Sportsmanship

Sports and Your Role as a Parent, Spectator, Coach Purpose

There are numerous benefits from playing organized sports, including the opportunity for participants to learn good sportsmanship and progressive skills. Athletes learn how to work together, how to enjoy winning, and how to deal with defeat while improving physical fitness and skill level. As a parent, spectator or coach, you can contribute to the athletes' development, and you can help ensure the effectiveness of athletic programs.

Utilize Positive Reinforcement

The best way to help an athlete achieve goals and reduce the natural fear of failure is through positive reinforcement. No one likes to make a mistake. If the participant does make one, remember that he/she is still learning. Encourage the athlete's efforts and point out all of the things done well.

The most important benefit to boys and girls playing sports is that they learn about themselves while enjoying various activities. A healthy environment which encourages learning and includes the element of fun will aid in developing a more positive self-image. This is a valuable asset to carry through childhood and into adulthood.

Always Be Positive

Although parents, spectators, and coaches are not participants on the team, they do contribute to the success experienced by participants and the entire team. Parents, spectators and coaches serve as role models, and their attitudes are often imitated by the participants. Become aware of this situation and work to be "positive" models. That includes, most importantly, showing good sportsmanship at all times to the coaches, officials, opponents and teammates.

Support the Athlete

In order for an athlete to receive the most benefit from sports, it is imperative that you show support through encouragement and interest in his/her participation.

Let the Coaches Coach and the Officials Officiate

Coaches and officials spend their time to help make the participant's sports experience a positive one, and they need your support. Coaches and officials are trained, and they make judgments and decisions to the best of their ability. The program will benefit if you, as parents and spectators, treat them fairly and respectfully.

Remember, children reflect the attitudes and conduct of their parents as well as everyone involved in the program, so maintaining positive and supportive behavior towards the coaches and officials is essential.

By letting the coaches coach and the officials officiate, the participants will be able to reap the benefits of being in a sports program.

Commitment to TEAM - (Together Everyone Achieves More)

A team is only as strong as its weakest link. By definition, a team is a group of individuals exhibiting or performing together, a group organized to work together. Each participant (coach, player, official, parent, and spectator) must work together and join efforts to make each program a success.

The coach is responsible for advising, coordinating, and teaching participants all aspects of the sport including fundamentals of the game, team strategy, good sportsmanship and the rules and regulations as well as setting an example of what is expected of them.

The official's primary responsibility is to provide for the safety and well-being of the participants, along with interpreting the rules and regulations that govern the particular sport.

The athlete is expected to show good sportsmanship toward teammates, opponents, coaches, officials and other participants. The athlete should be prepared to actively participate and provide the coach with 100 percent of his/her attention and effort.

The parent/spectator is responsible for being supportive, having a positive attitude, and displaying good sportsmanship at all times.

The sponsoring organizations will make reasonable accommodations for access to services, programs, and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. All activities require registration. Contact the appropriate agency for its requirements.

The following organizations combined efforts to produce this publication:

Other Athletic Organizations

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