Today is National Sportsmanship Day–a day began in 1991 to encourage people who play sports to demonstrate collegiality and good behavior while playing sports.
As a sports fan, this intrigued me.
As the grandmother of children who participate in organized sports, I teach those grandchildren to be good sports, win or lose.
As a participant in competitive tennis sponsored by the United States Tennis Association (USTA), I find good sportsmanship (or good sportswomanship, in the case of women’s tennis), to be essential.
What makes a good sport, anyhow? Is it just that, at the end of game, one team shakes hands with members of the other team, and says, “good game” over and over again, even though you want to cry because you lost?
Is it demonstrating respect for your teammates even if they get more playing time on the field, ice, or gym floor?
Is it respecting your opponents for their respective talents?
Is it listening to your coaches and behaving while in the dugout or on the bench, and thanking them for their expertise in the sport?
I would say it’s all of the above.
One of the best things children who play organized sports can learn while participating is how to win and how to lose. They need to learn to be good winners–not gloating, thereby leading their defeated opponents to feel small and insignificant. This is a skill they should learn from their coaches and parents.
They also need to learn how to lose a game–not falling apart physically or emotionally when they lose and learning to hold their heads high. If they’ve played their best and still lose, it’s a learning experience. They also need to understand that life is full of wins and losses, and, by learning to handle both experiences leads to a better outlook on life.
As a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan, I’ve certainly known the ups and downs of winning and losing. I’ve learned to stick by my team through thick and thin, whether they win or lose. They didn’t win a World Series for eighty-six years, and then they won in 2004, 2007, 2013, and 2018. This year’s team, on paper, doesn’t look very good, but maybe they’ll surprise me! Win or lose, I’m still on board.
The author with Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, 2023
Hi, Wanda,
I so agree. The rules practiced in good sportsmanship need to be practiced in every area of life.
Maybe this would change people, and we would learn to respect one another, whether winning or losing, for example, in the business world.
I enjoyed this article. It made me think about how to improve my connections with others.
Have a lovely day.
Shalom shalom
My grandchildren are all involved in sports teams, even at their young ages. Being a good sport is critical to successful living, as no one wins all the time. Life is full of such lessons. Having worked in corporate finance for over 40 years, I have witnessed and felt the impact of positive and negative outcomes. Being a resilient sports person makes everyone a better person.
I am trying again Wanda. Interesting what you say about good sportsmanship. Sadly over her at the moment sporting coaches are getting a bad name for bullying the youg regarding weight gain and other issues in Aquatics. And last year there was much exposure of sexual harrassment in some areas of sport.
Hi Joy–Your comment came through!! YAY!!! I understand what you’re saying. It’s easy for a coach to be a bully. I wouldn’t let my kids (now 45 and 43) play for a coach who was a bully. My son played Little League and then lacrosse in high school. My daughter played lacrosse in high school (she started the team), as well as tennis in high school. She wanted to play tennis in college but didn’t really have enough time to do that.
Wanda, hoping this will go through! I enjoyed your comments about sportsmanship and know my younger brother would heartily approve. He was a basketball “star” in high school, back in the 60’s, then in college, then he became a coach, then ran a basketball camp for some years out in Kansas. Sadly, he is suffering from neuropathy and essential tremor now and has trouble walking and doing some daily tasks. It breaks my heart. He lives halfway across the country from us so we can’t really help, but his wife and family are wonderful. Goodness, you got me started in a different direction, so sorry! I agree with you and the others that the qualities that go into good sportsmanship benefit us in every area of life.
Maura Beth–I got your comment!
My husband, too, suffers from an essential tremor. He can’t play the guitar any more. He was a fantastic guitar player. We met at a coffeehouse in 1966 at Boston College. It’s so hard when we get older.
Love it, Wanda. I agree fully. I do see some faults in today’s kids games where the rules are that every player on the team MUST play in a game. Then on top of it, all participants get a trophy at the end of the season whether they won or not. Parents are also getting out of hand in the stands during their children’s games…some even threatening the coaches and even their own kids. Children have to learn that others might be better players and deserve to play in games. In turn, they should learn from this and do whatever is necessary to get better.
Wanda, I’m what you would call a sometimey fan. I’ll take it or leave it but mostly I’m on board when my team wins. I’ll never forget the Pistons in the 80s. I became a bona fide fan. My son taught me the names of all the quarterbacks in the NFL. He felt that I should have known who they were. Sorry!