Imagine you just lost a game. You start to doubt yourself. Thoughts enter your mind wondering how you might not be good enough. Doesn’t it help when you have a friend, parent, or even a coach that encourages you, and tells you words of affirmation?
If you’re involved in sports, you would likely agree that sportsmanship is important. It can affect players’ moods and how they play in the game. However, good sportsmanship does not exist in every game or every team. Sometimes, players put too much focus into winning. Instead of encouraging others or showing respect, they may blame teammates, argue with referees, or refuse to shake hands. This is why it’s so important to show good sportsmanship, even when things don’t go your way. We need to make sportsmanship a priority so that everyone can enjoy the game.
Some examples of good sportsmanship are when you cheer on the losing team, shaking the other team’s hand before and after the game, helping an opponent that got injured or needs assistance. Michael Cancel, a junior and a starting middle blocker player on the boys’ varsity volleyball team has experienced the benefits of good sportsmanship.
“During my game against West Islip, I came in late and was cold off the bench. But once I made a good play, I heard all of my friends cheer, which made me forget about not being fully warmed up,” said Cancel.
Moments like this show how positive encouragement can lift players up and change the entire momentum of a game. The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) conducted a survey with shocking results regarding sportsmanship. Nearly 70 percent of referees said that sportsmanship is getting worse, while more than half admitted they have feared for their safety during or after a game because of the behavior of players, coaches, or spectators. Some even reported being physically assaulted. These results show that poor sportsmanship doesn’t just affect athletes. It impacts everyone involved in sports, from the officials to the fans. If we want to keep games positive, safe, and fair, we all need to take responsibility for showing respect and appreciation to one another.
Eduardo Giron Monge, a freshman and a player on the varsity boys soccer team, shares what he has noticed about the audiences at the games his team plays against.
“The audience likes to hype up our team a lot, but sometimes the audience from the away team yells at the referee or like after the game the audience screams at the players that we could’ve done better, but sometimes the audience gives good advice though,” said Monge.
Most people get caught up in the fact that winning is the most important part of any game. However, sportsmanship reminds us that how we play the game is just as important as the final turn out. It’s about respect, kindness, and supporting each other, no matter what the scoreboard says.
The attitude of a crowd can shift from encouragement to negativity based on the audience, which is something that can change the entire atmosphere of a game.
Mesut Caratuna is the head coach of the boys soccer team. He believes sportsmanship isn’t just the responsibility of the players.
“I do really like this question, and good sportsmanship is all encompassing, the audience, parents, players and coaches I believe are responsible for it, and even further I also believe that the audience has a big factor,” said Caratuna “In my years of coaching as the away team, we have been heckled, hearing things that are not appropriate to be yelling at a high event. So again in my opinion people that are responsible are all three of us, like all three of those elements.”
While Cancel has good experiences with audiences showing sportsmanship, this has not always been the case.
“The audience has a major impact on the team during a game,” said Cancel. “They bring energy to the gym, which motivates the team to work harder. Even when bad plays happen, the audience’s support helps you move on and refocus.”
Sportsmanship can be the difference between a team that just plays well and a team that truly supports each other through wins and losses. Whether it comes from players, coaches, or even the audience, the energy we bring to the game truly matters. Respect, encouragement, and fairness help teams stay focused, connected, and motivated to play no matter the score. Win or lose, good or bad, sportsmanship is what makes a team stronger and more like a family.
