Character Matters Part Two: Why Is There a Culture of Mediocrity

When athletes come together to accomplish a single goal, they should be committed to giving 100%, being excellent in their sport, and communicating well with their teammates so everyone on the team can contribute.

For several years, I’ve noticed that many athletic programs in middle schools and high schools are okay with mediocrity. This culture of mediocrity is accepted way too easily. 

Why spend money and time being committed to a sport and being a member of a team if you don’t want to give it your all and do your best and build meaningful relationships with teammates? Even if you aren’t best friends or even casual friends with the girls in your coaching group or on your team, why don’t you want to work together and hope for good things for others? Don’t you know you will be a better athlete if those around you are better athletes? 

This culture of mediocrity extends to other areas of life too--not just in athletics. Athletes should be expected to strive for excellence at school, in their homes, and in their communities. We should all expect each other to want to be better than we are, to keep learning and growing, to keep helping others learn and grow. We should all be intentional about treating others well and respecting others and learning how to instill good character in ourselves.

I will never understand why coaches and athletes and school administrators settle for a culture of mediocrity. Never.

When athletes aren’t giving proper attention to having good character and being people of integrity, they aren’t only disrespecting who their teammates are as people, they are also hindering their ability to become the best athletes they can be. Unwillingness to do the right thing, to put forth effort, to care about success harms everyone around who’s trying to do those things. Disrespect and poor character hinders the progress of others.

Last week, in Part One of the Character Counts series I wrote, “To me character is always the #1 trait. I tell kids this all the time. I tell athletes who possess good character to keep being great and keep being who they are.” 

The athletes who reject the culture of mediocrity, who continue to be excellent and apply themselves to everything they do as an athlete, as a student, as a daughter, as a sister, and as a friend--these are the people who will excel in the future. Wherever they end up on or off the court, they will bring good things to the coaches and athletes around them. Whatever work they do will benefit from the continued perseverance to do the right thing while others around them are choosing to not do the right thing.

So, if you’re caught in a culture of mediocrity, hang in there. Find ways to motivate yourself. Look to coaches and other athletes who are inspiring examples. Don’t give in. And maybe those around you will begin to want what you want. Maybe they will see there’s another way. 

Mediocrity isn’t the only option.

Help create a culture around you that will help lift others up. It will be easy to hide in the background and protect yourself from those who disrespect you and dismiss you. Instead, harness a bit of courage to be the example others look to. Then harness a bit more courage and keep going. Good things can be contagious.