(January 24, 2008) –Here we are in the early off-season, but some of us are already thinking about next season.  What are we going to do to provide a better experience for our teams? What fund raising programs are we going to use?  What, and how much, equipment and uniforms do we need to order?  Perhaps most important of all, how am I going to make myself better as a coach or administrator?

One organization’s programs that will help you instill really positive thoughts and values is the sportsmanship program from CHARACTER COUNTS! called "Pursuing Victory With Honor."

All of us are being forced to deal with issues of character, or, more often, lack of character, from our athletes, their parents, or others in the program.  I encourage you to log onto their website at www.charactercounts.org/sports for additional information about their outstanding sportsmanship resources, which include:

Training Seminars and materials that help administrators, athletes, coaches, legislators, officials, and parents improve personal and organizational decision making and behavior in sports.

CHARACTER COUNTS! also provides a free monthly e-newsletter which offers stories, tips and quotes to promote the development of character in young athletes.

You can subscribe to the Pursuing Victory With Honor, e-newsletter by clicking on the following link:  
http://charactercounts.org/forms/free_e_newsletters.php

For more information on Pursuing Victory With Honor, visit:

www.charactercounts.org/sports

CHARACTER COUNTS! and "Pursuing Victory With Honor" are programs of the non-profit Josephson Institute of Ethics.