Pursuing Victory with Honor

Background

The Pursuing Victory With Honor campaign was inspired by a conference of the same name held in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1999. There, more than four dozen leading figures in American amateur athletics called for major reforms in the way sports are played, coached and watched. Participants at the conference set forth 16 principles in the Arizona Sports Summit Accord, which signatories pledge to incorporate into their organizations’ athletic programs.

Phoenix Country Day School has embraced Pursuing Victory with Honor as the foundation of our athletic program.  It encourages sportsmanship and good character--qualities which have an impact on our students now and which encourage healthy lifestyles for the future. 

The Pursuing Victory with Honor program reaches out to the Phoenix Country Day School community.  Students, parents, administrators, faculty, coaches, and fans are all responsible for representing our school with the highest degree of sportsmanship.

The Six Pillars of Character

Trustworthiness
Always pursue victory with honor.

• Demonstrate and demand scrupulous integrity
• Observe and enforce the spirit and letter of rules
• Don’t compromise education and character-development goals
• Don’t engage in or tolerate dishonesty, cheating or dishonorable conduct

Respect
Treat the traditions of the sport and other participants with respect.

• Don’t engage in or tolerate disrespectful conduct including verbal abuse of opponents and officials, profane or belligerent "trash talking", taunting or unseemly celebrations
• Win with grace and lose with dignity

Responsibility
Be a positive role model on and off the field and require the same of your athletes.

• Further the mental, social and moral development of athletes and teach life skills that enhance personal success and social responsibility
• Maintain competence including basic knowledge of 1.) character building; 2.) first aid and safety principles; and 3.) coaching principles, rules and strategies

Fairness
Adhere to high standards of fair play.

• Treat players fairly according to their abilities
• Never take unfair advantage
• Be open-minded

Caring
Assure that the academic, emotional, physical and moral well-being of athletes is always placed above desires and pressures to win.

Citizenship
Avoid gamesmanship and promote sportsmanship by honoring the rules and goals of the sport.

• Establish codes of conduct for coaches, athletes, parents and spectators
• Safeguard the health of athletes and the integrity of the sport by prohibiting the use of alcohol and tobacco
• Demand compliance with the laws and regulations, including those relating to gambling and the use of drugs