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Helping Parents And Kids
Be Better Sports
How many times have you seen parents behaving badly at their
children's sporting events? It's no surprise that such
behavior easily rubs off on kids, affecting the way they
participate in sports and interact with others.
With sports activities gearing up for both parents and kids
this time of year, a new survey on sportsmanship reveals
that more than 63 percent of Americans believe that the
current state of sportsmanship is worse than when they were
growing up.
Being a better sport starts at home, and parents can get
themselves and their kids on the right track by practicing
good sportsmanship when playing sports and when
participating on the sidelines of their children's games.
According to a survey released by the Awards and Recognition
Association (ARA), Americans overwhelmingly believe that
teaching good sportsmanship is a parental responsibility.
More than 86 percent of respondents reported that a parent
is the best person to teach sportsmanship, followed by
coaches at 45 percent, teachers at 28 percent and friends at
17 percent.
"There is no doubt that all the rules, coaching and
education can't replace what happens at home," said LaVell
Edwards, former BYU football coach, parent of three children
and Chair of the ARA Sportsmanship Award Selection Panel.
"Teaching good sportsmanship starts with parents, and they
need to model behavior throughout the entire process."
As such, the ARA's selection panel created simple tips to
help teach sportsmanlike behavior at all ages.
Here is some helpful advice for parents:
* Remind kids of the importance of sportsmanship and model
that behavior during all competitive activities. Teach
children how to be good sports when playing games, whether
in the backyard or at the kitchen table.
* Do not put pressure on kids to be the best; instead teach
them to enjoy the game for the sport.
* Exhibit good sportsmanship yourself and ask others to do
likewise. Bad behavior on the sidelines or in the stands is
just as bad as bad behavior on the field.
* Discuss the need for good sportsmanship with your child's
teacher or coach.
* Request that school coaches and other parents address good
sportsmanship early in the season.
Advice for coaches includes these simple steps:
* Set an example by treating all athletes, coaches,
officials and parents respectfully, and cheer on good plays
when you see them, even if they're by the other team.
* Don't emphasize competition or winning; stress skills and
fair play, especially with younger athletes.
* Praise positive and correct negative behavior immediately.
* Create a zero-tolerance policy for bad behavior...from
athletes, other coaches and parents.
* Establish a sportsmanship award at the start of the
season, letting parents and athletes know that good on-field
behavior will be recognized.
* Demonstrate how to celebrate victory without humiliating
the competition, as well as how to lose with dignity.
"We hope that drawing attention to this issue will help
encourage good sportsmanship among athletes, coaches and
parents," said Rich Zydonik, president of ARA.
(SPM Wire)
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