Coach Carter Review

The fundamental elements of character for Coach Ken Carter, in the film “Coach Carter” were honesty, self-knowledge, and integrity. Honesty because he told the players what he expected from them in the beginning. Self-knowledge because he asked each player to think about what they wanted from the game of basketball, and helped them to realize it wasn’t just a game. The truth of the matter it was about finding your goal in what you want to accomplish in life. However playing basketball came out to be a chance for them to shine and lift a community and themselves out of negative situations, provided they make the correct decision. Finally integrity when it comes to holding players accountable for their behavior, Coach Carter stood by what he was teaching. He cancelled a game when he found that players were not honoring the promises they had made to him to stay eligible by the contract they signed. Coach Carter dealt with many things in this film such as unruly players, administration and parents that were not willing to go the extra mile in his support for education of his ball players. However, the biggest dilemma the coach faced in this movie was whether or not to suspend players or games because of a lack of adherence to rules he had set in place before the season started. He told the players they each must maintain a certain GPA, and must attend all classes, sit in the front of the classroom, and he would also be getting progress reports from each teacher. The team starts off great winning its first 14 games but Coach Carter soon finds out from progress reports that most of his players aren’t maintaining the required grades. So Coach Carter decides to cancel all team activities and locks the gym until the team raises their grades. This makes the whole community and administration angry. Coach Carter felt his players took these requirements for a joke, and until they satisfied his demands for making up the work the gym will stay locked.
During the school board meeting parents and administration voiced their feelings about this contract. Coach Carter believes this contract to all his players is acceptable and he actually takes them seriously which the school doesn’t like because basketball is the only thing most of these kids have, no one cares about grades. Eventually leads to chains on the gym door are taken off by the school and Coach Carter is fired. Coach Carter realizes when he goes back to the gym that the players still want him as a coach no matter what their parents, family members, community and administration say or feel. Supportive faculty members and players are helping one another with their studies so he stays with the team. Once everyone passes the goal the team hits the basketball courts and start to play. My core values in mind I can relate as a coach I can’t say I would have locked down the whole gym for the sake of a few players, however I can fully understand Coach Carter’s philosophy. I would have had the whole team realize the situation. You win as a team, you lose as a team. It doesn’t matter if only two players can practice or play, you all must look out for each other off the court as you do on the court. I probably would have had to forfeit because of suspending the players, and if we did not have enough players to play then that is what I would have had to do.

References

Tollin, M., Robins, B., Scanlon, C., Carter, T., Morales, N., Toffler, V., Gale, D., & Sumpter, S. (Producers), & Carter, T. (Director). (2005). Coach Carter [Motion picture]. United States: Paramount Pictures.