Sportsmanship – From the Student-Athlete (Excerpt from the VHSL Sportsmanship Guidelines)
Student-Athletes who are good sports are positive role models within the school and the community at-large. A good sport knows that athletic competitions build character and shapes lifetime attitudes. Athletes, in turn, experience additional educational leadership benefits that come from participation in sports.
Integrity, fairness, and respect inherent principles of good sportsmanship. With them, the spirit of competition thrives, fueled by honest rivalry, courteous relations and graceful acceptance of the results.
As an athlete at school, sportsmanship goals include:
- Developing a sense of dignity under all circumstances;
- Respecting the rules of the games, the officials who administer the rules, and their decisions;
- Respecting opponents of fellow students; and acknowledging them for striving to do their best while you seek your best at the same time;
- Refraining from engaging in all types of disrespectful behavior, specifically taunting, trash talking, and other forms of intimidation;
- Looking at athletic participation as a potentially beneficial learning experience, whether you win or lose.
- Educating other students and fans to understand the rules of the game, and the value of sportsmanship.
Athletes are the spokesperson for the school when the athlete represents the school in athletic competition. Family and friends, opposing fans, the local community, and the media view the athlete’s actions. The display of good sportsmanship will show the most positive thing about the athlete and the school; and hopefully, remind everyone that in the end, sports are meant to be fun.