Character Video Workshop Learning Intentions: Young people will watch and observe elite athletes share personal experiences in both a sporting and non- sporting context. The facilitator will seek to highlight discussion points for participants so that they can reflect and recognise how these principles are applicable in everyday life. The goal is for the participants to understand, reflect and implement the relevant behaviours from the discussion in their school, sports team, work and wider community.

Video topic focus Character Video Facilitation Workshop Goals To understand and foster healthy discussions based on the video content. To encourage change if needed in the participants and provide strategies to do this. Format • Play video • Discussion • Key messages summary • Strategies • Action plan challenge • Closing quote Play video Play the entire Character video (3.30 mins duration)

Kieran Read Optional: Replay the section of the video (00:11–00:34 mins) (00:11–00:34 mins) Point 1: Your values and character underpin who you are as a person.

Point 1 discussion question: What are values and what is character?

Point 2: Teams need people with strong character. When selection gets close, those with strong character will get chosen.

Point 2 discussion question: Why do teams want people with strong character?

Facilitator notes Point 1: Values are what they consider important e.g loyalty, honesty, integrity which are tested throughout life. Character is a person’s attributes e.g hard-working, resilient, attitude etc. Point 2: People with strong character will hold up when they are tested.

Jerome Kaino Optional: Replay the section of the video (00:35–00:47 mins) (00:35–00:47 mins) Point 1: Strong character is what makes a team go forward and gets you out of times of adversity.

Point 1 discussion question: Why does strong character make a team go forward and help in times of adversity?

Facilitator notes Point 1: Working hard together for each other for a common goal and making sacrifices for the greater good of the team by putting the team first will help the team move forward. The better the strength of character, the better you will be able to cope in times of adversity. 1/4 Scott Robertson Optional: Replay the Scott Robertson section of the video (00:48–01:13 mins) (00:48–01:13 mins) Point 1: Character is showing resilience when times get tough. Your mindset is key.

Point 1 discussion question: What is resilience?

Point 2: How you embrace tough times and your mindset is important. Are you solution focused or issue focused?

Point 2 discussion question: Why is being solution focused better than being issue focused?

Facilitator notes Point 1: Being able to cope in challenging and difficult situations and circumstances. Point 2: Being solution focused means you are trying to fix the problem. Being issue focused will slow you down and means you are living in the past, and not trying to fix the situation and move on.

Sarah Goss Optional: Replay the Sarah Goss section of the video (01:14–01:31 mins) (01:14–01:31 mins) Point 1: Respect amongst your team mates is what gels a team.

Point 1 discussion question: What is respect and what does it look like?

Facilitator notes Point 1: Respect can be in many different forms e.g turning up on time, treating people they way they want to be treated, wearing the uniform correctly, acknowledging different cultures, genders and opinions. Respecting people, clubs, teams, schools, sport.

Damian McKenzie Optional: Replay the Damian McKenzie section of the video (01:32–01:43 mins) (01:32–01:3 mins) Point 1: Players want to play with other players of strong character.

Point 1 discussion question: Why do players prefer other players with strong character?

Facilitator notes Point 1: They can rely on them and trust them. During challenging times, they will rise to the occasion.

2/4 Optional: Replay the Steve Hanen section of the video (01:44–02:23 mins) (01:44–02:23 mins) Point 1: Everyone needs a clear sense of identity. I am a father, a brother, a son, a friend and a husband, not just the All Black coach. When you obtain this clear sense of identity, then you can live how you want to live when no one can see you.

Point 1(a) discussion question: What is identity? Point 1(b) discussion question: In a sentence describe who you are?

Facilitator notes Point 1(a): Identity is who we are, not what we do. e.g I am Sione Murphy and I play rugby – not I am Sione Murphy, the rugby player. Point 1(b): For young people, there is pressure from social media etc, to be something they are not comfortable with or someone that is not real and true to their values. It is important to be comfortable in your own skin and be the best version of yourself, not someone else.

Liam Messam Optional: Replay the section of the video (02:24–02:39 mins) (02:24–02:39 mins) Point 1: Actions, by the way you act and lead, not words gain trust.

Point 1(a) discussion question: What does trust look like? Point 1(b) discussion question: Why are actions more important than words?

Facilitator notes Point 1(a): Trust – being honest, not talking badly about people behind their back, not letting people down. Point 1(b): Talk is cheap, anyone can say anything, but it is those who back it up with the actions that gain respect.

Sam Cane Optional: Replay the section of the video (02:40–03:00 mins) (02:40–03:00 mins) Point 1: You might work hard but it’s how you treat people [that] ultimately tells all about who you are.

Point 1 discussion question: Why is how you treat people a real test of who you are?

Facilitator notes Point 1: How you treat people reflects on the type of person you are and your values.

Anton Lienert-Brown Optional: Replay the Anton Lienert-Brown section of the video (03:01–03:10 mins) (03:01–03:10 mins) Point 1: You need to earn the respect of others

Point 1 discussion question: Why do you need to earn the respect of others?

Facilitator notes Point 1: Not all hard work will be seen straight away. It can take a long time. Not many things in life come easy so being resilient is also being able to keep working away with a good attitude.

3/4 Optional: Replay the Keven Mealamu section of the video (03:11–03:30 mins) (03:11–03:30 mins) Point 1: Be yourself. Don’t become something that you are not. True character is about being true to who you are.

Point 1(a) discussion question: Why should you not become something you are not? Point 1(b) discussion question: Why is it important to be true to who you are?

Facilitator notes Point 1(a): You will get found out and exposed for who you really are pretty quickly. Point 1(b): Be proud of who you are and where you come from. Be yourself – everyone else is taken.

Key Messages • Having a strong character will show • Know your identity. Sport is something you do, it is not who you are/ • Actions are important • How you treat people says a lot about you • Earn respect • Be yourself

Strategies • Be honest • Do what you say you are going to do • Work hard • Be genuine • Treat people with respect • Don’t try and be something or someone you are not • Be proud of who you are

Action plan challenge What changes will you make in your life because of what you have learned today? Closing quote “Character is about being yourself and being really proud about that.” Keven Mealamu

This workshop has been made possible by the support of the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association Members 4/4