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Lesson ideas

Sledging heroes

Students explore the responsibility of prominent sports people to be role models in society.
Students examine recent incidents involving sledging on the sports field and form opinions on standards of acceptable behaviour.
Students examine their individual school's code of sporting conduct and expectations of sportsmanship.
Students create and sign individual contracts with their schools or sports clubs which demonstrate their personal position on sledging in sport.

The term "sledging" first used to describe a social faux pas in the 1960s has evolved to describe the verbal taunts and vilification which play a controversial role in many of our major sports events today. To what extent, if any, is sledging acceptable and should our sporting heroes be held to higher standards of behaviour generally than the communities they represent?

Brainstorm
As a class brainstorm famous athletes of the past and present from all sports and list them on the board. Label two sheets of butchers paper, Fame and Shame. Nominate a student scribe for each sheet.
Nominations
Ask individual students to nominate an athlete for each list and to justify their choices.
Scribes record the athletes' names on the appropriate list and teacher records the attributes mentioned by students when making their nominations on the board.
Discuss
Consider the attributes listed by the teacher. Do they refer only to athletic prowess or are there other qualities required to qualify for "fame" status?
Sledging
Download worksheets and as a class read, discuss and consider the following:
What is "sledging"? How did the term originate? What does it now mean? Under what circumstances, if any, is it acceptable? Has it gone too far?
Further Discussion
What do we expect of public personalities, athletes, actors, musicians, politicians etc? How do we (or should we) react when they do something that we consider inappropriate?
What qualities do we expect in a hero in general? Can sports heroes be held to those same standards? Why or why not?
Should there be formal codes of conduct for athletes off the field? If so, what should they be? Should other public personalities have them as well?
Rules
As a class, create a list of rules for athletes to join your "Fame" list.
Create an additional list of actions which would condemn an athlete to the "Shame" list.
Post your lists on the wall and add and subtract from your lists based on current events in sports.
Code of conduct
Is there a code of conduct for athletes in your school or club?
Interview the head teacher or coach to discover what this code states and who designed it.
Do you agree with the provisions of this code? Do your school's or club's athletes agree?
If your school or club does not have a formal code, discuss what should be included and create a code.

1. Consider "celebrity" in our culture in general by making a collage or poster that illustrates whom Australia celebrates as our heroes and heroines. What does our choice say about what we value? Include words in your collage or poster to illustrate this.

2. Choose a prominent athlete like Ian Thorpe and research what products he or she has endorsed over the years. Why has he or she chosen those products? Do you think products' sales and marketing are affected by their association with the athlete? How? How has the athlete handled any controversy surrounding these products?

3. Team captains speak out against racism Visit the fare (football against racism in europe) site and read and discuss comments by the national team captains at the 2006 FIFA World Cup competition in Germany.
Mark Viduka, Captain of Australia

"On behalf of the Australian team we'd like to join with the other countries at the FIFA World Cup in pledging our support to help fight racism and discrimination.There is no place for racism in football or in society and the players of Australia urge all of the Australian fans and the supporters from all over the World to join together to bring harmony and peace. On behalf of the team I'd like to wish all of the fans a safe, enjoyable and racism free FIFA World Cup."

Cricket Australia
Kick it out
Football against racism in Europe
Bouncing Racism out of Sport A Racial and Religious Tolerance Program for Australian Football
New York Times lesson When Athletes Are Off-Base: Taking Positions on a Sports Controversy
Bounce Back Foundation