What is good sportsmanship?

Few lessons learned through sports are as important as being able to display good sportsmanship, for that easily carries over to good citizenship. Children or youth who become involved in sports and learn trustworthiness, honesty and respect for authority or opponents through them will learn to treat family, colleagues or neighbors in the same manner.

You can lead the charge by practicing it yourself. Most bad sportsmanship is learned by example. Youth often see anger, frustration, belittling behavior and showmanship from parents and coaches. In the end, it tends to trickle down and lead to players exhibiting the same bad manners.

There are certain unwritten standards of good sportsmanship in which players and coaches of all ages already take part. The post-game handshake, for example, is a tradition of good behavior that teaches players to put the outcome of the game behind them and focus on congratulating opponents for their efforts. Coaches should continue these practices and do their best to show their excitement in them, so that the players see them as something to look forward to and not simply go through the motions.

You can also try to foster your own traditions of sportsmanship. Something as simple as going into the stands following a game and thanking your fans for coming can go a long way in teaching your players respect. Teach them to leave the fields, courts, locker rooms, benches or dugouts clean so that following teams can enjoy them as well.

A continuing problem with teaching the players to act respectfully is parents tend to get caught up in emotions, shouting at officials, coaches and opponents from the stands. One of the best ways to teach a youth good sportsmanship is to start with his or her parents. Meet with them early and often, and any time there is a growing problem, act quickly to make sure it is resolved. Tell them the danger of teaching such behavior to their children, and ask them to show the same respect they would want their children to have. Remind them that it is, after all, just a game and that youth sports are about teaching life lessons and not about winning.

One facet of good sportsmanship that coaches often overlook is behavior toward the officials. It is common for a coach to angrily shout when he feels a call is incorrect, sometimes resorting to profanity. Never shout at an official in front of your players. Do not openly criticize them. Doing so and then demanding respect from your players is not only counterproductive, it is also hypocritical. Calmly discuss the rule with the official, ask him or her to explain the call. Then if you feel the call was incorrect, say so in a calm manner and forget about it. Moving on instead of stewing over a decision will teach your players to overlook mistakes and succeed in spite of them.

If you coach older players, such as middle or high school children, a good strategy could be to get them involved in coaching or officiating sports for younger players. This can show them how difficult it is to make a correct call or coaching decision. Athletes who become involved in officiating often begin to understand the task and learn to respect officials and even look past their mistakes. Get them involved in camps that teach the game to young players. This will help them understand the pressures of authority.

Ultimately, you are the one who will help your players understand good sportsmanship, through your example, your education and your motivation.