10 tips on how to teach your kid about sportsmanship

Getting children into sports not only helps them in their school performance, it also develops them socially and emotionally. According to studies, kids who are active during their elementary school years are more likely to be physically active and exercising regularly at 24 years old and beyond!

Teaching sportsmanship is a whole different ball game from training your children to excel at their chosen sport. Here are some tips to help develop a good sport.

Know the rules and attend the games

There’s no better way to understand how to teach your child than to see him out in the field. When you know the rules, you can easily talk to him about proper behavior during the game. When you’re present, your child is also more likely to perform better, be on their best behavior and try to make you proud.

Do as you want them to do

Even if the referee made a bad call or your child got a foul, act exactly as you want your child to act in a tense situation on the field. Unless you want your kid to throw a tantrum or start mouthing off, remain calm and accept the decision.

The bigger picture here is always the lesson your child can take away from a difficult situation, and not the outcome of the game.

Take time to explain the game

While your child may understand the rules, he may also be thinking of ways to subvert the system. If the game requires an element of luck, make sure you explain to your child that a game can take a sudden turn and that they should not find ways to cheat.

Shift focus from winning

Letting children play sports is not about winning; it’s about teaching them valuable life lessons and allowing them to have fun. After a game or playground session, ask them "Did you have fun?” instead of, "Did you win?”

This helps them realize that the game is not about winning. If they somehow lost, ask them about good plays they made, how their skills improved or their team mates instead of the circumstances of the loss.

Let your child lose

While the joy of winning can be great for your child’s self-esteem, losing every now and then is good for building character. If you’re playing against your child, win just as much as you let them win. Go even further by giving them tips on how to beat you.

Ultimately, losing teaches them how to deal with disappointment and failure, something you cannot protect them from no matter what you do.

Give praise for skill improvement instead of winning

While being glad that your child or his team won is good, you should also celebrate his personal improvements. You could say, "Even if you lost, I noticed you ran faster today.” You could also mention, "You have better footwork now. Keep up the good work!”

Encourage good behavior and a positive outlook no matter what the game situation is

Praise your child for helping a teammate, sitting out a round to give others a chance and for helping injured opponents. Younger children need these positive cues to instill certain behaviour and develop their personalities.

Preschoolers need to be measured by a yardstick of effort instead of hard numbers or statistics. Effort to be kind and be a good sport should always be acknowledged.

Watch your child for undue stress before a game or match

Sometimes, coaches, schools and team mates may put too much pressure on your child (especially if your kid is the team captain or the skilled player). It’s your job as the parent to ease the burden by talking to the coach or helping your child deal with the stress. You can also give your child a pre-game reward for all the hard work and stress.

Always be polite and calm

Emotions can run high during a game, especially if there are as many parents as involved as you are in their child’s athleticism. Keep in mind that you’re there to support your child, not antagonize the other team or ensure a win. Never badmouth the referee or resort to anything physical no matter what the call is.

Shake hands with the other parents, especially those from the opposing team

While you may think you’re going out on a limb, you’re actually showing your child how to respect others. Whether your child wins or loses, take the time to praise the other team’s players and parents and socialize a bit so your child can see that there is so much more to a person than the sport they’re playing. You may also win a friend or two in the process!

10 tips on how to teach your kid about sportsmanship

Being a good sport doesn’t end at the field or the game. Sports can be a microcosm or testing ground for your kids to react to stressful, high-energy situations. Use this opportunity to not just hone their skills and keep them fit, but to build their character and become better persons.

In the end, your child may not be the best athlete, but everyone would want him to be part of their team. This is because you took the time to make him a great team player and an overall nice person.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dana Santos

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Written by

Danielle Ann Abesames-Santos

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