Get In The Game - A Playbook for Sportsmanship!
“The mark of a great sportsmen is not how good they are at their best, but how good they are at their worst.” - Martina Navratilova, professional tennis player
Webster’s Dictionary defines Sportsmanship as, “fair and generous behavior or treatment of others, especially in a sports contest.” Sportsmanship refers to the attitude and conduct we carry in practice and games. This concept embodies character development - both on and off the court.
Sportsmanship signifies virtues uplifted by society - fairness, self-control, courage, persistence, respect, morality, goal-directed behavior, and more. Additionally, research suggests a correlated relationship between sportsmanship and happiness (Özsari, et al., 2023). So what does sportsmanship look like?
Respecting coaches, teammates, opponents, officials, etc
Winning and losing graciously
Positive attitude and inclusion of others
Fairness and adhering to directions/rules
Taking responsibility for your actions
Encouragement of self and teammates
Sportsmanship is a learned skill that everyone is capable of developing. It is learned through modeling, positive and negative consequences, and experiencing moral dilemmas. Weiss (2017) outlines strategies to help kids develop these skills:
Creating a sportsmanship code at the start of the season
Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Check out my sportsmanship pledge below for inspiration!
Reinforcement - positive and negative consequences for behavior
Modeling prosocial behavior
As adults, being mindful of how we speak about officials, coaches, teammates, spectators, etc. Even when we are just watching March Madness on TV!
Building dilemmas into practice and engaging in team discussions
Practicing negotiation and agreements regarding expected behavior and consequences
Encouraging peer to peer dialogue and adult mediated conversations to manage conflict
If you have any questions, please feel encouraged to reach out christina@christinakingfamilytherapy.com.
Yours In Service,
Christina King, LMFT 145704
Citations and Resources
Özsari, A., Kara, M., Çetin, M.Ç, & Kara, N.Ş. (2023). The relationship between sportsmanship and happiness: A research on martial arts athletes. GSI Journals Serie A: Advancements in Tourism Recreation and Sports Sciences, 6(1), 248-258.
Weiss, M. R. (1987). Teaching sportsmanship and values. Handbook for youth sport coaches, 137-151.