More Than Just Winning

When it comes to sportsmanship, the first thing that may come to mind is players on the field displaying teamwork, character and respect. If only we lived in such a perfect world. Today, examples of poor sportsmanship often outnumber examples of good ones, and can be seen in the interactions between players, parents, coaches and officials.

Being a good sport goes beyond respecting others on the playing field. It expands outwards and affects the interactions we have with others in our life. It helps us build character and have empathy for others.

Rather than resorting to aggression, it is important to be a good sport on and off the field in order to create more successful careers, relationships and friendships in the future.

Laying the foundation

Competitive youth sports are notorious for the animosity and hostility that often comes with playing in a competitive atmosphere. Whether it’s team vs. team, parent vs. coach, or even parent vs. player, the environment and culture can be a breeding ground for negative interactions. Despite its overly competitive nature, sports can be the perfect realm for children to learn good sportsmanship, based on the actions and examples set by parents and coaches.

Arizona State University professors Dr. Jeff Kassing and Dr. Lindsey Mean have conducted studies and research that examines communication between coaches and athletes, parents and youth athletes, and fans and athletes. Based on their studies, they believe parent interaction has a significant impact on a child’s sportsmanship.

“Research we’ve conducted suggests that parents, coaches and spectators influence sportsmanship behavior in youth athletics,” says Kassing. “They also advance aggression and competition as key pursuits instead of placing the emphasis on kids having fun and learning good lessons from sport.”

Shea Baumgarth, a Perry High School senior who played competitive club soccer for 12 years, confirmed Kassing and Mean’s findings in her own experiences as an athlete.

“If it didn’t really look like I went after the ball as much as I could have, I could hear my dad yelling at me from the sidelines,” Baumgarth says.

Baumgarth ultimately came to the conclusion that “it was definitely the club environment and the pressure to be better and better that made me lose my passion for the sport.”

Kassing’s and Mean’s research coincides with these findings as well, showing a lack of support from parents or coaches causes players to lose interest in the sport altogether.

“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.

Contributors // Valerie Burgess, Lauren Fountain, Ian Graham, Madi Kimball, Cameron Martin, Lauren Neilsen, Kylie Vacala

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