SPORTSMANSHIP

         Do you have sportsmanship? Do you know what sportsmanship is exactly? Do you and your teammates have good sportsmanship or bad sportsmanship? Are you a “good winner” and “good loser”, or are you a “bad loser” and “bad winner”?

         What exactly is sportsmanship? Sportsmanship is an expression or aspiration that an activity will be enjoyed for its own sake. When you have sportsmanship you enjoy an activity or competition with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship for one’s competitors. Sportsmanship, in general, refers to virtues such as fairness, self-control, courage and persistence. Sportsmanship also is treating others and beings treated fairly, maintaining self-control in dealing with others, and respect for both authority and opponents in a game or any other competitive activity.

         Do you have good sportsmanship or bad sportsmanship? Having good sportsmanship consists of having proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect and a sense of fellowship for one’s competitors, opponents, and own teammates. If you have good sportsmanship then you are a “good winner”. “Win with dignity – lose with dignity” –Mr. Haymore.  Someone with good sportsmanship will congratulate, applaud, and recognize his/her team’s effort as well as the opposing team, win or lose.

         Have you heard of the phrase “sore loser”? A competitor who show poor sportsmanship after losing a game or contest is often called a “sore loser”. Just as there is “bad or sore losers” there is also such thing as “bad winners”. An example of being a “bad looser” is blaming others, not taking responsibility for personal actions, reacting immaturely, making excuses for one’s loss, and referring to unfavorable conditions or other petty issues. An example of being a “bad winner” is gloating about his or her win, rubbing it in the face of the one who lost and lowering the opponent’s self-esteem by reminding them of how “poorly” they performed in comparison, even if they participated well.

         Be a good sport and show good sportsmanship. Treat others like you would like to be treated. Always “CTR” and you will always be a winner.

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