FALL 2017
maskmatters.org
75
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portsmanship comes down to tolerance and respect. Kids in this
age range begin to get a deeper understanding of these terms and
have a greater ability to control their behaviors and emotions.
When it comes to tolerating a loss, teach them how to lose
well—teach them that the game is about effort and fun, not about winning
or losing. Focus on loss as a teaching moment and process the loss with them
by exploring what they’d do differently next time. When they win, discuss
what they did well and what they’d like to change. Help them identify what
they did right and how much fun they had while playing.
Shifting the focus off the outcome and to the effort and the process of
playing helps them learn perseverance and tolerance.They are starting to
learn how to control their reactions so, win or lose, teach them appropriate
respectful behaviors. Also talk to them about how the losing team must be
feeling. Help them imagine how they would feel if they were teased about
losing even though they gave it their best effort.
Lastly, teach them the importance of a handshake at the end of the game.
It’s a classic step to show camaraderie and good sportsmanship. Define and
model respect so that your child can understand what it means and can see
what respectful behaviors look like.
What You Can Do
D
Model and define respect.
D
Teach them how to lose with dignity.
D
Use each win or loss as a teaching
moment.
D
Focus on effort not the outcome.
D
Teach them how to show respect to
teammates.
D
Talk to them about not “hogging the
ball.”
D
Remind them that cheating is not OK.
D
Avoid comparing your child’s
performance to another child’s
performance.
D
Celebrate success as a group to
reinforce teamwork.
D
Follow through with consequences of
poor sportsmanship.
D
Avoid bad-mouthing coaches, referees,
other parents, and other children.
D
Emphasize fun.
Conversation
Starters
“
How do you feel when you lose?”
“
How does the other team feel when
they lose?”
“
Do good sports cheat?”
“
Sore losers tend to lose friends and
get picked last. What can you do to
show you are not a sore loser?”
“
What makes a good sport a
good sport?”
Signs &
Behaviors
Kids with
positive
sportsmanship behaviors will:
q
Play fair
q
Tolerate loss
q
Not tease when they win
q
Share
q
Disagree with respect and without teasing or taunting
q
Show respect to referee decisions
q
Put forth their best effort
q
Work with their teammates
Kids with
poor
sportsmanship skills may:
q
Tease or taunt when other teammates
or the other team loses or makes
a mistake
q
Avoid playing for fear of losing
q
Yell at teammates or coaches
or parents when receiving
corrective feedback
q
Criticize teammates
q
Not play by the rules
q
Cheat
