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FALL 2017
“Parents get quite invested in their
children’s success and see it as an extension of
their own,” Kassing says. “They also get caught
up in the promise of college or professional
careers for their children in sport.”
While parents may simply want the best
for their children, the child can potentially be
overworked and feel pressure to perform well
each game.
When surrounded by positive influences,
however, players will more than likely show
signs of “good” sportsmanship, which includes
“respect and concern for opponents and
respect and concern for teammates as well as
respect for the game and for playing it fairly,”
says Kassing.This respect for the game, as
well as respect for those involved, will likely
generate a more positive attitude, on and off
the field.
LIFE LESSONS
Where does sportsmanship stop being
something that can be taught and start being a
result of a child’s character?
“I think [sportsmanship] comes from
two things,” says Fredd Man, STEM and
NCAA counselor at Perry High
School. “First, it comes from a
child with a good upbringing;
somebody in their family taught
them those values. Second, it comes from
the child’s character and personality.”
The qualities of good sportsmanship
coupled with simple, yet significant lessons
taught on the field can be implemented in
everyday life outside of sports, from family
relationships to workplace dynamics.
“Sportsmanship teaches kids how to treat
people with respect and to have empathy for
others,” says Perry High School counselor
Scott Uyeshiro. “Encouraging a teammate
when they fail or giving an opponent a
congratulatory pat on the back—
[gestures like these] go a long way
instead of being so competitive.”
In a world so divided by competition,
this attitude of looking out for your
teammates and opponents is a fresh
way to inspire unity and collaboration,
rather than negativity and an “us versus
them” mentality. Society has
been conditioned to think
every aspect of high school is
supposed to be competitive, from
organized sports to class rankings. So it’s
almost surprising when another student
shows a more sympathetic side.
Sportsmanship is a testament to
how team sports has such an effect on
a child’s life. To Mann, sportsmanship
is “something unselfish and a symbol of
empathy for a competitor.”
Leaning on the team, rather than
on oneself, is an integral lesson that will
carry through a child’s years in school
and beyond. When he or she is taught
how to support and encourage their
peers, and learn how to win and lose with
dignity, future successes and failures in
life can be handled in a much more level
manner, without being a poor winner or
sore loser.
BEING A
GOOD SPORT
Being a “good sport” is typically associated
with athletes and sports. Sportsmanship,
however, can be applied to different
aspects of a teen’s life. Whether it’s on the
field, in the classroom, or on the stage,
sportsmanship affects students in their
daily lives.
One significant quality of
sportsmanship is teamwork, a critical part
in being successful.
“On the playing field, the rules are
very defined: there are consequences and
The qualities of
good sportsmanship
coupled with simple,
yet significant lessons taught on
the field can be implemented in
everyday life outside of sports,
from family relationships to
workplace dynamics.
