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Sportsmanship
Jon Ligrow
Ligrow’s 24/7 Fitness

I believe that this is a very important topic that needs to be discussed. Right now
there is a huge shortage on referees and umpires, mostly do to the lack of respect
towards them. They hear it from the players, coaches, and spectators in the crowd.
Sportsmanship, to me, is more important than winning or losing. Losing gracefully and
winning humbly is an important trait to teach our kids. When I see parents yelling at
10u umpires, which happen to be high school student volunteers that don’t really want
to be there, what is it that we are teaching our kids. That it’s ok to place blame on oth-
ers? That it’s ok to yell at one another?

Teaching good sportsmanship starts at home. Raising our kids to know right from
wrong, to show respect to one another, and to learn that winning and losing is a part of
life are important traits to teach.

There were two teams in the boys golf regional that were caught cheating at the
regional finals. Where are they learning these traits, that it’s ok to cheat, especially
in a game that relies on a players integrity and character. When you play on a sports
team, you are not only representing yourself, but you represent your whole family, your
coach, your school, and your community. Do you want your school to be known as the
cheaters or the ones that blame the refs for everything? I hope the answer is no. It’s
time to end the trend of “win at all costs” and teach good sportsmanship.

Now, on the flipside I have seen some great sportsmanship as well. I have seen
players that have lost congratulate the winners on a good match or game. I have seen
many videos of teams letting less fortunate players make a basket or score a touch-
down, because there love of the game is so great.
I understand that we all want to be competitive and we all want what’s best for our kid
as a coach and as a parent. But we have to draw the line at some point. We need to
teach good sportsmanship, but we also need to lead by example and practice what we
preach. Kids need to learn how to lose as well as how to win. Teaching good sports-
manship will make your child grow up to be a better employee, parent, spouse, etcet-
era.

Jabir Akhtar, MD MOVE AT THE
Board Certified - Family Medicine SPEED OF THE
Maria Livieratos, MD | Allison Nichol, DO, ATC
Board Certified - Family Medicine STORM.
Shannon Cournaya, MSN, FNP-BC
Board Certified - Family Nurse Practitioner Wolverine Sales & Service Inc.

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