Ideas to Promote Sportsmanship

Playing sports isn't just about winning and losing; it's about learning the proper way to react when you win or lose. 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 or the workplace.

  1. League Party

    • Though players compete against each other throughout the season, the end of the season provides an opportunity to get them together for a league party. Ask each player to vote for awards for players on teams other than their own. Some of those awards could include accolades for best effort, best attitude, most helpful to opposing players and best act of good sportsmanship. This practivce will encourage players to treat their opponents with respect in an effort to win the awards. Even those who don't win an award can celebrate and relive the season with the players on the other teams at the party.

    Postgame Handshake and Cheer

    • After the game, have both teams meet on the field and shake hands. They can also give a cheer for the other team, thanking that team for a good game of solid and friendly competition. If a player is injured during the game, the league could encourage players on both teams to meet together on the field and offer up a moment of silence to offer their own private wishes for the health of the player based on their own beliefs. This practice would avoid emphasizing religion but give the opportunity to offer positive wishes for the injured player.

    Emphasize Importance Of Good Behavior

    • Having the highest level of ability on a team in not an excuse for exhibiting bad behavior. The coaches should promote sportsmanship by encouraging all players to follow the same rules. The best player on the team should not be permitted to act up. If that player violates team rules, he should be disciplined. Benching the best player on the team for poor sportsmanship will pass on the message to the rest of the team that sportsmanship is more important than winning.

    Reward Effort

    • Instead of concentrating on the results of a child's actions in the game, recognize her effort. Helping the player feel good about her performance will reduce frustration and potential conflict building up within the team among top performers and players who struggle. Don't recognize the same player after every game as a coach. Point out something positive about each of your players after the game. This recognition will help each player feel that she contributed to the team effort and her efforts were recognized.