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Sportsmanship

Aug/Sep 2010 NSAA Newsletter

The following article was in the August/September 2010 NSAA Newsletter in regard to Sportsmanship which was written by Dr. Steve Shanahan, Executive Director:

    Welcome to the start of another school year and more importantly the start of another opportunity for all of us as parents, teachers, coaches and community leaders to make a difference in the lives of the young people we come in contact with each and every day. What tremendous honor this is, but what a great responsibility we have.

    As the fall activity and athletic season gets underway, I am reminded that winning is always more fun than losing, but the activities our schools participate in carry a much greater message, one that is much more important to teach than merely counting wins, loses and trophies. Here is an “open letter” that I hope you will share with your students, parents and the patrons that attend your activities.

Dear Fan,

            As we begin another school year and Activity Season, all of us associated with the programs and activities here at school would like to remind you of some very important tips that will make your viewing of high school athletic contests and other events more enjoyable.

1. Please be a “fan” and not a “fanatic.” We all enjoy the games and activities and want to cheer our teams on to victory, but remember positive reinforcement of great plays does more for an athlete than a negative comment. Remember good plays happen on both sides of the ball. If you see an opponent do something great, acknowledge it. We want our teams to play the best so that we can be our best.
2. Sportsmanship is the strongest educational lesson we teach in athletics and activities. Remember that you are a teacher while in the stands. Help us all to teach a lesson that will last a lifetime. Do not confuse sportsmanship with the idea that nice guys finish last. Good sports do finish on the scoreboard and in life.
3. Officials of any activity have a very difficult and thankless job. Don’t make their job harder by second guessing calls or decisions that may not have been made “the way you see it.” Remember the official is much closer to the action than you are and has very little interest in the outcome of the game, who wins or who loses. Their only objective is to maintain an “even playing field” for all participants.
4. Help us welcome opposing teams and make their stay at our school a good experience.  Remember, next year we will be back at their school.  Treat opposing schools and their fans and players with all the respect that we would expect we come to their school.
5. If you bring young children to the game, make sure that they sit with you and watch the game.  Children learn from imitation.  They will learn to be good participants and good spectators from what they see.  Children running up and down the bleachers or in front of the crowd only detract from the game and hurt those that are playing.  Always remember that “the show is on the floor.”
6. Always report unsportsmanlike behavior to the supervisors that are on duty.  At our school, we place a real premium on having our staff supervise contests.  There are always plenty of people ready to help.  We will do everything within our power to make sure that you enjoy the great contest that came to see.
7. The Nebraska School Activities Association is asking all member schools to strictly enforce their restrictions regarding spectators standing during the entire game and also rushing onto the playing surface following the conclusion of a game.  We will likewise ask that all fans, both home and away, follow this request.  Good sportsmanship is a continual process before, during, and after each contest.
8. Finally, many individual conferences and the Nebraska Coaches Association award Sportsmanship Trophies to schools that exhibit the most exemplary sportsmanship in a particular tournament, sport season or year.  By making the winning of such an award a school and community goal, we will go a long way in showing others what an outstanding school and community we have.

    I hope that these suggestions will not only help to make the upcoming season more enjoyable for your school and community, but also provide the atmosphere that allows your teams to be as successful as possible.  Best of luck in making lasting memories and developing lifetime skills for the young people of your school.

Written by Dr. Steve Shanahan, Executive Director