finding a way to stick on them. But for those whose talents stand out even on the brightest stages comes the special privilege of being able to speak one’s mind and keep one’s grip on the spotlight.

Bill Russell, an early activist athlete who is one of the greatest NBA players of all time, is a paradigmatic example of this. In a career spanning two decades, Russell made the All-Star game in all but his rookie season. He won 11 NBA championships and five MVP awards playing for the Boston Celtics. At the time, his prowess could not win over the bigoted minds of many Boston fans , which meant the Celtics failed to sell out arenas at home despite full houses on the road.

Today, two players who have spent time on the court in Boston represent the way forward for the activist superstar in a world of profit-driven activist repression. One is Kyrie Irving , an outspoken veteran who is also an All-Star and NBA champion. The other is Jaylen Brown , a 24-year-old rising star whose demeanor and skill on the court are just as respected as his intelligence and activism off of it. 

For young people around the country, and especially for young sports fans, hopefully these two men have become widely adopted role models. As is especially the case for the controversial Irving, who toys with the media and who purposefully strays from the beaten path of the 2000s star athlete, these two are certainly too skilled for the league to discard them as activist distractions. Instead, their activism is able to be amplified in a way that is unique to the current decade. 

Through social media, both their own and that of highlight purveyors, their exploits become more commonly known each night they lace up before a game. And for all of the hundreds of thousands followers they gain for skillful dribbling and scoring, they also influence how people interact with their sports heroes. 

When they see a post from one of these two, and countless other WNBA and NBA athletes especially, they are just as likely to see a post surrounding social justice or celebrating Blackness as they are to see one of a highlight dunk. And that is the transcendent, and hopefully lasting promise, of today’s rising class of activist athletes, the idealist role models we need.

Today’s role model athletes are also unique to those of decades past in another powerful way: there are far more high-profile women with international sports acclaim. From Serena Williams and newcomer Naomi Osaka on the tennis court to Megan Rapinoe and other members of the U.S. World Cup champion squad, women are making rapid headway when it comes to superstardom in the 21st century sports world. WNBA athletes are also becoming increasingly visible, and are amongst the most politically active athletes across all major sports in the U.S.

Comparing today’s athlete role models favorably to those of my past may not be entirely fair though. There may still be positive impacts these heroes left on my life that are invisible through the activist lens I’ve adapted from Abu-Jamal: Almost none of my sports role models growing up were white. Bonds and Pierre are Black, Furcal hails from the Dominican Republican, and Jansen from the small island of Curaçao. The only baseball picture in my room features Ichiro Suzuki, the most famous Japanese athlete arguably of all time and it is side-by-side with posters of Rafer Johnson and Jackie Joyner-Kersee, famous Black track stars at UCLA.

Maybe that representation didn’t have any effect on me. But at the very least, I not only have avoided and derided the path of bigotry, but have dedicated my academic life to studying political representation and agency for minorities and immigrants. It certainly could be a coincidence. But then again, it could also be that my non-white, non-activist role models, largely silent in the face of social inequality and injustice, activated me after all, just by being on the field.

Art by Angela Liang for The UCSD Guardian

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Why being a sporting role model isn’t as simple as most people think

Postdoctoral research fellow, Macquarie University

Disclosure statement

Katrina Hutchison does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Macquarie University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

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New reports of Nikki Hamblin (New Zealand) stopping during the 5000m finals at the Rio Olympics to help fellow competitor Abbey D’Agostino (US) after they’d crashed on the track have evoked the “Olympic spirit”. The New Zealander also waited until D'Agostino, who was injured in the fall, could continue the race, sacrificing any chance of catching up to the main pack.

Hamblin’s actions are reminiscent of a small handful of other such moments at previous Olympics. Canadian sailor Lawrence Lemieux abandoned his silver medal position in the 1988 Seoul Olympics to rescue the crew of a capsized competing vessel. Lemieux missed out on a regular medal in the event, but was awarded the Pierre de Coubertin Medal for Sportsmanship by the International Olympic Committee president, who said his act embodied the Olympic ideal.

Athletes are increasingly expected to be good role models. But while Lemieux is outstanding, we don’t usually expect athletes to sacrifice their chance of winning to help others. In fact, the ideal of good sportsmanship carried to this extreme would be in tension with that other aim of Olympic competition – winning.

What, then, is the right balance between sportsmanship and coming out on top?

The right stuff

Discussion about athletes as role models often arises in response to bad behaviour. Recent on and off-court incidents involving tennis player Nick Kyrgios, for instance, prompted a public discussion about his suitability for Olympic selection .

The contrasting cases of Lemieux and Kyrgios invite a distinction between two different meanings of role model. On the one hand, it picks out exceptional individuals such as Lemieux who exemplify qualities like sportsmanship. And, in a more mundane sense, it applies to anyone in the public eye.

All Olympic athletes are role models in the mundane sense. They represent their country, wearing its Olympic colours. Their performance is televised and commented on. Often, commentators also recount the athlete’s personal story to engage the audience watching their performance on television.

Given this, and since children are encouraged to follow and emulate their achievements, perhaps it is reasonable to expect that Olympic athletes meet a minimum standard of conduct.

Some minimum standards are already built into the rules of sport. An athlete such as Oscar Pistorius, who is serving time for murder , for instance, cannot represent his country in the Olympics during his sentence.

Likewise, athletes who are involved in match-fixing or use performance-enhancing drugs are usually suspended. In extreme cases, unsporting behaviour can also be punished by disqualification. Several women’s badminton players were disqualified during the London 2012 Games, for instance, when they were found to be attempting to lose matches to secure easier finals.

Increasing scrutiny

But should we require more than this? Public scrutiny of athletes is increasing. This includes their political views, how they use their money and free time, and how they treat their partners and children.

Social media give us access to athletes’ personal lives and opinions. Improved microphones and cameras capture more of what happens on the field than ever.

One justification for this scrutiny is the influence of sports culture on wider society. When Kyrgios made a comment about opponent Stan Wawrinka’s girlfriend , it rang alarm bells for those worried about sexism in sport .

Identifying his outburst as an instance of “ slut shaming ”, mainstream media outlets drew attention to the way athletes’ behaviour can normalise sexist cultural practices.

Unfortunately, we are often blind to the social injustices around us. So while current sensitivity to sexism means Krygios’ comments to Wawrinka were widely condemned, in many cases it is those who draw attention to social problems who are criticised.

Negative publicity

In fact, some of the greatest role models in Olympic history were initially censured for their commitment to causes that were controversial at the time.

Tommy Smith and John Carlos’ black power salute on the podium at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico is remembered by many as a defining moment in Olympic history. But, at the time, they were expelled from the Olympics and vilified at home.

More recently Australia’s beloved Indigenous runner, Cathy Freeman, was criticised for flying the Aboriginal flag at the 1994 Commonwealth Games . She was described as “un-Australian” and accused of politicising sport.

Six years later, the public felt differently. Freeman’s gold medal run in the 400m sprint at the Sydney 2000 Olympics was hailed as a moment of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Out gay athletes such as 2008 diving gold medallist Matthew Mitcham are widely hailed as role models for gay, lesbian and bisexual kids. In contrast, intersex athletes still face accusations of cheating and risk of human rights violations .

Polish sprinter Ewa Klobukowska, who was stripped of her 1964 Olympic medals due to a failed gender test, was listed recently as one of the Olympics’ greatest cheats . But she would not fail current testing criteria. In a different era, Klobukowska might be regarded as a role model and trailblazer for intersex rights.

This suggests that it’s very difficult to pin down which athletes are good role models. But to underline just how subjective it is, it is worth considering one final type of role model athlete: the redeemed sinner.

When prodigals return

Perhaps the best example at this Olympic Games is US swimmer Michael Phelps. He is almost as well known for his drink-driving arrests and recreational drug use as for his achievements in the pool. But in a recent feature article , journalist Wayne Drehs argues that the swimmer has changed.

The new Phelps is presented as a self-aware teetotaller, rehabilitated from his addictions and reunited with his father. He sounds like the sort of person we would be happy for children to emulate.

But is Phelps a really a good role model, or has Drehs just spun a good story?

Given that there is no bright line between those who are good role models and those who are not, we need to be cautious about making rules for athletes’ conduct. Such rules are as likely to be used against the next Tommy Smith or John Carlos as Nick Kyrgios.

But what about the influence of athletes on kids? This is more of a problem if bad behaviour goes unremarked. Quality conversations at home and in the media about the things athletes do can help. This is perhaps most important when behaviour reflects social practices, such as how we treat women or those from different backgrounds.

• Commonwealth Games
• Cathy Freeman
• Oscar Pistorius
• Nick Kyrgios
• Role models
• slut shaming
• Pierre de Coubertin
• John Carlos
• Black Power Salute
• Sydney 2000 Olympics
• 2016 Rio Olympics
• Michael Phelps
• International Olympic Committee (IOC)

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viernes, 29 de abril de 2016

Sporting heroes should try to be good role models. do you agree.

4 comentarios:

Lol this essay was used to make an actvity in my english book. Thanks man, i just made the perfect essay by just copypasting it

Be careful and try to do it on your own next time!

Very useful indeed.

social cohesion & integration

Role models, champions and sport: meaning and social impact.

Nov 3, 2020

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When thinking about role models in sport, typically sporting champions, past and present, spring to mind. Yet a sole focus on sporting performance reveals far less of the social stage on which the role model performs. We do not dismiss the mimesis to be experienced from celebrating sporting performances. Neither do we ignore those in leadership and decision-making positions, who may play a critical function in boosting heterogeneity and diversity in organisations. Rather, in emphasising the cultural making and shaping of sporting champions as role models, we see these models as embodying values that a society holds dear. These values are not universal or immutable: rather they are socially determined, that is, they vary in time and across social spaces. Thus we move beyond individualistic psychological approaches (such as role model traits or the cognitive distance between model and observer) and here consider the production and reception of role models.

Sporting champions as role models

What is it to be a sporting champion, why do they mean so much to people in different cultures and why are they regarded as role models? In a simple sense, a champion is someone who is the first among all contestants and in this regard, the word refers to the ability of an individual or team to win a contest. Yet, the origin of the word, in English, indicates a different usage and why people across the globe attach such meaning to them. The first usage emerged in the context of the medieval tournament and referred to the person who would act as a Champion of others; who would defend, support or Champion a cause – within sport or society at large. In this sense, athletes (but sport officials have also the potential to act in this way) are not simply Champions of their sport, but also of their local community and nation and sometimes, humanity as a whole. An example par excellence is the American boxer, Muhammad Ali. A Champion is said to possess special gifts and charisma: they perform ‘miracles’ and achieve the seemingly impossible. Athletes, for better and for worse, are our modern heroes(ines): symbolic representations of our cultural values and who we would wish to be. Champions are talented but, as heroes, their lives tell stories: about ourselves, to ourselves, but also to people from other nations. The Champion allows us to catch a glimpse of, and therefore aspire to what we could be: by representing us they make us vicariously fulfilled human beings. They are our modern heroes because sport has become the forum in which communal self-revelation occurs. We can observe Champions as heroes and experience the ‘sacred’, moments of exciting significance, while leaving behind the ‘profaneness’ of ordinary life.

Champions and society

Society needs its Champions as heroes and as role models – athletes yes, but also coaches and officials. They perform the manifest function of achieving sporting success for themselves and their local community and nation. But they also perform a more latent role: they are meant to embody the elements that a society values most. As idealised creations, they provide inspiration, direction and meaning for people’s lives. Champions as heroes act to unify a society, bringing people together with a common sense of purpose and values. In fact, that is precisely how modern sport developed from traditional notions of honour, decency, courage and loyalty. Despite this, the function of Champions as heroes is undermined by threats to authenticity and integrity. If the contest is tarnished by corruption, cheating, drug-taking or betting scandals, then the hero is diminished. So too are sport officials and the sporting federations they represent. As such, the economic, political and social capital that sport organisations can use for the betterment of humanity as a whole, or for specific social groups, is eroded. The contest is no longer a forum through which communal self-revelation is channelled. This lack of authenticity also occurs when the sport becomes too ‘make-believe’, is rigged by geo-politics or becomes too predictable due to unequal economic resources. Alternatively, athletes can become signs of resistance and offer glimpses of different social systems, ways of life and cultural values that can overlap with the stated position of a sporting federation, but, at other times, the Champion may be at odds with corrupt or biased officials.

The Champion can, as hero, embody the elements that a society holds most dear, but their integrity may also be undermined. The Champion may be a flawed genius – either due to the fact that they suffer from hubris and feel they do not need not to dedicate themselves to the level and intensity performance required, and/or because their private lives intrude on their status as heroes. In addition, our Champion may be less a hero and more a celebrity – they are famous but not heroic. Such fame is short-lived, and they fail one of the tests of a true Champion as hero – the test of time. Celebrity sport stars can once be famous, but be neither a Champion nor a hero, and then best forgotten. In understanding why Champions and role models mean so much to us and what impact they have, we have to consider the role sport plays in society.

Role models and the meaning of sport

Sport is both a separate world, with its own conventions, norms and practices, and a suspension of everyday life. It is also highly symbolic of society and is embedded in wider political-economic and socio-cultural currents. Here we can experience a form of exciting significance that we rarely, if ever, encounter in our daily lives, and also conduct a symbolic dialogue with fellow participants and spectators that reveals things about ourselves and others. People are laid bare in sport in ways which we cover up in everyday life. Sport, then, moves us emotionally and matters to us socially. That sport performs these functions relates to several reasons that dovetail with and highlight role models embodied as Champions.

Sports are mimetic activities where emotions flow more easily due to the creation of tensions that can involve imaginary or controlled ‘real’ danger, mimetic fear and/or pleasure, sadness and/or joy. We identify with our Champions and role models – in terms of their accomplishments but also the emotions they and thus, we, go through, in terms of a thrilling contest. Sometimes, our Champions fulfil their own and our dreams but, on other occasions, the tragedy of defeat must be endured. When sports are associated with matters of deep cultural and personal significance, they become important to fans too. Sporting events are thus mythic spectacles that provide the opportunity for collective participation and identification that serves as a means of celebrating and reinforcing shared cultural meanings. It is precisely because sports are a separate world that ‘suspends’ everyday travails, that they are able to celebrate shared cultural meanings that are expressed through and embodied by Champions as role models. The anthem, the emblem and the flag associated with sporting contests highlights how Champions represent the nation. Yet the symbolism of sport, and the role played by the Champion, can be deeper than mere nationalism and patriotism. It can cross borders too. How so?

Sport as a mirror of life

If social life is a game through which identities are established, tested and developed, then sports can be viewed as idealised forms of social life. Its rules and codes of play allow for a fair contest and a true test of ability. We insist on the authenticity and integrity of the contest – on formal rules and their fair enforcement – because we want any differences of worth to be based on merit. In real life, our class, ethnicity, gender or religion interfere and rig the game of social life and its outcomes. As such, its victors and losersare profane deceptive illusions. But, in sport outcomes have the potential to be sacred, real and authentic and Champions as role models embody such authenticity, integrity and commitment to these values. Increasingly, people look to ensure the integrity of sport off the field of play and seek role models who will lead that fight as well.

Sport is thus a dramatic representation of who we are and who we would like to be. Sports stadia are theatres and Champions act as role models through which we live out our hopes and dreams in a quest for significance: the excitement of the well-played game, uncertain as to its outcome, but its significance lying in what we have invested in it and in our role models, emotionally, morally and socially. Our Champions as our heroes express both the myths, and revered social values of a society, and the sports ethic that underpins involvement in sport. Athletes and officials have to take risks, to exhibit the hallmarks of bravery and courage and show integrity. Or not . That is why we remember, for better and for worse, these powerful role models.

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Essay#73 | Are Professional Athletes Good Role Models?

With some question types in IELTS Writing Task 2, you need to discuss more than one type of evidence, argument or point of view before reaching your conclusion. This is called  the evidence-led approach .

The term  role model  generally means  a person whose behaviour, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, especially by younger people .

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some people think that professional athletes make good role models for young people, while others believe they don’t.

Discuss both these points of views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Model answer.

People everywhere like watching sports. Many top athletes are admired throughout their countries, and some even have fans all around the world. Young people especially, view many athletes as role models and want to emulate the way these stars dress, act, and live their lives. While some athletes aren’t deserving of their “role model” status, others act like role models and responsible community citizens.

Top athletes get the attention of young people. Most children and teenagers like to follow professional sports. For many of them, star athletes represent heroes, and children want to be like their heroes. This means they will want to play sports, which is good for their health. Playing sports also teaches valuable life lessons such as teamwork, discipline, goal setting, and the realities of dealing with success and failure. Professional athletes demonstrate the importance of working hard to achieve a goal or practicing regularly to become good at something. This is a good example for children to follow.

However, professional athletes are not always good role models. For one thing, when young athletes reach a level of fame, it comes with media attention, large financial benefits, and social attention. This can lead children to believe that money and fame are an important part of sports. Children might focus more on these aspects than on the fun of the game or on the challenge of learning how to play well. Then there are those athletes who behave badly. For example, some cheat to win their games or take drugs to improve their performance. This kind of behaviour sends the wrong message to children.

Athletes are people who are held at a lofty place in society owing to their popularity and wealth. These attributes are what make people want to look up to them and model various facets of their lives along those of the athletes. We can thus be led to conclude that professional athletes can be very good role models for children, as long as they focus on the positive aspects of playing sports.

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Sport and Competition

Are athletes good role models.

What are the qualities that make an athlete a good role model?

Posted April 20, 2015 | Reviewed by Jessica Schrader

What is a role model and what effects do role models have?

The term role model is defined as “a person whose behavior, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, especially younger people” ( Random House Dictionary ). Accordingly, a brain surgeon or airline pilot can be a role model for similarly motivated boys and girls. Role models may have a considerable impact on a person’s values, education , and chosen training objectives. For example, they have been shown to have significant effects on female students’ self-confidence in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) fields.

What about sports stars as role models?

There’s a history of speculation and argument about athletes taking on the status of role models. In 1993, Nike ran a ground-breaking TV commercial from early April through the end of the NBA playoffs. The ad featured Charles Barkley proclaiming “I am not a role model.” At the time, he was a superstar hoopster for the Phoenix Suns, and his comment generated quite a stir, as he staunchly defended his position.

What was so controversial about what “Sir Charles” said?

He emphasized that athletes’ ability to make baskets or catch touchdown passes has nothing to do with being a role model. That is, having sporting ability doesn’t automatically qualify a person to be a role model. Rather, Barkley believed that’s a job for parents. I agree and would include teachers and coaches who spend a huge amount of time with kids and influence their upbringing and future success.

Like it or not, our society has a strong dependence on athletes as role models for children and adolescents.

Athletes are role models whether or not they choose to take on the responsibility, and whether they are good or bad role models. But athlete “hero worship” wasn’t always as prevalent as it is today. There was a time when others served as America’s role models (civic leaders, clergy, legal and medical experts, etc.). It might be argued that the shift reflects decay in our nation’s moral standards.

On the other hand, some exceptional athletes have important messages for their fans. For example, former heavyweight boxing champ Lennox Lewis made a significant contribution to youngsters’ understanding of appropriate masculine behavior, when he made a public service announcement that “Real men don’t hit women.” The point is clear: Athletes have an incredible opportunity to use their celebrity power to positively influence the next generation.

• Enthusiastic about being a role model . The athlete welcomes the platform for promoting positive societal change—a willing crusader for good.
• Altruistic mission. The athlete uses the position to share messages of inspiration and hope—a selfless drive to benefit others.
• Makes a commitment to behaving in ways that reflect high moral values. The athlete acts in ways that support personal integrity.
• Presents himself or herself in a realistic and responsible manner. “I’m not a role model because I’m a superstar jock, but because I’m a great person.” The athlete also helps fans realize that he or she isn’t perfect. After all, role models are only people with weaknesses and flaws. They’re not immaculate idols.
• Freely devotes time and energy to community activities. The athlete makes appearances at neighborhood events, serves on local boards, works with charity organizations, etc.
• Champions a mastery goal orientation. The athlete focuses on personal effort and accomplishments instead of making comparisons with others. In a sense, mastery-oriented people compare themselves with themselves. They can feel success and satisfaction when they have learned something new, seen skill improvement in themselves, or given maximum effort. Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden captured the essence of a mastery orientation in his famous definition of success: “Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you are capable.” (For more information, see my Psychology Today post titled “ How to Be a Winner .")
• Possesses a keen sense of empathy. The athlete has the capacity to share or recognize emotions experienced by others. Empathy involves putting yourself in other people’s shoes and seeing how much you can truly understand them. It includes caring for others and having a desire to help them. Empathy motivates pro-social behavior designed to aid in solving communal challenges. As emphasized by Stephen R. Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, “When you show empathy toward others, their defensive energy goes down, and positive energy replaces it. That’s when you can get more creative in solving problems.”
• Displays a healthy balance between striving for excellence and having fun in the process. The athlete promotes the virtues of working hard to achieve goals and the importance of enjoying the journey.

A word of caution is warranted.

Youngsters who believe their sports heroes are the most fantastic people in the world and can do no wrong are vulnerable to disappointment. Why? Because examples of fallen stars are many, such as Alex Rodriguez and Lance Armstrong who admitted to the use of performance-enhancing drugs. When a revered athlete goes astray, it can create disillusionment and even trauma . So, here’s the bottom line: Kids shouldn’t be allowed to become too attached to athletes as role models.

Learn more about parenting and coaching young athletes here .

Frank Smoll, Ph.D. , is a sport psychologist at the University of Washington. He specializes in the psychological effects of competition on children and youth.

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Sports heroes as role models.

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                          Lots of people go through their life having a hero or a role model to look up too. It could either be a family member, friend, professional athletes or even a fictional comic character. A hero or role model could be anyone that you want it to be. When a person has a hero or a role model they want to be just like them. Sport athletes are one of the many people admired and looked up by all ages. Everyone loves them. They appear on TV, they are as famous as film stars, and do this with the entire world watching. No wonder people choose their role models to be their favorite. They are our heroes because they are the best player in the team or have a special move something we can't do and which we admire them for. But if we research about their personal life when they are not on the courts or the field you could really see how they really are. . There are two types of role models a positive and a negative role model. In the sports field there are positive and negative role models. .              One of the positive role model in basketball is Shaquille O" Neal known as Shaq he plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. He has done so much good deeds for lots of people. He has joined in so many different kinds of charity works all around the US. I believe that Shaq is a really good person to look up too. He would be the perfect role .              Patel 2.              model for anyone especially the young generation. Know that he has done so many good things to other people; makes him such a great role model. He has so much positive things about him so who wouldn't want him to be their role model.              Now one negative role model is Dennis Rodman an ex basketball player. I would say he is not a good role model because of all the disturbing things that he has done. He's been in jail many times. Uses drugs, has sex with many women and he is also a cross dresser. There also was an incident when he attacked a cameraman during a basketball game.

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Essays Related to Sports Heroes As Role Models

1. sports heroes as role models.

Lots of people go through their life having a hero or a role model to look up too. ... A hero or role model could be anyone that you want it to be. When a person has a hero or a role model they want to be just like them. ... There are two types of role models a positive and a negative role model. In the sports field there are positive and negative role models. ...

• Word Count: 567
• Grade Level: High School

2. Sports and Media

THE EFFECTS OF MEDIA ON SPORTS Media makes a big difference in the way we view sports today. ... Because sports are so popular in American culture, media coverage of sports is huge. ... Because of families with two parents working, the child may not have someone to look up to such as a hero, and therefore we find it important to have a role-model for these kids. ... My opinion on this topic of sports and media on whether athletes should be called role-models or not mirrors what the author states in his article. ... For example, although Babe Ruth was considered a hero and role-model, there...

• Word Count: 1233
• Approx Pages: 5

3. Sports Figures As Role Models

Sports Figures as Role Models Since the beginning of time people have strived to be the best they could physically and athletically. ... Athletes over the years have developed into role models. ... Ballplayers can become heroes for kids, but it is often taken to the point where they become a role model. ... A role model by definition is "A person who serves as a model in a particular behavioral or social role for another person to emulate." ... These men and women are paid for their abilities at sports not as role models. ...

• Word Count: 1293

4. Are Athletes Role Models?

Are Athletes Role Models? Lately, a topic of great controversy has been whether or not athletes should be looked upon as role models by their fans. ... Some players themselves agree with the fact that they do not and don't expect to be considered role models, such as stated at a press conference by Charles Barkley (www.yaleherald.com/archive/xx/9.8.95/sports/mantle.html). ... With the media's portrayal and the athlete's advertising appeal, sports play an exalted role in our lives. ... Babe Ruth is one of the greatest known sports heroes and legends of this centur...

• Word Count: 1777
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography

5. Role models

When it comes to professional sports, there is one main controversy surrounding them; whether or not athletes should be considered role models. ... A role model is defined as "a person who serves as a model in a particular behavioral social role for another person to emulate." ... Though the life style they live is what children can and should strive for, they should not look to these athletes as role models and heroes. ... Yet, the public at large saw him as a role model. ... As a huge sports fan, I have to ask myself if there is any reason whatsoever that professional athletes should be role...

• Word Count: 1280

6. True Heroes

True Role Models Historically we have looked to composers, artists or literary writers for our heroes. ... Yet, sports are one of the last places where we can embrace the myths of heroes. One should not despise sports for taking the heroes away from arts, one should be happy that we still have heroes. Heroes or role models can help a child in life. ... Children often emulate their heroes or role models so if their hero or role model is fighting all the time then what kind of example is that giving our children. ...

• Word Count: 565

7. Athletes as Role Models

The athlete as role model is by no means a new issue. ... "I think you can give kids a positive role model, it helps." ... Yes they are supposed to be role models and present the youth with positive vibes. ... Many high-profile players work hard to be positive role models to children. ... Who are athletes really role models for? ...

• Word Count: 1794

Red cross workers at a disaster site, doctors in the emergency room, and sometimes even sports start can also be considered heroes in the modern American culture. ... In other circumstances, like in the sports world, it is sometimes hard to differentiate between a hero and an idol or role model. ... Some people would argue these sports stars are idols, but my definition of an idol is someone who has physical traits or monetary success people wish they had too. ... And as for being a role model, cheating on wives and cheating in general would not be something young kids should model themselve...

• Word Count: 925
• Approx Pages: 4

9. Hero Nowdays

Heroes have had changing roles since people have written stories, and all have been the personification of each society, each civilization's ideals. ... Beowulf is a prime example of this type of hero. ... Heroes are still in a way worshiped in modern day. ... A hero by modern day standards is a person who is looked upon as a role model. A hero can be a sports start to a working father. ...

• Word Count: 412

Not in the sense of a two-fingered salute, probably. This is the blog of a class of Basque students studying towards the Cambridge First Certificate in English.

Has this blog been a good idea?

Sunday 9 march 2014, sporting heroes should try to be good role models, 4 comments:.

It's good to give examples of positive role models, but it would make it more balanced to also give examples of negative ones.

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