Paul Banas is a founder of GreatDad.com. He writes articles on father and daughter, parenting skills, family planning, pregnancy care and many more topics related to dads.
Most dads bristle when they see dads behaving badly on the sports field, going overboard to produce a win at any cost. Most of us just want the kids to have fun, get some exercise, and learn valuable life lessons from the sport. Here are 10 tips for teaching good sportsmanship to kids:
1. Try to avoid investing your ego into any game the kids are actually playing. Remember: you’re not 9 years old again and whether your team wins or loses doesn’t say anything about how good a coach you are. If it does, you should be more highly paid for your time!
2. Make sure to emphasize other parts of the game rather than just the winning.
3. Teach players to take responsibility for personal actions on the field. Don’t let kids “blame” each other for situations that arise, and at the same time, don’t let anyone get worked up over a bad play.
4. Use current events to reinforce good sportsmanship lessons. Since kids are often avid sports page readers, there are plenty of lessons in the papers on good and bad behavior. Start dugout conversations that reinforce good behavior by sports heroes.
5. Make sure kids realize that good sportsmanship means sharing victories in a team. It’s great to be a star, but in many sports, it’s impossible to win alone.
6. If you’re watching from the sidelines, don’t interfere with your child’s coach. Don’t abuse the referees.
7. Make a point to find positive actions and attributes in your child’s team members and also in the opposing team. This helps reinforce the idea that sports are a game, not a war with an enemy.
8. Take a lead with other parents to create an atmosphere that puts good sportsmanship above winning at all costs.
9. Finally, remember that you’re the most important role model for your child. He or she will see the value of sports and sportsmanship through your eyes.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
Ways How To Control Children - Learn How To Control Children
By: James Tame | 09/11/2009are you struggling with child discipline and not sure how to control children? Don't worry, you are not alone, there are thousands of parents out there who are in the same situation and not sure how to control children and discipline them correctly. There are indeed a lot of ways how to control children but unfortunately most of these just do not work these days or are simply unacceptable. If you really want to know how to control children then the first thing that you must understand is tha
Tips for Soothing a Baby that Every Parent Should Know
By: Andre Savoie | 09/11/2009All babies cry, but for a new parent, soothing their baby can seem like a daunting proposition. Here are some tips for soothing your precious little one, but always remember that each baby is different and what works for your neighbor’s child may not be the ideal solution for yours.
What is Parental Failure?
By: Francis Edo Olotu | 08/11/2009Parental failure is the inability of parents to do the needful for their child during the most vulnerable period of the child’s life. Parents have a responsibility of caring, providing, guarding and guiding their child till adulthood.
Principles of Parenting-Top 10 Tips that Work
By: Francis Edo Olotu | 08/11/2009Successful children are the products of coordinated efforts of parents who knew about the correlation of good parenting style with successful evolution of children from infanthood to responsible adulthood.
Purpose-Driven Parenting
By: Francis Edo Olotu | 08/11/2009Purpose-driven parenting is one that considers the strength and weaknesses of the child, the future career of the child and the opportunities that would be available to the child in future.
What is Parenting?
By: Francis Edo Olotu | 08/11/2009Parenting is a process of raising a child from babyhood to adulthood; it is synonymous with child rearing. It differs from fathering or birthing a child in that while these are events, parenting is a process borne out of love and commitment that spans babyhood to adulthood. It entails nurturing, guiding and guarding the child, and meeting all the developmental needs of the child.
Problems Common to Parents of Sexually Abused Children
By: Francis Edo Olotu | 08/11/2009Parents of sexually abused children are usually devastated by the disclosure that their child has been molested by a person close to the family. They go through the agony of trying to fathom why this happened to them. They very often require professional help to enable them recover from the shock of the incident.
Problems Common to Sexually Abused Children -17 kinds
By: Francis Edo Olotu | 08/11/2009A catalogue of problems is common to children that were sexually abused. The problems are such that they could cripple a child emotionally for life if professional help is not sought when the case was reported. The list of problems is enough reason for parents to do all within their reach and means to protect their children.
Ray Romano's Advice for Dads
By: Emilyd | 23/07/2009 | FatheringCelebrity dads go through the same grind as any first-time dad, including having fatherhood jitters.
Know the pros and cons of co-sleeping
By: Emilyd | 20/07/2009 | BabiesCo-Sleeping, Know Pros and Cons of Newborn Co-Sleeping
Two great Father’s Day gifts for Divorced Dads
By: Emilyd | 08/07/2009 | ParentingWe have plenty of other gift ideas for dads in general, but here are two good gifts for divorced dads
Video Games That Keep The Family Together
By: Emilyd | 07/07/2009 | ParentingPlaying video games with your children is a great way to not only spend quality time with them
Study shows video games do not adversely effect kids academic performance
By: Emilyd | 06/07/2009 | ParentingSurvey: Videogames Are Not Detrimental to Kid’s Academics
9 Tips for Teaching Good Sportsmanship for Dads
By: Emilyd | 03/07/2009 | ParentingMost dads bristle when they see dads behaving badly on the sports field, going overboard to produce a win at any cost
What dads need to know about Club Penguin
By: Emilyd | 02/07/2009 | ParentingIf you have a son or daughter around six or seven, you may have already heard about Club Penguin.
Bee stings in kids
By: Emilyd | 01/07/2009 | ParentingKids are smart enough to avoid wasps, bees, snakes, scorpions, and most venomous creatures