Sportsmanship

Most athletes can rhyme off plenty of words about how sports teaches sportsmanship. Most coaches can tell you how important sportsmanship is to the teachings of sport. But many just don't get it. They have almost no true understanding of what it means to be a sportsman.

At dictionary.com , the word "sportsmanship" is defined,

Conduct and attitude considered as befitting participants in sports, especially fair play, courtesy, striving spirit, and grace in losing.

fairness in following the rules of the game

So tell me, where does "heat of the battle" and "bending the rules" come into this?

In a perfect world, excuses for not observing sportsmanship would be non-existant. But of course, we do not live in that place. So everyday, in the gyms, and ice rinks of the world sportsmanship is put aside in favour of the almighty "W". The "win-at-all-cost crowd" is everywhere. I see it on a regular basis. As a player, I see players take "cheap shots" at their opponents to gain some perceived advantage. As an official, I see coaches taking exception with the majority of calls, even the blatant calls that any armchair referee could make. As a parent, I see other parents telling their kids off for missing a check or making a turnover.

But fortunately, every now and then, I see someone who truly "gets it". I see someone who no matter the score, no matter what is at stake, they see the big picture. Sportsmanship. This weekend I was lucky enough to officiate at a game where the coach scolded his players for making comments about a non-call in the game. I was lucky enough to coach at a game where a coach applauded an opposing player's "nice move". I was even lucky enough as a parent, to see another parent say, "the ref was right".

So the next time you are at a game, think before you speak. Think about your conduct and your attitude. If you can't categorize your comments under words promoting sportsmanship, then you have two choices. First choice is say nothing, bite your tongue. If you simply must say something, say "Excuse me", get up, go home, and tell the mirror what you wanted to say. Now, see how stupid you look?