The Moral Standards Of Professional Athletes

Professional athletes are highly talented and determined entertainers with extraordinary physical abilities. They compete in various sports to entertain people and make a living. Those include basketball, football, baseball, hockey, tennis, and the list goes on to any athlete that gets paid to play. These athletes train really hard and for long hours to be the best at what they do. Fans pay to watch them perform because they really enjoy seeing them. Like other entertainers, such as actors and singers, athletes are paid large amounts for their performances. Professional athletes are not overpaid for the amount of physical and mental stress they go through to do their job.

Parents and coaches may be a key factor as to why youth sports are becoming an issue. A major concern is that parents and coaches are popularizing and supporting the idea of “always win at all costs” (Christensen). There seems to be a growing fear among parents, and that fear is that if your child doesn’t start seriously training in elementary, they will have no chance becoming athletes good enough for varsity in high school (Matz). Parents want their kids to succeed and do well, but many are now going way overboard (Exchange). Many coaches are now treating their players like ‘Military recruits’. This makes kids take the game too seriously. It’s not good for kids to be treated in such manor. Parents and coaches pushing their kids isn’t a bad thing, but make sure it is encouraging and not demoralizing (Stenson). When it is not encouraging, this pressure from coaches and parents becomes extreme and adds a huge amount of stress to the youth athletes. The expectations are

My real life situation is based on drug scandal in sports. Daniel Spencer Tonks, a former England Under16 rugby union player, tested positive for the steroid stanozolol in February. The first British rugby player given a four year ban for taking steroids says doping in the sport is widespread."There is a lot of pressure on players to be bigger, faster and stronger as they are the players who get picked,” "I wouldn't say it was coaches saying you should take something, more the fact the players want to be the best at their sport.” he said.

Though it does not sound like a big issue, it is a major problem in our society. As little kids, they are incapable of doing activities. Thus, kids tend to copy their parents/guardian as the parents would set a good example. Mainly, in Australia, the country is known for sports such as AFL, NRL and the Australian Open. It can be enjoyed all over the world, no matter what age you are. “Sports Illustrated for kids did a survey from ages 7-12 about who their role model was. 96% answered that the person they looked up to was a professional athlete and the other 4% answered one of the parents was their role model.” Already we can see how many kids are influence over athletes. Kids who are in leagues, will learn consideration, teamwork and dedication through watching their role model’s games. To continue this attitude, athletes even off the field, go to hospitals, visit children at school or start an organization to help the needed and ill. However, not all athletes have this kind of heart and not considerate knowing they have people looking up to them. These athletes are not just cold hearted, but love to cause trouble. “Around 20%-60% of professional athletes stepped forward and have admitted to use some kind of performance enhancing drugs.” Kids are now hearing talks about drugs on news and talk shows on TV involving their role

According to ABC News, “American children believe professional athletes motivate them to follow their dreams and goals, they’re also copying the bad behavior athletes do off the field”( ABC News ) One of the first national studies on examining kids’ perception of athletes’ behavior, on and off the field, researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation found,”many kids are learning lessons about sports and life from watching professional athletes.” These lessons that are learned are used more than often and can influence a child to do an action that’s disturbing for someone who is very young. Abc new’s input on children emulating professional athletes states, “Nine out of ten kids said famous athletes teach children mostly “good things.” “But some of the lessons learned from athletes are less than admirable.” Professional athletes can teach good things to kids, and people can go about their day, and act like nothing had happened. When professional athletes do horrible things then, people would lose it and make a bigger deal because they know how much social power athletes

The fact that athletes are role models does not correspond with the reality that they often get away with criminal acts.

I do think professional athletes are role models. Professional athletes are always being watched. Win they do awesome stuff on the field fans grow more people watch what they are doing. We know the athletes we watch are not perfect. They do have that responsibility of being a role model because they chose to become professional athletes. So they shouldn’t be doing bad things. This doesn't mean athletes have to do everything right but they just don’t need to get involved with assault and illegal things. Younger people look up to athletes because they are cool and do some pretty amazing things. When I was a younger I looked up to some athletes wanting to be like them. I think they should still be seen as role models even when some do bad things

The competitive sports result in psychological issues to children. When children start to compete, they act like adults. They are required to think only how they will win the game instead of thinking how they will enjoy and have fun from the game. “The primary goal of the professional athlete - winning - is not appropriate for children. Their goal should be having fun, learning, and being with friends. (Statsky 154). Children are too young to think and deal with winning and losing. When coaches and parents expect too much from children they will make so much effort to meet that expectation, but if they did their best and they fail or lose they will feel so disheartened and their self-confidence will decrease. They will suffer from psychological

I believe that professional athletes should be role models because most atheletes actions on and off the field can inspire kids to want to become an professional athelete. One supporting detail would be when atheletes visit schools or hospitals the visit helps kids that need the cheer and joy. Another supporting detail would be when atheletes donate to charity or schools these actions inspire kids to do the same good deeds that the athelete does. Another inspiring thing athelets do is that they give kids something to work towards like being a pro baseball, football, soccer, basketball, etc. player. In conclusion there are many different reasons that professional athletes should be a role model such as their action on and mostly off the field.

It is currently a contentious argument over whether professional athletes are proper role models for the youth or not. This essay will discuss both these views prior drawing a conclusion and giving my own perspective.

In order to truly understand the reasons, children must have the knowledge and the representation of knowledge about the subject. But ultimately, children must be able to show “the formal manipulation of symbols representing a collection of believed propositions to produce a representation of new ones” (Brachman, Levesque, & Pagnucco, 2004, p.4). This will allow children to effectively reason beyond the athlete’s athletic skills, abilities, and competencies on the playing field. As a of effective reasoning children will be able to define their role models as by morality, honor, citizenship, generativity, meritocratic personality traits, self-actualization, and interpersonal qualities (Guest & Cox, 2009). Connecting with my view that children cannot interact with athletes on a daily basis and form meaningful relationships creates a barrier preventing children from justifying why athletes should be role models. In order for children to agree that athletes can be role models, they would have to be around them on a daily basic and form a reputable relationship. And since athletes do not form reputable relationships with fans because it is not obligated as part of the athlete’s profession, it leaves athletes unqualified to be role models.

In our society professional athletes are just another kind of celebrity. They are the same as movie stars or famous singers. People look up to them, mimic them and basically want to be like that athlete someday. Is this a good thing? Are athletes good candidates for being role models? Can someone who makes millions of dollars each year by simply playing a professional sport live in a way that sets a good example for children and adults as well? The answer is no. Like all other celebrities, athletes are generally not very good role models. Quite often because of their wealth and status, these people feel that they are “untouchable” by the rules that govern us all.

Sometimes sports can get the best off of an athlete and we let our emotions get to us. For example, when a coach and an athlete aren’t on the same page things can get pretty extreme. Heated arguments can happen leaving the athlete and coach to be upset. Another factor to an athlete’s emotional side is guardians. Most athlete have their guardian involved with their sport. Guardians that are too pushy towards the child can make their kid forget the whole meaning of the game. The meaning of the game as a youth athlete is to compete at your best and have fun. “ Youth sports long have been seen as a ticket to a college scholarship,

Athletes are expected to be responsible, positive, and mature role models, if they are not then several studies show that their ratings are lower and they are not liked as much. Many of the Sports Organizations like the NFL,NBA,NHL, and the NCAA have put in league wide policies to keep athletes in line. Even though some break these policies and get in trouble with the league and sometimes the law a lot of the higher level athletes give hope for young athletes all around the freaking world world. For example Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball, and gave new hope to black athletes all around the world. Children and older kids alike, pretend to be their favorite players when they are playing sports, and mimic their moves and attitudes.

Over the last decade the potential growth of youth sports has reflected the popularity of professional sports in the world. Sports events are available 24/7 on television, radio, internet. Sports are an enormous industry. The overwhelming popularity of the sport industry has profoundly affected youth sports organizations.