Sportsmanship Ideas

Respect

• Respect is a key component of good sportsmanship. Start by respecting the officials as impartial professionals who are doing their job to the best of their ability, and accept their decisions willingly. Respect for your teammates and members of the opposing team is also crucial, because it encourages teamwork and healthy competition. Coaches also deserve respect, and players should accept their decisions and choices graciously.

Self-Control

• Maintaining control over your reactions and behavior is a good show of sportsmanship. If your team is losing or you are not playing the way you want to, it's easy to allow yourself to get angry and out of control. This need for self-control applies to coaches, officials and players.

The Rules

• When playing any sport, not only is it important to know the rules, it's a sign of good sportsmanship. The more you know about the game, the more likely you are to understand and respect the officials' calls. Abiding by the rules of the game is a necessary part of playing any sport. This means not using profanity, taunting members of the opposing team or any type of verbal abuse.

Setting a Good Example

• Everyone involved in the game should set a good example. As a coach, you are the leader and should demonstrate good sportsmanship by teaching players to win without boasting and to lose with grace. As a player, you should set an example for the spectators by maintaining self-control and composure on the playing field and treating everyone with respect. As a parent, you should set an example for your children by teaching them the old adage "It doesn't matter who wins or loses, it's how you play the game."