Teach your campers to be good sports
by Rick Wolff
Ernie Banks, the Hall of Fame slugger who played for the perennially hapless Chicago Cubs, once put it quite succinctly. “The only way to find out whether you’re a good sport,” said the popular shortstop, “is to lose.” It’s true. There’s no better test of how good of a sport you or your campers are than to lose a hard-fought contest and have to congratulate your opponents. Problem is, the concept of sportsmanship has become, well, nearly extinct. Trash talking, taunting and in-your-face victory dances are in vogue, whether it’s professional baseball, basketball, football or tennis.
Does this mean that camp directors, counselors and coaches should just forget about teaching sportsmanship?
Hardly. In fact, it’s just the opposite. If there were ever a time that sportsmanship should be taught, it’s now. So few young people know what it is or why it’s so important. And who better to teach them than camp instructors who they look to as role models? Here are .some tips to help you convey the principles of sportsmanship to your campers.
1. Never assume that campers know what “sportsmanship” means.
Many kids aren’t taught the fundamentals of sportsmanship. Many are told by their coaches back home to be “good sports,” but then those same coaches berate them if they don’t win or don’t run up the score on an opponent.
At camp, you have a chance to help kids change some bad habits. First explain why sportsmanship is vital. Explain that in every game there is a winner-and a loser. That’s the very nature of competitive sports.
Next, don’t hesitate to call a timeout during a game to show why some action was–or wasn’t–an example of good sportsmanship. Teach campers to cheer for their teammates, not against their opponents.
Also, remember that campers can learn more from your actions than from your words. If any player gets injured, stop the game immediately to emphasize that a player’s well-being is the top priority.
At the end of a game, be the first one on the field to shake hands with the opponent, regardless of whether you win or lose. It’s a gesture that will tell campers that strong athletes respect their opponents. Every athlete needs mental toughness, and being able to overcome losses and be a gracious winner is where it all begins.
2. Have campers sign a pledge of good sportsmanship.
At the start of each session, have each camper read and sign a short pledge that he or she will promise to exhibit “sportsmanlike behavior” at all times during the ‘ summer. In the contract, give examples of both appropriate and inappropriate behaviors.
If campers fail to live up to the pledge, suspend them from playing in certain games of your choice. This can be difficult especially if they are some of your better players-but the lesson will not soon be forgotten.
3. Mix up the camp teams periodically.
This helps campers adapt to change and to new teammates. It can also help them appreciate their opponents’ skills. For example, last week Brian and Jay were on the same team, and they played great together. This week, Brian and Jay are on opposing teams. But both recognize that the other is a pretty good athlete-and a pretty good guy, too. By having them play first as teammates and then as opponents, you’re breeding a sense of sportsmanship and camaraderie.
4.Award significant points for the team that exhibits the best sportsmanship.
Make it clear at the beginning of the game that judges will be watching for sportsmanlike behavior. And when you do award sportsmanship points, have specific reasons why you gave the points to a particular team. For example, “Kim helped her opponent Christina get up from a nasty fall during the bike race;’ or “Paul didn’t get in the refs face when the ref made a tough call on him in the closing moments of the game.”
Camp is a perfect setting for young athletes to learn good sportsmanship-they’re away from the pressure of pleasing parents and hometown coaches. Following these steps can help them realize that a “good sport” wins, no matter who scores the most points.
Rick Wolff, an expert on sports psychology, works with professional athletes and is the author of Good Sports, The Concerned Parents’ Guide to Little League and Other Competitive Youth Sports.
From Camp Management, February/March 1996