6 Ways to Encourage Good Sportsmanship
If your kids play sports, chances are you’ve witnessed some deplorable behavior by the opposing teammates, or worse, the parents or coaches! Mighty Mommy has 6 ways to encourage good sportsmanship for kids and parents alike.
Cheryl Butler
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6 Ways to Encourage Good Sportsmanship
Playing sports isn’t just about winning and losing; it’s about learning the proper way to react when you win or lose. And learning how to interact with others whether you win or lose plays an important part in good sportsmanship. You can learn good sportsmanship when playing sports, participating in school activities or even by simply working at the office. You demonstrate good sportsmanship when you show respect for yourself, your teammates, and your opponents, for the coaches on both sides, and for the referees, judges, and other officials..
As the parent of 8 kids who play sports, I can tell you firsthand that there is nothing uglier than watching a group of kids take the field to enjoy what should be a fun and healthy game and instead have it turn ugly—all because a player or fan gets disgruntled when things don’t go their way. Today, Mighty Mommy has 6 ways you can showcase good sportsmanship for your little players and for those fans in the stand.
Tip #1: Role Model Good Sportsmanship for Your Kids
How many times have you heard the phrase that kids imitate what they see? Even if your son or daughter is in the dugout and you are in the stands, don’t think for a moment that they can’t hear or observe what is going on off the field. It’s never easy watching an umpire make a bad call against your child or one of his teammates, but when your child plays organized sports, you might as well accept the fact that it’s going to happen. Instead of flying off the handle and screaming an obscenity at the referee or umpire, praise the child’s attempted effort instead. “Good swing, Michael. Try again next time” instead of “Hey Ump—go get your eyes checked—no way was that a strike!” Just as important, when attending athletic events or watching them on TV with your child, refrain from criticizing or condemning athletes’ performances.
See Also: Good Sportsmanship
Tip #2: Give Praise to Both Sides When Due
Clap for a good play, no matter which team accomplishes it. My boys play on a very well-coached team. They don’t win very many games, but their coaches are patient. Theyuse bad plays as teaching moments, and are constructive with their criticism yet plentiful with praise when it has been earned. Our pitcher gave up an unbelievable home run which was hit right out of the ballpark. Instead of throwing a fit about it, he graciously went over to the opposing player who hit the home run off of him and shook his hand. Did I mention he was only 12 years old? What an inspiring moment for not only the players on both teams, but the parents on both sides as well. My sons are still talking about it, and I’m hopeful it has left a lasting impression on everyone.
Tip #3: Focus on Good Efforts
Instead of focusing on the end results of a child’s action in a game, recognize his effort. Helping the player feel good about his performance will reduce frustration and potential conflict building up within the team among the competitive performers and the players who struggle. Mighty Mommy sees this firsthand on two different sons’ baseball teams. I have two sons on a high school baseball team and two sons on a major league team. Both of my younger sons on each team excel at hitting and fielding. The older sons struggle a bit and have to live in the shadow of their younger siblings’ accomplishments. We always point out something positive about each of our son’s contributions in the games, and if they didn’t make any outstanding plays, we focus on teamwork and practice. Because of this approach, we’ve nipped sibling rivalry in the bud. My sons who are not as athletically inclined still feel like they contribute something positive to their teams and are proud of their brothers who are making the plays all while my sons who have an easier time hitting and fielding lend their support and skills both on and off the field to their brothers.
See Also: How to Teach Your Kids to Be Good Sports
Tip #4: Stand United
If you have an out-of-control parent (or coach!) who can’t refrain from screaming at his child or other players on the field, take that person aside and explain your sportsmanship efforts. If the league your child is playing in has a good sportsmanship creed, remind the agitated parent that although frustration during games can be understandable, it’s not acceptable to criticize and belittle a player to make a point. It’s also helpful if your team or sport has a set of written expectations of what is and isn’t tolerated in the realm of sportsmanship. If this attempt isn’t fruitful, gather other parents in your corner to stand together and let the irked parent or poorly behaved coach know that poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Tip #5: Win and Lose with Grace
Real winners win without gloating or rubbing it in, and this includes offering encouragement to teammates, especially when they make mistakes, as well as showing respect to yourself by treating others the way you want to be treated—no matter what the outcome. Good sports lose without pouting and accept the judgment calls of the coaches and the officials without argument. Unfortunately, parents and coaches sometimes put too much pressure on athletes, emphasizing winning at all costs. So although it’s great to be a champion, it’s even better to have enjoyed the process of trying to reach the top. Teaching kids to play fair while having fun is a lesson that will serve them a lifetime.
See Also: Is Sportsmanship Dead?
Tip #6: Sportsmanship Off the Field
Learning good sportsmanship means finding that the positive attitude learned on the field carries over into other areas of life. At school, for example, you’re able to appreciate the contributions made by classmates and know how to work as part of a team to complete a project. You may enjoy more success at work as well, because a big part of learning good sportsmanship is learning to be respectful of others, including customers and coworkers.
Have you experienced any good or poor sportsmanship moments with your kids? Share your thoughts in the comment section or post your ideas on the Mighty Mommy Facebook page. You can also connect with me on Twitter @MightyMommy or e-mail me at mommy@quickanddirtytips.comcreate new email. Visit my family-friendly boards at Pinterest.com/MightyMommyQDT.
Get out there and enjoy watching your kids play their favorite sports and until next time happy parenting!
Baseball image from Shutterstock
About the Author
Cheryl L. Butler was the host of the Mighty Mommy podcast for nine years from 2012 to 2021. She is the mother of eight children. Her experiences with infertility, adoption, seven pregnancies, and raising children with developmental delays have helped her become a resource on the joys and challenges of parenting. You can reach her by email.