Essay on "Movie of Coach Carter"

Essay 3 pages (1053 words) Sources: 0

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Coach Carter is a biopic about Ken Carter, a man who accepted a basketball coaching position at a struggling school in a low socioeconomic district in hopes of transforming his players into not only better athletes but also better people. As a coach, Ken Carter strove to instill important life lessons in his players. By transforming this remarkable story into a movie, Coach Carter now has the chance to share these lessons not only with his team but also with all who watch the film. This paper will focus on three of the over-arching lessons a viewer can learn from this film: the importance of respect, the need for discipline and perseverance, and the long-term consequences of the choices we make today.

Upon arriving for his initial practice with his new team, Coach Carter immediately begins teaching his students lessons that extend far beyond layouts and jump shots. The first lesson he teaches them is one of respect, a message that is reiterated frequently throughout the film. Following his introduction to his team, he informs the students that they are expected to arrive at least five minutes prior to the start of every practice. This insistence on punctuality teaches respect for the game (or, from a broader perspective, the task at hand) as well as respect for the time of those with whom you work. Additionally, he explains that his students will henceforth be asked to address him as "Sir," and he will address them as "Sir" in return. By instituting this policy, he is not only teaching them to display respect for authority, he is also showing them respect. In doing so, he imparts the idea that each person on the team is worthy of respect and deserves to be treated as such. He is, in effect, teaching them how to respect themselves.

Yet another of Coach Carter's rules requires the students to wear jackets and ties on game days. While this rule may seem arbitrary at first, upon further examination, it is yet another way Coach Carter is teaching them about the importance of respect. Wearing a jacket and tie is a means of conveying a personal respect for the game. Additionally, it is a way to project an image of professionalism. Essentially, he is teaching his students to adhere to the age-old adage of "dressing for the job you want." Showing respect in this way is essential because it can improve performance and increase opportunities for advancement.

Another lesson emphasized repeatedly in this film is the importance of discipline and perseverance. These are qualities Coach Carter demands from his players on the court, as evidenced by his insistence on consistent, punctual attendance and the plethora of push-ups and suicides he requires. However, Coach Carter does not allow his students to leave these values in the gym. He is not satisfied by solely seeing his students achieve their potential as basketball players; he wants to see them reach their full potential in all aspects of their lives. In order to do this, he requires his students to succeed academically as well as athletically. As a result, his students have to learn to be disciplined… READ MORE

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