NEW ZEALAND: New International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) Group CEO Michael Hershman is featured in a new TEDx Talk highlighting the importance of teaching young people positive values through sport.
Recorded at a TEDx Talk in Tauranga, New Zealand, Hershman highlighted seven ways that parents and adults can support young children and how they can encourage and safeguard positive ethics and values when young people play sport.
Speaking at the event, Michael Hershman, new ICSS Group CEO, said: “Sport has the unique ability to unite people, communities and nations. It is a great equaliser. For young or old, rich or poor, your status, wealth or heritage makes no difference.
“As someone who has spent a lifetime trying to fight corruption and advocating transparency and ethics, it is time we stood up and did something about restoring the values of sport, particularly in children and young people.”
Hershman also highlighted the ongoing work upon the work being carried out in this area by the ICSS and its Save the Dream initiative, as well as other organisations, such as the Sport integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) and Transparency International, who are also committed to safeguarding the values, integrity and the ethics of sport.
He also noted that reform within sport governance at the top of the industry would have a dramatic, flow down effect on the rest of sport and would ultimately help ensure the positive values of sport are protected and preserved for all in the future.
Hershman concluded:
“All parents and adults have an important role to play in instilling the positive values of sport in children and here is what I want you to do: Attend your kids practices, give encouragement to all players not just your own, respect the coaches, consider the referee as a counsellor, don’t push your child, focus on the excitement and fun of sport and don’t live your dreams through your child.
“Lastly, teach your child to win with humility and lose with dignity.” — Press release