High-stakes sportsmanship.

Last fall, with the new school year well underway, record numbers of young athletes from high schools and children's sports programs throughout the Washington, D.C., area and elsewhere were enjoying their favorite sport. Sport participation for children and youth has increased dramatically, especially in the United States, since organized sports programs started moving outside the school. Today, literally millions of youngsters between the ages of 6 and 18, in the United States alone, participate in such popular sports as baseball, football, soccer, basketball, and ice hockey. Because sport participation for both players and fans is such an important aspect of U.S. society, it is essential that children and youth have a positive, enjoyable learning experience.

The opportunity to demonstrate physical skills and knowledge of a game, being part of a team effort, making new friends, and sharing the excitement of the competition are all good reasons why youth sports are so popular. The number one reason why children and adolescents participate in a sport, however, and why they also keep coming back each season, is simply to "have fun," according to a study conducted by Maureen Weiss (1989). Weiss also found that children seldom mention winning as a reason why they participate in sports. Their parents, on the other hand, tend to take competitive sports, especially contact sports, far too seriously.

Positive outcomes, Weiss reported in an earlier 1987 study, "result when enjoyment, motivation, and skill development are nurtured in youth sport participation." Parents and coaches, who ideally have experience in child development and are certified as a coach, should encourage all young athletes to do their personal best, be part of the team, and always exercise good sportsmanship. "Fun, friends and the need to demonstrate skills"--that, Weiss says, is what sports are all about.

Competitive sports, unfortunately, can have a negative side. If the sports experience is less than desirable, which is what often happens if too much emphasis is placed on winning every game, many children lose interest in participating in sports or they enjoy the game less. Having raised two very active sons, who participated in nearly every sport that you can think of (or so it seems), I attended countless games and practice sessions. I do not recall any problems involving the very youngest athletes, who fortunately had caring, skilled coaches and supportive parents; good sportsmanship was always an important part of every practice or game. Somewhere along the line, however, as the kids got older, teams became more competitive. All too often, success was measured by the outcome of the game and good manners and sportsmanship often fell by the wayside--especially for the major contact sports.

To see just how far we have strayed from having good clean "fun," we have only to look at professional sports. Unsportsman-like conduct is rampant, fueled by high-stakes games and multimillion dollar salaries that some athletes (and coaches) believe give them license to throw chairs, kick a cameraman in the head at courtside, or charge into the stands and exchange punches with a 67-year-old man. A growing league of disorderly fans is also at fault. Parents and other spectators scream at referees, dispute calls, insult players, and hurl debris onto the playing field. Who can forget about the man who attacked and killed another father over the outcome of a youth hockey game? What kind of example are we giving our kids?

It seems that sports have gotten out of hand--not only professional and big-time college sports, but also high school sports. The intensity of most games today, at all levels of sports, is too high, emotions are on edge, and once friendly team rivalries have turned into brawls. Indeed, I believe there is an unattractive seriousness to many games in sports today. When professional players, coaches, and fans cross the line between good sportsmanship, common decency, and respect for others, it is the youngest players and sports fans, our children, who are the biggest losers.

It took many years for sportsmanship to reach this low point and I expect that it will take many years to reverse the trend. Still, I am optimistic. The public, sports fans, players, and concerned parents are all insisting that something be done to improve the situation. Such advocacy has gained power in the wake of several highly publicized altercations last year between professional players and spectators. We need to take hold of the opportunity to bring good sportsmanship and fun back to the game.

Jerry Odland, Executive Director

References

Weiss, M. R. (1987). Self-esteem and achievement in children's sport and physical activity. In D. Gould & M. Weiss (Eds.), Advances in pediatric sport sciences, Vol. 2: Behavioral issues (pp. 87-120). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Weiss, M. R. (1989). Youth sports: Is winning everything? Childhood Education, 65, 195-196.