Sportsmanship Begins At Home

Watching televised sporting events, or sitting in the stands at games from youth to the professional level, it’s easy to see the cultural Civil War being waged in this country between the driving forces of poor sportsmanship and those who feel that character, ethics, integrity and respect still have a place in athletics.

Frankly, some feel that the battle is being lost.

Some say it’s not their obligation to act responsibly. After all, it’s not their job to be a “role model.”

Some say they have a right to call attention to themselves.

Some say that showing up an opponent is okay.

Some say being anything but first makes you a loser.

Some of us need to say...

Enough!

The concepts of sportsmanship -- displaying strong character as something more important than a game’s outcome -- aren’t outmoded, old fashioned, passé, or reserved for any one group. If we’re truly serious about reversing the disintegration of athletic s, we have to return to why we have these games.

It’s not about winning.

It’s not about getting college scholarships.

It’s not just about competition.

The games were created to be fun.

The games were created to help us grow as individuals.

The games were created to provide educational experiences.

If you can’t deal with that -- you’re part of the problem. Quit reading.

The sportsmanship solution lies at the grassroots levels. You can have all the national and statewide sportsmanship days and programs that you want. Nothing can be accomplished on a broad scale until we understand one thing...

Sportsmanship begins at home.

Schools throughout the state of Michigan continue to take aggressive measures to promote good sportsmanship.

Schools like Temperance-Bedford have student-athletes, coaches, administrators and community members take a pledge to practice good sportsmanship. Those who participate are publicly recognized (and held accountable) by having their names published in game programs.

Schools in the Lenawee County Athletic Association participate in Sportsmanship Nights where football and girls basketball teams spend time after games together sharing snacks.

Schools in the Huron League vie for a traveling sportsmanship banner every year.

Schools like Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart have a pregame meeting with opponents so that players meet each other before competing.

Schools like Ida and Grandville Calvin Christian met in centerfield in student-initiated prayer before a championship softball game.

Schools of the Northwest Conference rank each other, along with officials, on sportsmanship.

Schools in the Western Michigan “D” League present a “Triple A” Award, recognizing outstanding students for attitude, athletics and academics. Good sportsmanship is a key ingredient of “attitude.”

Schools numbering nearly 500 across the state had over 3,000 students write essays this fall on the importance of sportsmanship in educational athletics.

Finally, schools of the Detroit Catholic League conducted Sportsmanship Nights, where each school had to submit three practical ways to promote sportsmanship. Here’s a few samples of what was written:

• From Detroit Catholic Central -- “Zero tolerance for swearing. Absolutely no swearing.”

• From Redford St. Agatha -- “Respect officials. Just as you make mistakes, they can make bad calls.”

• From Southgate Aquinas -- “Have individual players go home and talk to parents and let them know they should not question referees.”

The last example is particularly interesting. Parents often divest themselves of their responsibility to impart values to their children, especially at sporting events, where it’s very common for a student-athlete on the playing surface to be embarrasse d by a parent or other family member who berates officials, coaches and anyone else within shouting distance.

It also takes the theme, “Sportsmanship Begins At Home,” to its proper level. While schools can do a lot to promote sportsmanship, if a contradictory message, or worse yet -- no message -- is being given about sportsmanship to a youngster at home, the p ossibility is strong that their child will follow the negative examples that abound around them.

Many parents will point out to their sons and daughters why a play turned out the way it did when watching a game. In our house, we’re even quicker to point out examples of outstanding and poor sportsmanship to our children.

Parents...what are you teaching your kids about sportsmanship?