Although most games have winners and losers, the goal of sports is not to win every game. The real goals include getting exercise, having fun, and learning important social skills, like sportsmanship.
Good sportsmanship is all about respect. Good sports respect their teammates and also their opponents. They respect their coaches, and they also respect the referees or other officials involved in their games. They shout at their teammates and they talk back to coaches or referees.
Kids usually learn sportsmanship good and bad from the adults in their lives. If parents and coaches show disrespect for other fans, referees, or each other, kids will likely act the same way on the field.
Some of them are very basic and easy to do, like shaking hands with other players before a game. Other examples may take a little more courage, such as acknowledging a great play made by the opposing team.
Learning good sportsmanship is important because it helps you develop an attitude of graciousness (礼貌) and respect that will carry over into all the other areas of your life. Being a good sport in the classroom will eventually lead to being a good sport in the workplace.
So be a good sport in whatever you do! When others see you acting in a way that makes it clear that winning isn't the most important thing, you can move on to focusing on the important things, like having fum, getting exercise, and improving your skills!
A. Good sportsmanship can be shown in many ways.
B. However, bad sportsmanship is all about disrespect.
C. Players' parents and coaches set examples that kids tend to follow.
D. We can be good sports by encouraging others but not laughing at them.
E. Starting as a good sport earlier will help you be a good sport as you get old.
F. If you're a good sport on the field, you'll also likely be a good sport in the classroom.
G. The example you set can be a powerful teaching tool for others.
