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The objective of this resource guide in sportsmanship is to provide a framework for understanding the ideals of sports and responsible behavior, and how students can uphold standards of healthy living, civility, and decorum off the playing field.
Though few young people who participate in sports will go on to the professional level, they will go on to become adults. Without question, sportsmanship is a way of life on and off the field and the importance of peaceful conflict resolution as well as tolerance, anger management and civility can and should be incorporated into every child's education.
Youth sports today have seen an increase in distressing incidents, as youngsters and adults alike often engage in out-of-bounds behavior. In elementary, middle and high schools, the use of profanity has become commonplace. Today, sports can be seen as a mirror for us to reflect upon our behavior, while examining the importance of fair play on the field, and in society in general.
It is instructive to trace the history of baseball, which has, at different times throughout its rich history as our national pastime, realized the highest of our country's ideals. From the talents and commitments of individual players, to the successful results of teamwork, baseball teaches us valuable life lessons.
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Born in the large northern cities of early 19th century America, baseball was played by middle-class athletes as a rather civilized activity, not unlike cricket, its English counterpart. As the game grew in popularity, however, crowds swelled, thugs incited spectators against umpires and violence became epidemic on and off the field. By the turn of the century, officials made a concerted effort to clean up baseball,
and they were largely successful. The game, however, has always attracted gamblers and swindlers and has seen its share of violence over the years. Fortunately, baseball has also been blessed with heroes of upstanding character such as Christy Mathewson, Lou Gehrig, Stan Musial, Jackie Robinson, Yogi Berra, Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, Sammy Sosa, Derek Jeter, etc., role models who represent athletic distinction, as well as great sportsmanship. For over 150 years, since its creation, baseball has retained its place as the most American of institutions, reflecting both the strengths and the weaknesses of our nation's collective character.
The Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center's Sportsmanship program examines sportsmanship from an historical and contemporary perspective using readings, discussions, role-playing exercises and film to gain a better understanding of how to promote fair play, positive relationships and team-building skills on the playing field, in the classroom and in our personal lives.
There are an estimated 30 million young players in organized sports around the country. Their involvement, along with that of coaches, referees, teachers and parents, can offer a unique opportunity to learn about the essentials of sportsmanship, including respect for other and the importance of teamwork.
It may be defined as respectful and ethical behavior in sports. It may also be defined as citizenship.
Sportsmanship is about character, values, personal responsibility, learning how to win and how to lose graciously, and how to control frustration and anger.
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Code of Conduct: A written pledge adopted and enforced by a governing body that establishes standards for participation for coaches, athletes, parents and spectators.
Cultural Diversity: Recognition of, and respect for differences in ethnic, racial and religious background.
Posing or Showboating: Showing off, or unsportsmanlike behavior. An athlete clearly playing to the crowd with an exhibitionist style, or engaging in prolonged celebration.
Personal Responsibility: The ability to own up to one's actions and performance, and not blame others for one's mistakes.
Role Model: A person who sets a positive example by his/her behavior, whether sports star or parent. Role models usually achieve success through hard work, often overcoming obstacles.
Self-esteem: The extent to which an individual believes him/herself to be capable, significant, successful and worthy.
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Sideline Rage: Hotheaded parents and fans who act and talk abusively, which at times leads to violence.
Silent Saturday or Sunday: A day adopted by a growing number of youth leagues in which people on the sidelines are asked to keep quiet, or simply cheer good plays and refrain from negative outbursts.
Social Competence: The ability to get along with, and be accepted by peers, family members, teachers and coaches.
Sportsmanship: A form of good manners and respectful citizenship. Playing by the rules, respecting opponents and officials, and valuing hard work over outcome.
Teamwork: A group or team working together and cooperating to achieve common goals.
Tolerance: The ability to be fair and respectful to people regardless of their beliefs, opinions, race or nationality.
Trash-talking: Gloating, heckling and taunting by a sports participant, intended to demean an opponent.
Zero Tolerance: Commitment by youth organizations to vigorously enforce rules that restrain and punish inappropriate behavior.
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Sportsmanship is playing by the rules, respecting others, and emphasizing effort over outcome. It is learning how to win and lose graciously and how to control frustration and anger. Research indicates that participation in sports can
promote healthy child development, build an appreciation of personal health and fitness, develop a positive self-image, teach children to work as part of team and to manage personal success and disappointment.
Young people actively observe parents' and coaches' reactions to their performance by looking for responses to their behavior. Self-esteem is developed through these responses, as well as evaluation of one's own abilities. Consider the following questions, which may help convey the meaning of sportsmanship.
These questions are intended to encourage students to think about their personal behavior.
- I play an organized sport because:
a. I really enjoy it.
b. My friends signed up.
c. My parents really want me to.
d. Other (explain).
e. I don't play an organized sport.
- I gain satisfaction even when my team loses, if we've tried our hardest? Yes or No.
- Give a personal example of both good sportsmanship and poor sportsmanship.
(It can be something you saw, or something that happened in school, or something that happened to you.)
- In one community, parents are required to stand across the field from the coaches and players. Do you agree or disagree with this policy? Why?
- Do you think people put too much emphasis or importance on being a winner? Yes or no.
- Have you ever seen trash-talking (e.g. putdowns) in a professional game?
- Do you ever blame the referee, the weather, faulty equipment, your teammates, or some other factor, for losing a game? Yes or no (be honest!)
- Do you consider yourself to be a good sport? Explain.
- Do you think professional athletes have a responsibility to be positive role models? How about high school or college athletes?
- How do you feel when you know others have cheated? If you knew one of your teammates cheated in a victory, would you tell someone?
- Who is your favorite athlete? How does he/she behave on and off the playing field?
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Have students compose an essay on any topic relating to ethics and sportsmanship or provide a personal reflection on an example of good or poor sportsmanship. Ask the following questions to help students think about the basic concepts of competition, and winning and losing, so they may better understand the complexities of sportsmanship.
- What is sportsmanship? Can it be taught? Who taught you?
- Do you think professional athletes are role models? Do they have an obligation to serve as role models (because of their media exposure) even if they do not want to?
- Are you a role model to younger athletes? Why or why not?
- Do fans at your school's athletic games show good sportsmanship? What about fans from opposing schools?
- Can a coach's style be considered verbally abusive or is it just a means of motivating players?
- Is it ever acceptable to break a rule?
- Do you think trash-talking and taunting are an acceptable way to gain a competitive edge?
- What are some examples of trash-talking and poor sportsmanship that you have experienced firsthand?
- Why do you think fighting is perceived to be more acceptable in some sports, such as hockey, than in others?
- Do professional sports have an ethical commitment to curb violence?
- Is too much emphasis placed on winning? Is sportsmanship sometimes overlooked in order to achieve victory?
- Do you think some parents exhibit poor sportsmanship while watching their children's games?
- Have you witnessed parents' poor sportsmanship at your games? Any physical confrontations?
- Many sport video games contain examples of poor sportsmanship. Do you think these games should include trash-talking, showboating and other acts of poor sportsmanship? Do you think this can have a negative effect on the young kids who play these games?
- If an athlete is no longer enjoying athletic competition, should he/she continue because of parental pressures?
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The importance of respect, tolerance, anger management, civility and good citizenship can and should be incorporated into each child's education. These values often get lost on the playing field, where lack of sportsmanship is evident at every level. The Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center's program teaches methods for turning negative behavior around and encouraging civility and sportsmanship.
Through hands-on exercises and role-playing techniques,
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we offer practical steps to promote problem-solving skills. We believe that young people, when given an opportunity to act out non-violent solutions in a safe environment, often feel empowered to try these alternatives in their daily lives. Sports can provide the tools to illustrate students' own concerns and goals, as individuals and as a community.
- Standard 2.1: All Students Will Learn Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Concepts and Health-Enhancing Behaviors.
- Standard 2.2: All Students Will Learn Health-Enhancing Personal, Interpersonal and Life Skills.
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Bigelow, Bob.
Just Let the Kids Play (Health Communications) 2001.
Clifford, Craig.
Coaching for Character: Reclaiming the Principles of Sportsmanship (Kinetics) 1997.
Kauchak, Therese.
Good Sports: Winning, Losing and Everything in Between (Pleasant) 1999.
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Murphy, Shane.
The Cheers and the Tears: A Healthy Alternative to the Dark Side of Youth Sports (Jossey-Bass) 1999.
Raatma, Lucia.
Sportsmanship: Character Education (Bridgestone) 2002.
Rasmussen, Della Mae.
Power of Sportsmanship (Shallenberger) 1981.
Sheehy, Harry.
Raising a Team Player: Life-Tested Wisdom from a Small-Town Coach (Stoney) 2002.
Wolff, Rick.
Good Sports: The Concerned Parent's Guide to Competitive Youth Sports (Sports Publishing) 1998.
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www.education-world.corn
www.internationalsport.com
www.funbrain.com
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