The Importance of Being a Good Sport
Today’s sporting culture, in particular the base of elite sport, places great importance on the idea of competition and winning and thus sportsmanship takes a back seat as a result. In most, if not all sports, sportsmen at the elite level make the standards on sportsmanship and no matter whether they like it or not, they are seen as leaders and role models in society.
Since every sport is rule driven, the most common offense of bad sportsmanship is the act of cheating or breaking the rules to gain an unfair advantage. A competitor who exhibits poor sportsmanship after losing a game or contest is often called a “sore loser.”
There are various ways that sportsmanship is practiced in different sports. Being a good sport often includes treating others as you would also like to be treated, cheering for good plays (even if they are made by the opposition), accepting responsibility for your mistakes, and keeping your perspective. An example of treating others how you would like to be treated would include being respectful and polite to other team members and the opposition because in return you would also like to be treated the same way.
Some popular examples of good sportsmanship include shaking hands, helping an opponent who may have fallen over, encouraging everyone, cheering, clapping or hi-fives, and being respectful to everyone including teammates, the opposition, parents and officials. Most importantly it is often said regarding sportsmanship that, “it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.”
Vocabulary:
elite sport – sports played at the highest level by the best and most skilled athletes, “Only a few athletes are talented enough to play elite sport in the Olympics.”
takes a back seat – becomes less important or receives less attention than something else, “When exams start, my hobbies usually take a back seat.”
role models – people who other people admire and try to copy because of their good behavior, “Parents should be good role models for their children.”
rule driven – controlled or guided strictly by a set of official rules, “Chess is a very rule driven game where every piece has a specific move.”
offense – an act of breaking a law or a rule, “Driving too fast is a serious traffic offense.”
gain an unfair advantage – to get a better position or chance of winning by doing something dishonest, “He tried to gain an unfair advantage by looking at my test paper.”
exhibits – shows a particular quality, feeling, or behavior clearly, “The young boy exhibits a great talent for playing the piano.”
sore loser – someone who gets angry, sad, or complains a lot when they lose a game, “Don’t be a sore loser; just congratulate the winner and try again next time.”
opposition – the team, person, or group that you are competing against in a game or fight, “The football team watched videos of their opposition to prepare for the match.”
keeping your perspective – remembering what is truly important instead of getting too worried about a small problem, “Even though we lost the match, keeping your perspective helps you realize it was just a game for fun.”
officials – people who make sure that the rules of a sport are followed during a game, such as referees or umpires, “The players must respect the decisions made by the game officials.”