You may have seen it, read it, been lectured on it, even signed school or select sport paperwork agreeing to abide by it, but are you ready for it? Really ready for it?
You know what we’re talking about. The basics of excellent sportsmanship, the fair and generous behavior or treatment of others, especially in a sports contest.
Make no mistake, this is equally inclusive of players and adults alike. Sounds easy until you break down to the nitty gritty, the bread and butter. The team and its goals are the priority. Mutual respect and altruism are the lifeblood of this machine while a love for the game, fundamentally sound mechanics, and absolute drive are the foundation of the program.
Character, integrity, responsibility, and accountability build the four corners while true loyalty to one’s teammates above self builds the team’s cohesion. Time and time again it has been proven. Players who respect and genuinely support each other play harder for each other, improve faster together, find greater success together.
For the team to survive it takes shear guts to go beyond the comfort zone to the pinnacle of excellence, grinding tenacity to stay there, and an unwavering feeling of mutual inspiration to continue the journey to the highest level. This responsibility is not assumed to be solely laid down upon the shoulders of the coaches but also in fact at our own doorsteps, swept, muddy, or otherwise tended.
While we gladly tell our children to go make us proud, it is unwaveringly clear that we owe them and ourselves that exact same behavior. Whether we’re in the bleachers and it’s the last quarter with ten seconds on the clock, or huddled under an umbrella during warm-ups, we all strive for the same thing, what we think is best for our kids.
Basic common sense recalls treating people the way you wanted to be treated but somehow sports creates a long list of excuses for this not to happen.
What should we realistically expect from players and adults? How can we hold ourselves and others accountable amidst an emerging and growing generation of screen-timing, self-serving, unstructured parenting?
There should be no tolerance of bullying, hazing, heckling, etc. or negative behavior from players or adults that affect the team or other teams in any way. Using the word “but…” plus an excuse for the behavior is just an embarrassment to everyone involved, destroys our youth’s enjoyment and sport experience, and could end in life-altering results. The foremost result being more than half of youth athletes quiting sports by the time they turn 13. Imagine the long-term affect that could have on our youth’s physical, social, and emotional health.
There are clear standards set by most organizing bodies of a child’s chosen sport that list actions that are taken in cases of unsportsman-like conduct, etc. “I didn’t know!” doesn’t work when the team is suspended or disqualified from activities due to someone’s bad behavior. The impact on families and our youths’ social and emotion well-being can be amazing and positive or it can be the opposite.
So take a moment to contemplate. Unless you plan on putting on the blue ump shirt, referee stripes, or other official garb in the near future keep your comments positive and body language relaxed when near officials. All officiating concerns and questions are usually addressed by coaches and managers. Many are volunteers and teenagers with a sincere love of the game and a desire to do an excellent job officiating. Just imagine being at a game where your son or daughter, even your parent or spouse is the official. How would you want them to be treated? Imagine if the official’s family member is sitting next to you on the sidelines. Would you act differently?
Sport Families United 