About Me
My mission in life is simply to inspire others to believe in themselves. Besides my parents, sports taught me to have confidence in myself and built character in me. I see glimpses of my memories in sports today, but more often see that we are building characters and not character in today’s athletes. I desire to set a new social norm in which we transform our sports arena into safe, supportive atmospheres where athletes are encouraged based on effort, coaches are allowed to coach, officials are treated with the respect authority figures deserve, and winning humbly is emphasized. In this environment, athletes will gain confidence and develop character that will not only lead them to a life-long commitment to physical activity, but will teach them to be role models for other students in their community.
Susan Bane, PhD, MD
- Married to Art for 20 years
- Mother of three great kids: Archer (15), Riley (10), Max (3)
- Education
- BS: 1987, Barton College, Chemistry
- MD: 1997: University of Illinois
- PhD: 1995: University of Illinois, Kinesiology
- Professional
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Greenville OB/GYN, A Division of Physician’s East
- Clinical Professor, Dept. of OB/GYN, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University
- Adjunct Professor, Dept. Sports and Exercise Science, East Carolina University
- Sports Experience
- High school athlete (tennis, basketball, softball)
- Barton College: tennis, Academic All-American, Honorable-Mention All-American
- Current: Recreation league basketball and softball coach
History
My favorite memories growing up involved sports. I spent endless hours in my yard playing pick-up basketball, catching fly balls and
running through an obstacle course my sisters and I created around tress and under the fence in our yard. I played sports in high school
and college and along the way learned how to play the game of life. Sports taught me teamwork, leadership, the benefit of hard work,
respect for authority, coping with loss and the joy of winning. Equally important, I learned that sport, like life, was about trying
your best, not necessarily always having to be the best. Sport built character and confidence in me.
Sadly, many kids today drop out of sports and do not learn these valuable lessons. Two years ago, I found myself subtly discouraging my
daughter from playing softball because as a coach and parent, I was discouraged by the environment in our softball league and
particularly in travel ball tournaments. I caught myself and realized the answer was not to quit, but to be part of the solution.
The Sportsmanship Zone began as an idea to improve sportsmanship in the Pitt County Girls Softball League in Greenville, NC. As a
league, we have had tremendous success on the field, including state, regional and World Series Championships. The goal of the program
was to help the league achieve a reputation off the field that matched our reputation on the field.
After much research and creative thinking, I presented the program to our Board of Directors who supported the program and it was
incorporated into the next season.
That season several positive changes were made in our league and the ballpark:
- Coaches were educated on expectations of behavior for them and their teams.
- Coaches educated their teams (players and parents) about expected conduct on and off the field.
- Thirty-two signs were placed around the ballpark emphasizing good sportsmanship.
- Players had the opportunity to earn a "Good Sport" wrist-band after each game.
- Spectators were a positive influence on the environment (for the most part!)
- Players learned to treat officials with the respect authority figures deserve.
- Coaches focused on winning with class.
