Coach Carter Movie Analysis

Thomas Carter’s Coach Carter, which was released in 2005 had been recognized as one of the greatest basketball movies of all time. Not only did it succeed in receiving positive reviews from critics, it was also nominated and had won several awards in the year of 2005 and 2006. Coach Carter is an American biographical sports movie which is based on a true story of Richmond High School basketball coach Ken Carter, who made headlines in 1999 for benching his entire undefeated basketball team, Richmond Oilers for their poor academic performance. Coach Carter is not only just a simple sports movie for basketball enthusiasts, but also a life motivating story for teenagers. The point which makes this movie so inspiring is that it is not only about
Besides punctuality, some of the regulations listed in the contract prepared by him were attending all of the classes, sitting in the front row during the lessons, and maintaining a minimum of 2.3 GPA. “These boys are student athletes. ‘Student’ comes first”, said Coach Carter. In Coach Carter’s perceptive, education has a more secure future compared to sports. He also provided a shocking statement that only 50% of the Richmond High School’s students were able to graduate. Other than that, 33% of young African American men between age of eighteen and twenty-four who did not go to college were likely to get arrested. Mentor plays an important role in educating the teenagers to identify the rights and wrong in their lives, so that they will not act impetuously. Soon, Coach Carter found out that his players were playing truant and scored bad grades which had violated the regulations of the contract. Hence, he decided to lock up the gym and suspended their games which resulted in parental opposition. Despite being cursed or criticised, he did not surrender and stood firm with his decision. Consequently, he was fired from the basketball coach position. However, his actions as a caring mentor had motivated the players to study hard. Jason Lyle, one of his player said: “Sir, they can cut the chains off the door, but they can’t make us play.” Coach Carter has changed their mind set and
Coach Carter strongly believes that respecting others is the easiest way to earn respect from others. In the movie, he was firm in requiring his players to address each other with ‘sir’ for it was a term of respect. Moreover, he had also banned them from using the word ‘nigger’ which was a derogatory term used to insult the Blacks’ ancestors. Initially, it is undeniable that the players feel uneasy with this situation, but they quickly come to realise the importance of mutual respect with the help of Coach Carter. Mutual respect in the team will eventually build trust among the players and develop teamwork which is an important element for a team to succeed. Working as a team can not only ally one with others to struggle and triumph together, but also able to accomplish more than one can do individually with ease. With this, Richmond Oilers soon becomes undefeated throughout the season, causing the players to be haughty. They displayed poor sportsmanship such as taunting and humiliating their opponents during the basketball match. One should always appreciate and respect the competitors as they are the people who has the ability to drive one to limits. “It is your attitude, not your aptitude that determines your altitude,” said Zig Ziglar. Therefore, respecting each other is a basic manner that must be taught to teenagers in order for them