FALL 2017
maskmatters.org
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SPORTSMANSHIP:
THE
COLLEGE YEARS
TO
help parents stay connected
with and continue to
instill the tenets of good
sportsmanship with their
student athlete, we asked associate athletic
director Jean Boyd and associate athletic
director Andrea Lore, both of ASU Student
Athlete Development & Performance; and
Alonzo James, associate athletic director
of Inclusion and Championship Life, to
provide some insight and advice. Here’s
what they shared.
At the college level, sports takes
on a new meaning and importance
for both athletes and their parents.
How can parents of student athletes
continue to teach the tenets of
good sportsmanship, character and
integrity to their child?
Regular communication between
parents and their student athlete is key. It
helps to support coaches’ decisions, assist the
student athlete through the transition from
being the best on the team to being one
of many, and encourage them to maintain
the good habits they learned at home
(regular study times, sleep, eating, and
decisions around substances).
Student athletes should anticipate a
higher level of competition and adversity
than what they may have experienced in
high school. When checking in with their
student, parents should highlight
other threads of conversation
rather than focusing solely
on the sport experience,
i.e.: Are you meeting new
people? How are your classes?
Who’s doing your laundry?
What things can parents do to
remind their athlete how to be a
team player? (Have them volunteer
with a youth sport, be a mentor to
a young athlete, etc.)
Parents should consider engaging
with community service and leadership
