A new survey reveals that when it comes to sportsmanship, 94 percent of Americans would rather see their child lose the "big game" but display great sportsmanship, rather than come out on top.
That's good news for the state of sportsmanship in the United States. The bad news? For the fourth year in a row, the vast majority of Americans believe that sportsmanship is worse now than when they were growing up. More than 85 percent of Americans ages 20 to 80-plus still think good sportsmanship is displayed less now than in previous years, according to the national survey by the Awards and Recognition Association by TNS.
"What Americans think and what they are displaying or seeing are two vastly different things," said Glenn Beckworth, president of the ARA. "We feel it's more critical than ever to continually recognize good sportsmanship at all levels, but especially at the onset, when children start playing sports."
ARA recommends that parents and coaches start emphasizing good sportsmanship from an early age in order to get a handle on it before game play becomes ‘showmanship' rather than ‘sportsmanship.' Another important way to encourage kids to be good sports is for parents to cheer for the team, not just their child. Doing so helps teach kids the importance of being part of a team.
Tips For Being a Good Sport
- Unless you're coaching your child's team, you need to remember that you're the parent. Shout words of encouragement, not directions, from the sidelines (there is a difference!).
- Keep your comments positive. Don't bad-mouth coaches, players, or game officials. If you have a serious concern about the way that games or practices are being conducted, or if you're upset about other parents' behavior, discuss it privately with the coach or with a league official.
- Set a good example with your courteous behavior toward the parents of kids on the other team. Congratulate them when their kids win.
- Look for examples of good sportsmanship in professional athletes and point them out to your kids. Talk about the bad examples, too, and why they upset you.
- Don't forget to have fun. Even if your child isn't the star, enjoy the game while you're thinking of all the benefits your child is gaining — new skills, new friends, and attitudes that can help all through life.