Good sportsmanship is viewed by the National Federation of State High School Associations as a commitment to fair play, ethical behavior and integrity. In perception and practice, sportsmanship is defined as those qualities which are characterized by generosity and genuine concern for others:
Learn as much as you can about your sport. Play by its rules. Show up for practice, work hard, and realize that if you're on a team, everyone deserves a chance to play.
Talk politely and act courteously toward everyone before, during, and after games and events. That includes your teammates, your opponents, your coaches and theirs, the officials presiding over the game, and even spectators (who can sometimes be loud about their opinions).
Stay cool. Even if others are losing their tempers, it doesn't mean you have to. Remind yourself that no matter how hard you've practiced and played, it is, after all, just a game.
Avoid settling disputes with violence. If you're in a difficult situation or someone's threatening you, seek help immediately from your coach or from an official.
Cheer your teammates on with positive statements - and avoid trash talking the other team.
Acknowledge and applaud good plays, even when someone on the other team makes them.
When officials make a call, accept it gracefully even if it goes against you. Remember that referees may not be right every time - but they're people who are doing their best, just as you are.
Whether you win or lose, congratulate your opponents on a game well played.
Good sportsmanship takes maturity and courage; when you work really hard at a sport, it's not easy to admit that you made a bad play or that someone has more skills than you do. Children who have learned good sportsmanship usually find that the positive attitude they've learned on the field carries over into other areas of their lives. At school, for example, they're able to appreciate the contributions made by their classmates and they know how to work as part of a team to complete a project. They may enjoy more success at work as well, because good sports are respectful of others, including customers and coworkers.
Remember, soccer is just a game. Let's have some fun.
Sportsmanship for the Grown-Up
Children practice good sportsmanship when they treat their
teammates, opponents, coaches, and officials with respect. They learn
the basics of sportsmanship from the adults in their lives,
especially their parents and their coaches. Children who see adults
behaving in a sportsmanlike way gradually come to understand that the
real winners in sports and in life itself are those who know how to
persevere and to behave with dignity - whether they win or lose a
game.
Parents can help their kids understand that good sportsmanship includes both small gestures and heroic efforts. It starts with something as simple as shaking hands with opponents before a game. It includes acknowledging good plays made by others and accepting even bad calls gracefully. Displaying good sportsmanship isn't always easy: it can be tough to congratulate the opposing team after losing a close or important game. But the kids who learn how to do it will benefit in many ways.
Help Your Child to Be a Good Sport
Remember the saying, "Actions speak louder than words"? That's especially true when it comes to teaching your kids the basics of good sportsmanship. Your behavior during practices and games will influence them more than any pep talk or lecture you give them.
Here are some suggestions on how to build sportsmanship in your child:
Unless you're coaching your child's team, you need to remember that you're the parent, not the coach. Shout words of encouragement, not directions, from the sidelines (there is a difference!).
If you are your kid's coach, don't expect too much out of your own child. Don't be harder on him than on anyone else on the team, but don't play favorites either.
Keep your comments positive. Don't badmouth coaches, players, or game officials. If you have a serious concern about the way that games or practices are being conducted, or if you're upset about other parents' behavior, discuss it privately with your child's coach or with a league official.
Applaud good plays no matter who makes them.
Set a good example with your courteous behavior towards the parents of kids on the other team. Congratulate them when their kids win.
Remember that it's your child, not you, who is playing. Don't push your kid into a sport because it's what you enjoyed. As your children gets older, let them choose the sport they wants to play, and let them decide the level of commitment they wants to make to it.
Keep your perspective. It's just a game. Even if your child's team loses every game of the tournament it's unlikely to ruin their life, or their chances of success.
Look for examples of good sportsmanship in professional athletes and point them out to your kids. Talk about the bad examples, too, and why they upset you.
Finally, don't forget to have fun. Even if your children aren't the star, enjoy the game while you're thinking of all the benefits they are gaining - new skills, new friends, and attitudes that can help them all through life.
The best coaches - and parents - encourage their kids to play fair, to have fun, and to concentrate on helping the team while polishing their own skills. Let's all have a great time.