Let’s Talk About SPORTS!
“Sportsmanship is when a guy walks off the court and you really can’t tell whether he won or lost, when he carries himself with pride either way.” - Jim Courier
We’ve discussed previously that sports are a great way for kids to develop character - on and off the court. As guiding adults, sports offer valuable opportunities for teaching important life lessons to the kids in our lives. They learn about teamwork, conflict resolution, goal setting, perseverance, emotion regulation, and so much more. And remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
S.P.O.R.T.S. is an acronym created by school counselor, Mrs. Dando, to help develop this lifelong skill. In her video, Counseling in the Classroom: Sportsmanship, she breaks down this concept.
Let’s take a moment to break down each of these objectives. Let’s start with speaking kindly to yourself and others. Use your words to be encouraging, supportive, and uplifting.
A positive attitude means keeping up your spirits, even when things aren’t going your way. Keeping a positive attitude will help you feel better about the outcome and help everyone feel included. You can be disappointed, frustrated, upset, AND maintain a positive attitude.
Ok with any outcome is to remind yourself it’s just a game! Whether it’s PE or league championship, winning and losing is part of the game. It can be tempting to change the rules, claim someone is cheating, or end the game - but good sportsmanship means accepting the results of the game.
Respectful words and body means using our voice and our body to be welcoming and inclusive. When our emotions get heightened, urges to be more aggressive with our language and body can arise. Here we practice taking a quick break, some deep breaths, and challenge those urges. This will help us be more successful in our sport or chosen activity.
Thinking of others means also thinking about how others are experiencing you or the game. A leader will try to help their teammates improve their skills, manage their emotions, or encourage someone when they feel down. Maybe noticing if someone hasn’t been able to have a turn, trading off who’s team captain, or not letting the same kid always get picked last.
Step up is about intervening when you notice someone is being a bad sport. Say something to your teammate, to your coach, or model good sportsmanship. It takes courage to step up and by doing so, you’ll create an environment where everyone feels welcome and has fun!
If you have any questions, please feel encouraged to reach out christina@christinakingfamilytherapy.com.
Yours In Service,
Christina King, LMFT 145704