As per Dictionary.com: sportsmanlike conduct, as fairness, courtesy, being a cheerful loser, etc.
As per Wikipedia: conformance to the rules, spirit, and etiquette of sport. More grandly, it may be considered the ethos of sport. It is interesting that the motivation for sport is often an elusive element. Sportsmanship expresses an aspiration or ethos that the activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors. Being a "good sport" involves being a "good winner" as well as being a "good loser".[1]
Trust me, I don't want to be 'that mom'. You know the one on the sidelines, screaming bloody murder, threat filled, obscenities at the panting child on the field. But somewhere along the line, I think the definition of good sportsmanship has been shall we say, modified. Being obsessive by nature and not prone to wanting to be wrong, I went in search of the elusive definition of sportsmanship. Something they are teaching our children not only on the field, but in school as well. My son would like to believe and quite unsuccessfully argue, that being a good sport means playing the game because you like to and it doesn't matter if you win or lose. Just frolic around the field, laughing and giggling, merrily with your friends until the ref says it's time for snack. Maybe this is just one more case of the people we are entrusting our children with to pound mediocrity into their heads, but I'm done. By definition sportsmanship is about being a good winner AND a good loser. That actually means someone MUST win and someone MUST lose. Not just flit around until the goldfish are dispensed, but actually try to WIN!!! Being happy that you do or don't and happy for the other players, that they all tried their best and either had a better or worse day than you did. I swear we're teaching our kids that it's not OK to win because God forbid you hurt the feelings of the kid that did not. This of course coming off Ethan telling me it's fine to get 2 wrong on his tests, that it is still 100%. I'm not sure how much math has changed since I was in school oh so many years ago, but as far as I know getting anything less than all correct is not 100%!!! Why is it so awful to teach our kids to strive to be the best? Why can't I expect him to get all the answers right? Our kids are graduating high school and not understanding that they have to fight for that job. They can't do it half-ass and get the promotion. We're so concerned with everyone's feelings, 'he won't like me anymore if I take the ball from him', 'if I make too many goals he won't be my friend.' Are you kidding me?!?!? THAT is not good sportsmanship!! Being happy for your friend because he did GOOD and wanting it to be you next time should be OK!! I just want them to be the best they can be, I want them to help their friends be the best they can be also, not everyone striving to be same. Stretching themselves, what a sad, lazy group of kids society is fighting to create.
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Amen sister! I agree that we are trying to sheild our children from reality simply because they are kids. However that being said, I believe that society does expect more out of our kids then we were ever expected so it's probably confusing for them which way to go. But where is that balance?
ReplyDeletethat's a potentially really long answer. I agree society 'wants' them to know more BUT they do very little to actually get them there and to top it off there are no real consequences for not. you'll see that later.
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