IMPACT OF POOR SPORTSMANSHIP

Impact of Poor Sportsmanship

Impact of Poor Sportsmanship

Introduction

It seems in our sports today, the concept of good sportsmanship has been lost. While winning at all costs and poor sportsmanship may be condoned and even promoted in professional sports, this does not mean it is the proper way for athletes to behave. (Vernon 2002 ) Whether we like it or not, sportsmanship in sports is a direct reflection of our own ethics in real life. Sportsmanship like ethics concerns both the character and the actions of an athlete. The image you project as an athlete is a product of your character. (Shusis 2005)Good sportsmanship is not just what you do on the field, it is hopefully the way you conduct your life both on and off the field. In the same way, unsportsmanlike behaviour on the field is probably an indication of your off the field conduct. Unsportsmanlike behaviour -- acts that are unfair, dishonest, disrespectful or against the rules - are unsportsmanlike because they are unethical. (Teitelbaum 2004 )If you are unethical in sports, can you be ethical in the other areas of your life - your business dealings, your treatment of others, your family?

Discussion

Community can sit back and blame television and pro sports for the decline in sportsmanship but we can also take the responsibility of bringing it back into at least the game of Slo-Pitch. It is time for all of us involved with Slo-Pitch to practice good sportsmanship. This is especially important if we are involved with children either as a parent or coach. This year SPO will expect all participants to follow the basics of sportsmanship. Following are some general rules to be a good sport. (Morgan 2007 ) Fear and unrealistic expectations regarding his athletic performance are ruining your son's ability to enjoy sports and to improve his considerable athletic and social skills. You do not mention whether he displays similar tantrum-like behavior when he is disappointed in other non-baseball-related endeavors. He may be influenced over time to learn better impulse control and not to expect perfection from himself but I would not take this passive attitude toward this problem. (Smith & Bar2007)

Your son is showing that he can't control himself, even after he is reprimanded in public, benched, and punished by you. I would suggest that your punishment on top of his being benched and reprimanded by his coach is overkill. Punishment doesn't work as a form of discipline (teaching) -logical and natural consequences do and he is receiving those from his coach and his fellow teammates. (Teitelbaum 2004 )It may help your son if a high school athlete, college athlete or professional athlete that he respects spoke him to with empathy and encouragement. This athlete may be able to say things to him and influence him in a manner unavailable to you or any youth sport coaches. (Shusis 2005) If he continues to sabotage himself and get more and more mired in his self-defeating rages, I would consider some ...