WINNING WITH CHARACTER

At Finger Lakes Community College all athletes are involved with the Winning with Character Program©. The purpose of the program is to improve moral reasoning and social values among male and female student athletes.  Our curriculum is designed to:

·   Challenge athletes to reach their full potential in the classroom, on the field, and in society.

·   Provide understanding, reasoning and application on moral and ethical principles.

·   Change students’ values, thinking, and behavior.

The Winning with Character Program© provides curriculum, testing, training, consulting, and support to member schools through an annual license fee arrangement. The curriculum is designed to reflect the following principles: 

TO BE A SERVANT-LEADER IN ACTION, WORD, AND DEED.  

Athletes should be individuals who have humility and work for the greater good of all people; i.e. the team, the fans, the referees, the opponents.

TO VALUE DECENCY AND CARRY IT OUT IN ALL BEHAVIOR AND ACTION. 

Athletes should be role models and have the ability to conform to a higher level of propriety and morality in language and behavior.

TO VALUE THE TRADITIONS AND INTEGRITY OF SPORT. 

To paraphrase A. Bartlett Giamatti, I believe (sport) is an important, enduring American institution.  It must assert and aspire to the highest principles – of integrity, of professionalism, of performance, of fair play – within its rules.

TO REMEMBER WHY SPORT IS PLAYED. 

The athlete has the duty and obligation to play the game and honor it as well as the coaches, the fans, and most importantly, the opponents.

TO HAVE FUN. 

Sport and competition is essentially about fun – the metaphysical presence about which we understand very little -but that’s why we play, and it should never be lost.