Tagged in: Coaching Development, Physical and Health Education, Sports, Teaching

Join the Movement: TrueSport

Learn the TrueSport way and join the growing movement

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Hi everyone! It’s time for a contest! I am very proud to serve as an ambassador for TrueSport. I believe in TrueSport so much, and think it’s time that we all have a clear understanding of who they are, what they do, and how they can help us reach our goals as parents, educators, and youth coaches. TrueSport is a movement, and I think it’s one worth all of us joining. Soooo....I’m having a little giveaway!

Why join the TrueSport movement?

As a Mom, educator, coach and community member - I am tired of how many athletes reach the headlines for the wrong reasons. I’m tired of athletes headlining our papers, only for us to later learn they cheated their way to the top. I’m tired of hearing athletes’ names who apologize once they are caught, more often than hearing athletes’ names who never sway from a strong moral compass. I see TrueSport as a way for all of us to demand more and focus on all that is good in sport.

As a former college athlete - I have no problem admitting I was never the best in my sport. You see, having goals in sport inspired me to transfer goal setting to other areas of my life (my education, marriage, friendships, parenting, fitness/competition). Addressing these areas with a low ego and understanding how much we have to learn is a healthy thing. Let’s give our youth the necessary tools they need, and guide their understanding, so that they choose to transfer healthy living concepts into all areas of their lives - including competition.

TrueSport has three pillars, and they are:

  1. Clean Competition
  2. Sportsmanship
  3. Peak Performance

Within each of these three pillars are resources that parents, coaches and teachers can access (for FREE!). Some of these resources include posters for display, nutrition guides, parent handbooks, and handbooks for youth sports camps. I was proud to serve in a reviewer capacity to many of these wonderful resources.

Their website is easy to navigate and you will notice there are specific sections denoted to parents, coaches, and athletes. You can also see images of inspiring athletes who are athlete ambassadors for TrueSport.

As you can see, TrueSport is committed to improving sport for youth. It’s serious about teaching kids, families, and coaches how to win the right way. I can’t wait to read how you will spread the word about TrueSport in your home community! It is my hope that by spreading wonderful resources we will see more health giving foods consumed by participants and we will see development occur in an upbeat and inspiring way that teaches youth shortcuts aren’t worth it.

How to apply for the Give Away?

You have the chance (if you live in the US) to WIN TrueSport Give Away items if you share in the comment section below how you might use some of True Sports resources at the grassroots level. Deadline to submit a response is Saturday, September 13th at 9 p.m. Central Time. I will put the names of respondents in a hat and randomly pull the names of three winners. The winners of this content will be announced via @movelivelearn Twitter account and Move Live Learn Facebook page on Sunday, September 14th.

OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES are available here.

How will you use TrueSport resources in your community?

  • Lisa Frangipane

    I believe my role as a Physical Education teacher is to provide a positive impact on the students I teach in regards to social, emotional, and physical well being. For the longest time, I wanted to believe that Lance Armstrong was my hero – He beat cancer. He was such an inspiration to me as I am a cyclist, runner and former collegiate tennis player – then out of the blue, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Although, benign, I had to go through radiation and was grouped among many other patients who were battling cancer. That being said, Lance disappointed me. My sports hero failed to comply with the three pillars of being a True Sport. As a physical educator, I take pride in encouraging students that character counts – that students have the ability to rise to the occasion and be a steward of healthy competition. As Patty and Mike have indicated – quality role models and teachable moments can be discussed and taught in physical education and sport settings. We have a great opportunity to impact this generation and motivate students to live and participate in life demonstrating the 3 pillars. I truly hope that we no longer can be disappointed by athletes that struggle with character – instead be champions of teaching and modeling Sportsmanship, Clean Competition and Peak Performance.

  • As a PE teacher and wrestling coach, I would use TrueSport’s resources with my wrestling team and even apply it to my elementary PE classes. I agree that role models for sports should be celebrated for the qualities that we would want our own athletes and children to display.

  • Patty Kestell

    I love this, Amanda! I hesitate to post any photos of professional athletes in my school due to some not being True Sports.(and the fact that I want my gym to be an educational setting) I love the three pillars of True Sports! They tie in so well with the National Standards, so I will be able to use them to emphasize fair (clean) play, what it means and looks like to be a good sport, and striving for personal bests (peak performance), which all happen to be a huge part of my elementary classroom already. The three pillars are bulletin board and poster worthy items I will add to my classroom environment, and they will, undoubtedly, lead to many teachable moments in my classes!

  • Julie Knutson

    I would use this as a tool for my future professionals to teach the pillars to K-12 students. They align with National Standards.

  • In April, at the SHAPE America Convention, I attended Amanda and Glenn Young’s session about physical literacy. I clearly remember Amanda talking about the relationship between cheating in sports and physical literacy. A physically literate individual plays by the rules. They do not cheat. They honor all three of the TrueSport Pillars.I appreciate that this blog post/contest has exposed me to an organization that believes in educating youth about responsible personal and social behavior through sport. It is my job as a physical educator to educate the whole-child. At times, it can be difficult to create an engaging and effective lesson focused on ethics and behavior or to even tie those concepts into my curriculum.

    I think the TrueSport 100% Me Middle School program offers many resources for physical educators who want to teach their students about the value of fair play, safe behaviors, and accepting differences among classmates.

  • Kari Bullis

    My school was looking for way to increase our Jr. High student’s time in Physical Education throughout the year. We were able to add time by including a Wellness class into their exploratory rotations (FCS, Art, Spanish, Computers, etc). I think that this would be the perfect curriculum for this class. Students would have the TrueSport curriculum in addition to their traditional Physical Education and Health classes.I am really excited about the possibilities. Thanks for showcasing TrueSport and bringing it to my attention!

  • Beth Thomson

    As a coach of children it is important to teach them about what True sport and show them what it takes for them to become successful.

  • Collin Brooks

    I think this curriculum would go great with the Hellison’s levels of responsibility. Maybe under “self direction”. This curriculum is what should be discussed every day within our classes. It could be emphasized also during an Olympic or track and field unit. Lastly, I think this would be great to promote at the State Oregon SHAPE conference.

  • Collin Brooks

    I think this curriculum would go great with the Hellison’s levels of responsibility. Maybe under “self direction”. This curriculum is what should be discussed every day within our classes. It could be emphasized also during an Olympic or track and field unit. Lastly, I think this would be great to promote at the State Oregon SHAPE conference.

  • Billy Barringer

    As an elementary physical education teacher the general philosophy of TrueSport is something that can be a part of my teaching. Although parts of the 3 pillars don’t easily overlap with my elementary curriculum, I believe I can still use the 3 pillars to influence the children I teach. I can do this by being an example. An example is very powerful and I have myself and other staff members as an example of the 3 pillars.

  • Cassie Brooks

    I would use these materials to teach what it means to be a true good sport. I like using a variety of materials to teach my middle school PE students, because everyone learns a little differently. Posters would also be located in the gyms where our school athletes meet, and their coaches can use them to spark some great discussions about the three pillars.

  • Tish Bottaro

    This fits right in with my philosophy of being positive and always working to the best of your ability. I teach how to be a sportsperson and try to make kids understand that winning isn’t everything it is the attitude in which you compete. Thank you so much for exposing me to this curriculum enhancing website!