Good sportsmanship is about playing by the rules. It’s about discipline, respect and self-control. People who are good sports have fun because they put emphasis on the joy and excitement of participation rather than the final outcome. A good sport simply loves to play. Here are some sportsmanship rules to live by:
- Show respect to yourself by treating others the way you want to be treated.
- Respect the efforts of not only your teammates but also your opponents
- Respect your coaches and the officials of the game and follow their direction.
- Respect and understand the rules of the game.
- Always play fair with honesty and integrity. Don’t cheat.
- Accept the judgment calls of the coaches and the officials without argument.
- Offer encouragement to teammates, especially when they make mistakes in practice or competition.
- Forgive yourself when you make a mistake and find a “reset” mechanism to get yourself right back into the game.
- Lose without pouting and offer no excuses. Win without gloating or rubbing it in.
- A good sport always asks this question, “What did I do for my team today?”