Introducing the Character Matrix

If you're a parent of a player in the competitive space or you coach competitively, then you're asking yourself how you can navigate character development. As a parent, I considered sport a place where my child could develop their character. Good character is essential for achieving optimal performance as a coach.

But when I first began to navigate character development, I felt like the early mariners must have felt when taking to sea to sail to a far-off destination. The sea was uncharted and full of dangers. So, like early sailors, I tried to determine the coastline I would use to navigate by. The coastlines I discovered in the journey of competitive sport were potential and time. The shoreline of potential was all about what I believed my child and players were capable of. And the coastline of time was the amount of time I felt there was to develop that potential.

Like every journey, I began from a fixed point. I navigated from this point (the beginning of the season) and kept sight of the coastlines of potential and time as we embarked on a journey toward a destination over the horizon. Like a sailor, it took only a short time before I lost sight of the coastline and needed to rely on navigational tools to help me reach my desired destination.

I created the Character Matrix to set my course, shape my character as I go, and measure my impact on developing my character. Regardless of sport, anyone on a sports journey can use this Character Matrix; like being equipped with a good map, compass, and sextant, you are ready to navigate the open seas of life and reach your destiny.