Character vs. Athletic Ability: Which Players Are You Thankful For?

As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s time to take stock of what we’re thankful for. And if you’re in charge of a team, you are likely thankful for your players — particularly those with athletic ability; especially those with high character.

It’s those high character athletes that are the leaders and role models of your team. They help to motivate the players around them, while keeping your squad in line. They’re the mentors, police and ambassadors of your locker room. And when they also have the most talent, they represent the heart and soul of your team.

But being a star athlete and being a high character person are not mutually exclusive.

Your best player may have more athletic ability than any other athlete in the world, but if their character is questionable, you face a potential dilemma. The question you must ask yourself — as many coaches have and even more will — does talent trump troublemaking?

That’s not to say that all talented players have character issues, but it does seem to affect star athletes slightly more frequently. That may be attributed to the so-called perks of growing up a “star.” We’ve all heard stories of the high school football star that never had to take a test, or the highly-recruited basketball stud who received gifts. These things actually happen to young athletes with sky-high potential, and unfortunately, it helps to shape their worldview. They expect to get what they want because that’s the way it’s just always been.

But at what point does this become detrimental to your team? What is the threshold for a talented player who’s also a troublemaker? Do they truly deserve more playing time than players who positively affect your team?

These are not easy questions, as winning is always at the top of your priority list. But so is being a leader of young men and women. While it’s your job to win games, it’s also your responsibility to help mold your players into good people, not simply good athletes.

Time and time again, we’ve seen supremely talented athletes undermine their careers and teams due to their personalities. There’s a reason why the most talented NFL wide receivers are known as divas. Just look at what Terrell Owens did to the Philadelphia Eagles the season after they went to the Super Bowl. Owens signed a contract the prior year, felt he had outperformed it and demanded a new one; which subsequently hijacked the Eagles season, caused a major locker room divide and ended with the dismantling of a potential championship team.

Owens then bounced around the league, from team-to-team that felt his talent was worth the trouble. Dallas, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Seattle — they all gave Owens a contract because he has elite talent, but they all moved on from him earlier than expected because they realized he wasn’t worth the trouble.

So, while you want to give your most talented players the most playing time, you also have to do what’s best for your entire team. While it would be ideal if every player had a solid moral compass, that’s simply not the case. Every athlete comes with a different personality; it’s your job to determine if talent trumps character traits.

Of course, you do have the ability to help improve the attitudes of all of your players.

With a completely personalized mouthguard — from color and logo to name and number — your athletes have something they can rally around together as a team. It gives them an identity. Every Gladiator custom mouthguard with a player’s personalized name, number and team logo instantly becomes a favorite piece of their uniform and an essential component of completing their game face.

And because Gladiators are proven to outlast a boil-and-bite mouthguard 5-to-1 — and all replacement Gladiators are up to 50% off for the life of the model — you get the value you need too. That makes your Gladiator more than just a mouthguard, but an investment in your players’ protection.

Now that’s something to be thankful for!

Appeal to your players’ different personalities while giving them a team identity with custom mouthguards from Gladiator, the industry-leader in custom mouthguards.

Give Your Players Thanks

Author Bio

Travis Armideo, marketing manager at Gladiator Custom Mouthguards, is a lifelong ice hockey player. He began playing for various clubs at a young age and continued onto junior teams, while also playing lacrosse at the collegiate level. Travis is still heavily involved in athletics, coaching high school and youth ice hockey athletes, as well as playing men’s league ice hockey on a regular basis.