Fielder’s Choice - Barry Burleson

Fielder’s Choice
By Barry Burleson

Sportsmanship

Winning goes beyond the scoreboard. It stretches to the players’ actions and attitudes - before, during and after the games. It reaches the coaches and the fans.

All contribute to what hopefully is a winning sports environment.

A recent example in the professional ranks is the New Orleans Saints. They lost to Chicago Sunday in the NFC championship game.

But afterwards, everyone knew the Saints were still winners.

They had gone from one of the league’s worst to one of the league’s best in just one year. And they did it in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. They were an inspiration to a city trying to recover from devastation. They were an inspiration to the country.

Their rookie head coach, Sean Payton, didn’t talk much about the loss Sunday. He talked about his team, which he said exemplified the true meaning of team. He talked about their successes, their amazing turnaround.

The Saints and their coach exemplified winning traits - pride, dignity, class, perseverance, sportsmanship. We need more “Saints” - from our youth leagues, to junior high, to high school, to college and to the pros. Those aforementioned traits too often take a back seat to “win at all costs.”

What is good sportsmanship?

One definition is on the website kidshealth.org, but the lesson is not just for kids.

Good sportsmanship occurs when teammates, opponents, coaches, fans and officials treat each other with respect. Kids learn the basics of sportsmanship from the adults in their lives, especially their parents and their coaches. Kids who see adults behaving in a sportsmanlike way gradually come to understand that the real winners in sports are those who know how to persevere and to behave with dignity - whether they win or lose a game.

The web site also offers some suggestions on how to build sportsmanship in your kids:

Unless you’re coaching your child’s team, you need to remember you’re the parent. Shout words of encouragement, not directions, from the sidelines (there is a difference).
If you are your kid’s coach, don’t expect too much out of your own child. Don’t be harder on him or her than on anyone else on the team, but don’t play favorites either.
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.
After a competition, it’s important not to dwell on who won or lost. Instead, try asking, “How did you feel you did during the game?” If your child feels weak at a particular skill, like throwing or catching, offer to work on it together.
Applaud good plays no matter who makes them.
Set a good example with courteous behavior toward the parents of kids on the other team. Congratulate them when their kids win.
Remember that it’s your kids, not you, who are playing. Don’t push them into a sport because it’s what you enjoyed. As kids get older, let them choose sports they want to play and decide the level of commitment they want to make.
Keep your perspective. It’s just a game. Even if the team loses every game of the season, it’s unlikely to ruin your child’s life or chances of success.
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.

A good lesson in sportsmanship is one we all need regularly. And it’s a lesson that’s far more important than the scoreboard.

Report News: (662) 252-4261 or south@dixie-net.com
Questions, comments, corrections: south@dixie-net.com
©2004, The South Reporter, All Rights Reserved.
No part of this site may be reproduced in any way without permission.
The South Reporter is a member of the Mississippi Press Association.

Web Site managed and maintained by
South Reporter webmasters Linda Jones, Kristian Jones
Web Site Design - The South Reporter

Back | Top of Page


Thursday, January 25, 2007
Community \| Obits \| Editorial & Columnists \| Society \| Sports \| Education \| Classified Ads \| Calendar of Events \| Features \| Newsbriefs \| Legals \| Archives \| Subscriptions \| Photo Gallery