Sportsmanship

Most younger children do not understand fully what is meant by sportsmanship. When a physical education teacher asks his class to explain sportsmanship, he hears such replies as: "Don't Cheat", "Don't get mad, or cry when you lose" or "Don't yell at your teammates when they make a mistake". Children often have a hard time understanding the concepts of competition, winning and losing.
It is up to the parents to teach their children to respect the game, the players, and the officials.  Its important that we teach them that it is OK to lose and what is important  is to do your best and strive to improve your own abilities. This will also encourage children not to cheat by not placing so much importance on the final outcome. Playing sports can build lasting friendships, teach kids how to be part of a team, and build an appreciation for health and fitness. All those good aspects have to go hand and hand with being a good sport.
Some parents and adults get so wrapped up in the competition because they are living vicariously through their children. Others may have unrealistic expectations about their child, thinking he or she might be the next superstar. To ensure that children gain the benefits of sports participation, however, it is important for parents and coaches to evaluate and monitor their own attitudes and behaviors so that good sportsmanship is learned.
In this day and age of so much self promotion I urge all of us to teach the kids of the future a much more team orientated approach to sports. Teaching our children to be humble in victory and gracious in defeat will teach them such valuable life lessons.