Good Sportsmanship for Kids and Adults Alike

I distinctly remember one dad, from third grade and on, who would yell, "Rag arm!" at the opposing pitcher at our softball games. Was this bad sportsmanship or was it friendly competition that accompanied our, "we want a pitcher not a belly-itcher," taunts?

In case you are thinking that this does not apply to you, take a look and see. You might be surprised that your actions are more BOO-rific than FAN-tastic.

What is Good Sportsmanship?

Good sportsmanship is treating everyone involved with respect. If you are a player, this means all of the other players, the coaches, the referees or umpires, and the spectators. If you are a parent, this means your child, the other players, the coaches, and the officials.

Who should be a Good Sport?

Everyone; and this does not just apply to little kids and their parents. This means peewee baseball players, high school football players, professional basketball players, and everyone in between them. Just because you are an adult (and might be getting paid to play a sport) does not give you the right to act like a...poor sport.

Why Should You Use Good Sportsmanship Techniques?

Good sportsmanship keeps the game fun and it sets a good example for everyone involved, including those who play as well as those who watch. When you are a poor sport, your attitude can ruin the game for everyone involved; and sometimes the most competitive athletes can forget about everyone else.

When is Sportsmanship Important?

Being a good sport is important anytime competition is involved. Everyone wants to win - its human nature. Unfortunately, not everyone can win every time. Good sportsmanship is important as a winner so that you do not hurt anyone else's feeling (because one day YOU might not win). It is also important when you are the "loser." Just because you lost does not mean that you did not play well; and if you did not play well, you should take the issue up with yourself, not everyone else.

Where Can You Learn More about Building Good Sportsmanship?

You can learn more from the people around you, and this includes kids and adults. However, just because you try and teach someone how to be a good sport does not guarantee that they will execute such behave at all the right times. Still, you will make more of an impact than if you never tried at all. Take the time to show your kids how people react to a "bad sport" in the crowd and how one bad attitude can affect the whole game. Like it or not, there tends to be at least one bad sport in every crowd, so you should not have a hard time spotting one.

The above might seem simple, but in the heat of the moment your true colors will show. Will you be the one making the score or the one falling short of "good?"