The pursuit of athletic excellence is to be balanced, complemented, and realized by placing equal emphasis upon the intellectual, spiritual, social, and ethical growth and development of the aspiring athlete.

The fair play concept of sport is the moral cornerstone upon which athletic training and competition is founded.  Sport participants engage in athletic contests with the belief that the rules which govern their training and performance efforts are equal for all competitors.

Sport participants are ethically challenged in many situations to acknowledge and adhere to the intent by which rules and standards of fair play have been formulated.  Each sport has an extensive set of absolute standards to govern and protect the fair play concept.

It is the interpretation of rules and standards which tests the moral fiber and reasoning of administrators, coaches, and athletes.

Leadership is at the center of the athletic experience and is the most important component of any athletic program if ethically and morally sound goals and behaviors are to be realized.  Administrators and coaches must possess and demonstrate a commitment to the foundational beliefs which govern the conduct of their programs.

Most importantly, it is the direct responsibility of school and sport leaders to openly transmit these beliefs to the participants who strive for athletic excellence under their guidance.  School and sport leaders must clearly understand the influence and responsibilities of their positions.

The coach is the most influential individual in determining and influencing the athlete’s values, attitudes, and behaviors.  The coach has a specific responsibility to contribute to the physical, moral, and emotional development of the athletes through his or her interactions with young persons via athletic participation.

Athletics can be a very influential training ground for the moral reasoning and subsequent personal decision-making capabilities of the administrator, coach, and athlete.  Values, which all sport leaders and participants recognize and verbally agree to uphold, are tested as a result of actual athletic training and competitive experience.

Administrators, coaches, parents, and athletes must work together to raise and constantly reinforce the athletic conscience and ideals of all involved, especially those who may be challenged to ignore, minimize, or override their personal values.  It is up to us to encourage all persons involved in sports to demonstratively accept the challenge of pursing athletic excellence in an honorable fashion.