Sportsmanship and Fair Play!

Check out the latest SIRC Newsletter - Sportsmanship and Fair Play!

Sportsmanship is something simple, visible, tangible and attainable. It’s when teammates, opponents, coaches and officials treat each other with respect. When everyone shares a mutual respect for the game it’s easy to see the benefits that participants in sports gain about fair play, courtesy and grace in loosing. Sportsmanship is a learned behavior, and it’s important that all coaches, officials and parents model, teach and lead by example. Over the last decade studies have shown that there has been a decline in sportsmanship and that professional and collegiate athletes only care about winning. With this trend, shouldn’t good sportsmanship be at the forefront just as much as fundamental movement skills when teaching sport?

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Sportsmanship: Connecting Fun and Competition

What is sportsmanship? Do we really understand how to exercise, teach, or encourage sportsmanship? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines sportsmanship as “fair play, respect for opponents, and polite behavior by someone who is competing in a sport or other competition.” Sportsmanship is the glue that holds competition and fun together.

As athletes, coaches, officials, or parents we need to lead by example. This can be done by:

• Thanking coaches and referees at the end of games
• Congratulating players and opponents
• Cheering for your teammates
• Being polite to the referees

Youth sport should be about having fun. However, as athletes get older the competitive drive gets bigger and often sportsmanship can be forgotten. Officials of highly competitive games can help to create a good sportsmanship atmosphere. Click Here for some tips on how officials can prepare.

Reference from the SIRC collection:
Woelfel, Rick. (2005). How to Build Good Sportsmanship. Referee, 30(3), 14.

Online Resources:
SIRC July Newsletter
TeensHealth: Sportsmanship

Respect, Fair Play and Ethical Behaviour - SIRC Newsletter

SIRC Newsletter Now Online: Respect, Fair Play and Ethical Behaviour

We have heard before that respect, fair play and ethical behaviour (also known as sportsmanship) are all learned behaviours. The question is from whom and when do we learn these? It is never too early to learn the fundamentals, physical education classes and grassroots programs are excellent places to start. However this behaviour should be exhibited at all levels of sport, recreation through to high performance. As well it shouldn’t just be limited to athletes; parents, coaches, officials, fans and even sport organization staff should all show respect, play fairly and behave ethically. Sports and physical activity are meant to be fun; these behaviours help to create a positive experience.

SIRC has compiled the following articles to help you learn more about respect, fair play and ethical behaviour and how to lead by example.

Read the Full Newsletter: http://www.sirc.ca/newsletters/mid-apr12/index.html

Does team sport build character?

The idea that an individuals' involvement in team sport builds character is firmly engrained in our minds. Advocates of sport participation believe that sport provides opportunities for learning moral development and social skills like cooperation, conflict resolution, self-control, teamwork, fairness and a good work ethic. As a result, many parents often sign their children up for a sports team in the
hopes that they will learn some, if not all of these skills.

There is considerable evidence that the development of character in young athletes can be formed positively, if helped along by sport coaches who implement specific strategies to do so.

• Set the example - Young athletes will look to their coaches to teach them how to respond to a difficult situation - a coach who can effectively control his/her emotions under pressure or in anger is a great example for good sporting behavior. If a coach expects good sporting behaviour, but does not follow the set rules, young athletes receive mixed messages.
• Goal setting - Set team and individual goals, ask them to express how they wish to see themselves grow as players and as a team and help them to accomplish those goals.
• Peer influence - Peers are extremely important in the socialization of young athletes. Establish a peer leader that engages in positive, character-building behaviors and not just those with the greatest skill set.
• Establish guidelines - Make it clear that disrespectful behaviour towards opponents and officials is not tolerated. Let your players know what the expectations are as a team, for example, shaking hands with the opposing team before and after a game, respecting calls from officials, and following the rules of the game.

Character development is a process that requires careful planning that can definitely be developed through sport, but this type of development will not just happen on its own. To be effective, coaches need to set a personal example for youth as well as come up with an organizational plan to help athletes overcome challenges and work towards their individual and team goals.

References from the SIRC Collection: 

1. Boardley I, Kavussanu M. The influence of social variables and moral disengagement on prosocial and antisocial behaviours in field hockey and netball. Journal Of Sports Sciences. June 2009;27(8):843-854.
2. DiCocco F. The Importance of Character. Texas Coach. August 2012;57(1):34-35. 
3. Doty J, Lumpkin A. Do Sports Build or Reveal Character - An Exploratory Study at One Service Academy. (Abstract). Research Quarterly For Exercise & Sport. February 2007;78(1):A-91.
4. Falcão W, Bloom G, Gilbert W. Coaches’ Perceptions of a Coach Training Program Designed to Promote Youth Developmental Outcomes. Journal Of Applied Sport Psychology. October 2012;24(4):429-444. 
5. Gaines S. Developing Individual and Team Character in Sport. Strategies. November 2012;25(8):30-32.
6. Murray K. Team Sports and Character Development. ACSM Fit Society Page. Summer2007 2007;:1-2.
7. Welch B. Character team building. Australian Fourfourtwo. October 2011;(72):96.