By Staff
In the last few years, taunting, trash-talking, gloating and cheap shots have become all too common in sports. You've probably seen athletes who take their own successes too seriously. They celebrate a goal with a prolonged victory dance or constantly brag about what they did in a game. This is the exact opposite of what sportsmanship is all about. This kind of behavior might make you feel tough or intimidating to an opponent, but keep in mind it can also cause you to lose the match. Plenty of games have been lost to penalties gathered from “unsportsmanlike conduct.”
In this crucial time of district action and with the start of the winter sports season just around the corner, it's important to display good sportsmanship. It not only can change the attitude of a team, but can help them be successful knowing they have nothing but positives behind them.
Here are some suggestions on how to build sportsmanship for parents, coaches and players:
Unless you're coaching your child's team, you need to remember that you're the parent. Shout words of encouragement, not directions, from the sidelines. There is a difference!
If you are your child's coach, don't expect too much out of them. Don't be harder on him or her than on anyone else on the team, but don't play favorites either.
A coach should keep a positive attitude at all times! Throwing a fit because of a bad play or because your player missed an important lay-up will not do anything but discourage them even more. Instead, clap and say “we'll get 'em next time.”
Keep your comments positive. Don't bad-mouth coaches, players or game officials. If you have a serious concern about the way that games or practices are being conducted, or if you're upset about other parents' behavior, discuss it privately with the coach or with a league official.
When you're talking to your child after a competition, it's important not to dwell on who won or lost. Instead, you might ask your child, “How did you feel you did during the game?” If your child mentions that he or she didn't do well at a particular skill, like shooting or catching, offer to work on these skills with your child before the next game.
Applaud good plays no matter who makes them.
Keep your perspective. It's just a game. Even if your child's team loses every game of the season it's unlikely to ruin his or her life or chances of success.
Look for examples of good sportsmanship in professional athletes and point them out to your kid. Talk about the bad examples, too, and why they upset you.
Finally, don't forget to have fun. Even if your child isn't the star, enjoy the game while you're thinking of all the benefits your child is gaining.