Sportsmanship

 What Is Sportsmanship?

Extra-curricular activities are an integral part of a student’s education.  Good sportsmanship and good conduct go hand and hand with activities.  It is important to expect sportsmanlike behavior at all times-whether our team is winning or losing; or whether you believe the officials’ calls are going our way.  We need to exhibit modesty in victory and graciousness in defeat.  But sportsmanship isn't just reserved for the people on the field. Cheerleaders, fans, and parents also need to be aware of how they behave during competition. Sportsmanship is a style and an attitude, and it can have a positive influence on everyone around you.  Would your student be proud of your actions or words?  What images of Stanton do we want others to associate with us? 

Some people define good sportsmanship as the "golden rule" of sports - in other words, treating the people you play with and against as you'd like to be treated yourself. You demonstrate good sportsmanship when you show respect for yourself, your teammates, and your opponents, for the coaches on both sides, and for the referees, judges, and other officials.

Everyone feels great when they win, but it can be just as hard to be a good sport when you've won a game as when you've lost one. Good sportsmanship takes maturity and courage - when you work really hard at a sport, it's not easy to admit you made a bad play or that someone has more skills than you. In competition - as in life - you may not always win but you can learn something from losing, too.

It's pretty tough to lose, so it definitely doesn't help matters if someone continues taunting you or your team after the competition is over. Sometimes it's hard to swallow your pride and walk on. But there's always the next match. When you do lose - and it will happen - don't take it out on your opponent, don’t blame the officials, or blame your team. Take it in stride. When you lose, lose with class. Being proud of how you performed, or at least being aware of things you need to improve for next time, is key. Also, it means accepting the game's outcome without complaint and without excuses, even if you sometimes might suspect the referees made some questionable calls.  Remember there are four perspectives in a game-fans, players, coaches and officials.  Everyone views each action differently. 

When you win, the trick is to be a gracious and generous winner. Good sportsmanship means acknowledging victories without humiliating opponents, being quietly proud of success, and letting victories speak for themselves. Even if you win by a landslide, good sportsmanship means still finding ways to compliment your opponents.

Most people won't go on to play professional sports, and only a few will win scholarships to play at college. But many forget to have a good time during the years they do play because they're so focused on winning. And, unfortunately, parents and coaches sometimes put too much pressure on athletes, emphasizing winning at all costs. So although it's great to be a champion, it's even better to have enjoyed the process of trying to reach the top. It's best to play fair while having fun.

Learning good sportsmanship means finding that the positive attitude learned on the field carries over into other areas of life. At school, for example, you're able to appreciate the contributions made by classmates and know how to work as part of a team to complete a project. You may enjoy more success at work as well, because a big part of learning good sportsmanship is learning to be respectful of others, including customers and coworkers.

A committed effort is being made by the Nebraska School Activities Association and schools across Nebraska to help shape sportsmanship guidelines.  Together, we can promote a positive learning experience for our student-athletes that is played in an atmosphere where self, opponents, coaches, and officials are respected and treated properly.  Each spectator, coach, and student-athlete can make a difference.  I would challenge our fans, students, participants, and coaches to make sportsmanship a priority.  Good sports are winners, regardless of the outcome of the contest.  Be proud of our athletes and their accomplishments and forgive them when their efforts come up short.  Remember keep it in perspective; it truly is only a game.  I hope each and every one of you has joyous and happy holidays!

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