How to Have Good Sportsmanship

People all over the world attend and participate in sporting events, and if you're one of them, chances are good you've seen some examples of poor sportsmanship. By being a good sport yourself, you can have a much better time and in the process, set a good example for others.

Instructions

1. Stay positive. One of the first rules of good sportsmanship is to be a positive person. Keep your comments positive, as well. You can encourage your own team without belittling others. Never, ever denigrate a player on an opposing team. This sets a poor example for others and can ruin the good time everyone is trying to have. Stick with positive comments, and don't bash or trash-talk. Being polite is always a great way to show good sportsmanship.

2. Understand that winning isn't everything. Remind yourself before the event of what sorts of behaviors are unacceptable - cheating, pushing and shoving, bad-mouthing other players, etc. If you're on the sidelines, and not playing, help to reinforce the ideas of good sportsmanship with other fans. Cheer for your team no matter how badly things are going.

3. Be objective. If the other team makes a good play, congratulate them. Never mind the fact that it wasn’t your team that did it - good athletic skills deserve praise, no matter who's performing them. Shake hands with opponents after a game, no matter whether your side won or lost. If your team wins, don't brag or lord it over the losing team. Instead, be respectful and say, "Good game." If you're winning, don't show off or start gloating.

4. Don't argue with officials. You may not like a call, and you may be certain that a player was safe when the ref called him out, but it's not up to you. You're not the one making the calls. You may complain privately about the validity of a call, but never argue with the referees. Doing so undermines their authority, and shows a lack of respect for game officials. If you're really sure a call was bad, wait until after the game, and respectfully ask the referee to explain his call to you in private.

5. Point out negative behavior in others. If someone is screaming at the coach or at other players, or is trash-talking the opponents, don't stand by and do nothing - that just sends the message that such behavior is acceptable. Instead, take the person aside and privately ask them not to be such a poor sport in public. If you're concerned that your request may be met with hostility or worse, such as a physical confrontation, don't approach the individual yourself. Instead, ask a referee, coach or administrative official to step in.

6. Don't blame others when things go badly. If your team loses, don't complain about how other players didn't pull their own weight, or how the other team must have cheated. Learn from the situation, accept that you lost, and move on. Take responsibility for your own actions, and promise yourself you'll do better next time.

Tips & Warnings

• Always play fair. While it might be tempting to bend the rules sometimes to get ahead, doing so is poor sportsmanship and won't get you anywhere in the long run.

• Sometimes coaches may exhibit poor sportsmanship themselves. If this happens, speak to the coach privately and let him know that his behavior is not acceptable. If you don't see a change, or you're met with hostility, you may need to speak to a league official.