Aryn was crying by the time the class ended. It wasn’t because she had lost. It wasn’t because she was unhappy about her own ride. It wasn’t even because of anything the horse had done. Aryn’s tears came after her dad yelled at her — in front of all the other competitors in the class — for missing her diagonal in the equitation pattern. Aryn is just 8 years old.
If your child has ever participated in a sport, you’ve undoubtedly met people like Aryn’s dad, parents who behave inappropriately and upset their kids. These parents get so wrapped up in winning, losing and how well their own child performed that they lose sight of what’s really important. They forget that one of the most important goals of kids’ sports is to promote a sense of good sportsmanship.
What Is Good Sportsmanship?
Good sportsmanship is when riders, opponents, coaches/trainers, and judges treat each other with respect. Kids learn the basics of sportsmanship from the adults in their lives, especially their parents and their coaches. Kids who see adults behaving in a sportsmanlike way gradually come to understand that the real winners in sports are those who know how to persevere and to behave with dignity — whether they win or lose.
Parents can help their kids understand that good sportsmanship includes both small gestures and heroic efforts. It starts with something as simple as shaking hands or saying good luck to the other competitors, and includes acknowledging good efforts made by others and accepting errors gracefully.
Displaying good sportsmanship isn’t always easy: It can be tough to congratulate the winner after losing. But the kids who learn how to do it will benefit in many ways.
A child who practices good sportsmanship is likely to carry the respect and appreciation of other people into every other aspect of life.
By L. Bagley.
