Topic: Sportsmanship & Character

Activity:

• Go through the following demonstrations and ask your players how they think your actions make someone feel?
• Demonstrate these positive and negative sportsmanship behaviors.
  • Umpire: Catcher introduces himself and shakes ump's hand.
  • Umpire: Batter has a negative reaction to a "bad" call.
  • Opponent: You laugh or taunt the other team after they make a mistake.
  • Opponent: You take your hats off during handshake line.
  • Your Teammate: Kick dirt after your teammate makes a mistake.
  • Opposing Coach: 1st baseman gives him a fist bump and says, "Good luck today, Coach."

Conversation Starters:

• Q: Does anyone know what character is?
  • A: Character is the kind of person you are. Are you respectful, loyal, fair, polite, forgiving, kind. These traits make up your character.
• Q: If an umpire makes a "bad" call and you strike out, how can you display good sportsmanship? What would be poor sportsmanship?
  • A: Good: Walk back to the dugout, put your gear away, take a deep breath and cheer for you teammates.
  • A: Bad: Arguing with the umpire. Kicking dirt. Throwing you gear in the dugout.

Key Points:

• Be gracious in victory, and humble in defeat.
• What words do you allow to leave your lips? Are they positive words? Positive words and actions display good sportsmanship.
• You actions speak just a loudly as your words. Pay attention to what your body language is saying.
• Coach John Wooden said, "Sports do not build character, they reveal it." What he is saying is that it is very easy to see someone's character by watching them play sports, and how they react to their successes and failures.

“The Ride Home”

• I loved watching you play.
• Discuss how good/bad sportsmanship displays your character to others.
• Why is your character important?
• Explain that character is made of the things that you do, even when nobody is watching.
• Someone with good character does the right thing, because it's the right thing to do, not because they are seeking a reward.