San Francisco-based author, sports guru and psychologist Dr. George Selleck, a well-known name to readers of this publication by virtue of the monthly Sports Education column he writes for EducationWorld, drew a full house and attracted considerable media attention when he released the Indian edition of his latest book Coach Sense — Coaching to make a Difference (EduSports, Rs.395) in five cities across India in February. On his second visit to India, Selleck was here as a “team member” of the Bangalore-based institutional sports development and advisory company Sportz Village Pvt. Ltd (estb.2003), which markets its EduSport programmes and curriculums to schools, colleges and corporates across the country.
A distinguished alumnus of America’s most respected universities including Stanford where he read history, Princeton (theology) and University of South California, which awarded him a doctorate in psychology, Selleck played high-quality NCAA basketball in his college years and began his career as a Presbyterian pastor engaged in counseling and social work (1960-73). Subsequently he established a private practice in counseling psychology while coaching and refereeing collegiate basketball. Currently, Selleck who has also authored seven best-seller books on ways and means to translate on-field and track sports experiences into life skills, is a San Francisco-based author, counselor and consultant in sports and organisational management.
“I can say with conviction that regular play on the basketball court or cricket field, helps a child develop valuable life skills such as strategic thinking and decision-making, team work and inter personal relationships which are vitally important for career progression and success in life. My message to parents, teachers and students themselves, is to regard sports arenas as learning labs and environments which teach children life skills in fun-filled hands-on ways,” says Selleck who has also authored a book addressed to parents with the evocative title Raising a Good Sport in a In-Your-Face World (McGraw Hill 2003).
Now fairly well acquainted with the Indian education scenario by virtue of his long association with Sportz Village, EducationWorld and whistle-stop tours of India’s towns and cities, Dr. Selleck confirms the general opinion that there’s excessive focus on academics in India’s schools, colleges and institutions of learning. “Sport should not be viewed as an extra-curricular activity. It should be integrated with academic education because development of sports skills enhance and enable academic learning. Playing is a natural activity for children and reduces stress, which automatically improves academic performance,” explains Selleck.
Although now a senior citizen, this indefatigable author, coach, and sports psychologist is keen to use his knowledge and expertise to assist EduSport, which is effectively spreading the message of sports education in India. “I will be visiting more frequently to conduct sports seminars and workshops for parents and children in India and online through my website. I am particularly interested in advising Indian parents on how to become good sports parents,” says Selleck.
Fortuitously for academics-obsessed Indian parents, there’s more such valuable advice coming from this sports education guru.
Dilip Thakore (Bangalore)