As we gear up for Tournament season, it is important to think about what good sportsmanship means to us. Good sportsmanship is when athletes, coaches, parents and judges treat each other with respect and dignity – win or lose. Displaying good sportsmanship is not always easy – children and parents can often be upset or disappointed at a loss. Learning how to accept defeat gracefully is an important skill that will serve you throughout your life.
Here are some tips for displaying good sportsmanship:
1. Treat others with respect – your teammates and your opponents.
2. Show your coaches and judges the respect they deserve.
3. Always play by the rules and be fair.
4. Encourage your teammates. Congratulate opponents. High fives for a job well done.
5. Manners are important – shake hands, bow, say yes sir or ma’am.
6. Accept defeat with dignity – no pouting or crying.
7. Win gracefully – no gloating or rubbing it in.
Remember, you are not only representing yourself, you are representing your club. When you behave poorly, it reflects on your instructors, teammates and parents.
Parents and coaches can help children understand that good sportsmanship can be shown with small gestures and efforts. It can start with something as small as shaking hands with an opponent before and after a match, acknowledging the efforts of another athlete and accepting defeat gracefully. This is especially true when it comes to the martial arts. As you all know, the 5 Tenets of Tae Kwon Do are what guide of practice. These tenets must be shown to all our fellow martial artists – regardless of what club or organization they belong to.
We wish you all the best of luck for this tournament season! Go Team Summit!!
Summit Martial Arts 