Teaching Sportsmanship
Learning to Win and Lose with Class
Teaching sportsmanship begins with teaching athletes how to respect themselves, their teammates, their coaches, the officials, and the athletes on the opposing team. Putting the game into perspective is the place to start.
How people are treated is more important than a win or loss of a game. Young athletes need to be taught that the game they are playing is just that – a game. Teaching perspective is an integral part of teaching sportsmanship.
Teaching Athletes How to Win with Class
If the priority of an athlete is the outcome of the game, the youngster is in for a lot of disappointment. Too many factors contribute to the win or loss of a game, and not many are under the direct control of any athlete.
The focus of the coaching staff needs to be on the quality of the effort the athletes put forth during the game, and not on the outcome of the game. If the primary focus is on the athlete's effort, then the wins and losses of the season can be put into perspective.
With this foundation, athletes can learn to demonstrate both respect and self-control during wins and losses. Athletes should be taught to be gracious after a win through their words and actions.
They also need to be taught to attribute the outcome of the game to the effort of the entire team and not focus on individual performances. Arrogance should be discouraged in favor of team effort.
Athletes need to be taught to give credit for the win to each member of their own team. This can be done formally or informally, but needs to be part of the post-game ritual. Teaching an athlete to be humble about their success is a difficult but valuable lesson.
Teaching Athletes How to Lose with Class
Teaching an athlete how to lose graciously can also be a challenge. Again, if the focus of the coach is on the effort of the young athletes, then teaching athletes how to handle a loss is an easier task.
Just as athletes are taught that they win together as a team, they need to be taught that they lose together as a team. Even if a critical error is made resulting in the loss of a game, focus needs to be taken off of that play (and athlete) and focused on the quality efforts put forth throughout the game.
Along these lines, young athletes need to be taught to pick each other up after errors are committed. Athletes in proximity to the athlete that committed the error need to be encouraged to jog over and make some type of positive contact. A word of encouragement can be given along with a quick pat on the back. These small gestures can go a long way towards lifting the spirits of a crestfallen athlete.
The Coach as the Role Model
Young athletes will follow the examples set by their coaches. Coaches that demonstrate that winning is more important than people will teach young athletes to do the same.
Before stepping onto a field, the coaching staff should take some time and reflect on their own attitudes about winning and losing. Coaches need to carefully consider their own motives for coaching youth sports. If the sole purpose for coaching is to accumulate wins, then perhaps the coach should pursue coaching at a different level.
Teaching sportsmanship is an integral part of any game. Changing the focus from one of “outcome” to one of ”effort” can make a significant difference when it comes to teaching young athletes how to win and lose graciously.
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