True Competition: A Guide to Pursuing Excellence in Sport and Society - Softcover

Light Shields, David; Light Bredemeier, Brenda

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0736074295 ISBN 13: 9780736074292

Publisher: Human Kinetics, 2009

Synopsis

This is a book which offers a blueprint for maximising the potential of competition to foster excellence and enjoyment. With this text, readers will learn the differences between positive and negative competition and they will discover how to implement change in their organisations, teams and individual practices. The authors of this groundbreaking book, who are leading experts in sport psychology, redefine what competition is and should be. Unlike the more typical and often socially destructive form of competition, which they call decompetition, true competition brings out excellence in participants, fosters positive character development and leads to lasting enjoyment. The research-based text uses a field-guide approach, in which the components of true competition are presented.This approach helps readers understand competition and how it is being used in their own lives. While the book relies heavily on the arena of sports, it also provides many examples of applying this revised understanding of competition in business, education, politics and other non-sport environments. To enhance the learning experience, the book offers features such as scholarly analysis of competition presented in a clear and engaging writing style and making the concepts easily accessible to any reader. By applying the information presented in this text, students, professionals and athletes will learn how to maximise the benefits of competition by avoiding decompetition. Not only will they understand how to recognise and respond to positive and negative forms of competition, but they also will gain the tools they need in order to promote true competition in their own lives.

About this title

Review

"True Competition is a very insightful book that can guide the positive
pursuit of excellence at all ages and stages of life. It is a great
contribution to the performance enhancement field and to humanity."

Terry Orlick, PhD

"Brilliant! True Competition has once and for all destroyed the popular notion that nice guys (or girls) finish last. In this insightful and practical book, the authors demonstrate how ethics propel excellence. It belongs on every coach's bookshelf. More importantly, it belongs in their hearts and minds."

Vivian Stringer
Rutgers University Women's Basketball Coach

About the Author

David Light Shields, PhD, is an affiliate associate professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He was co-director of the Mendelson Center for Sport, Character and Culture at the University of Notre Dame. Brenda Light Bredemeier, PhD, is an associate professor at the University of Missouri at St. Louis and a certified sport psychology consultant. Along with her husband, David, she was co-director of the Mendelson Center for Sport, Character and Culture at the University of Notre Dame.

Edition details

• Publisher: Human Kinetics
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0736074295
• ISBN 13: 9780736074292
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 248