Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship:  sports•man•ship  noun

~conduct (as fairness, respect for one's opponent, and graciousness in winning or losing) 

becoming to one participating in a sport

Both of my oldest children have played sports since they were five.

Both started out with teeball and have grown and progressed into many other sports.

Ty now is a high school football player

and Ladybug continues to play soccer, softball, and ride horses.

Brian and I decided to put them in sports for many reasons,

one being to teach them sportsmanship.

Equipment check

To me, I would rather my child be an average player

with outstanding sportsmanship

than an amazing player with a poor attitude.

Sadly, in today's world, I don't see very many parents that feel the same.

A little coaching before the game

The small community where we live is good about teaching the kids to be gracious.

This past summer, Ladybug's soccer team,

who have been playing together for YEARS

(there is only one girls team in her age group because our surrounding area

is so rural) lost one of their best players when she died in a horrific accident.

This year the team has dedicated the season in her memory

and they all have pink hearts with their friend and former teammate's initials on their sleeve.

Right before the start of the game,

instead of yelling out the team name,

they yelled, "This is for H!"

"This is for H!"

And the girls played their hearts out for her.

Our team was at a severe disadvantage...

they only had just enough players to play due to injuries on the team.

There were NO SUBS which means every girl had to play 

the entire game without the benefit of a break.

Let the game begin!

In addition to that,

the game was being held on a turf field.

Our girls practice and play 95% of their games on grass fields and so

they are not used to the speed and behavior of the soccer ball

on a turf field.  

The ball moves much faster and much farther without the resistance 

of long grass that they typically play in.

Ladybug is learning to use her body to an advantage by blocking out other players.

Getting ready to intercept a throw in from the opposite team.

Mastering the skill of controlling the ball and dribbling around opponents.

Our girls knew the challenges that faced them for this season opening game

but didn't let it scare or deter them from their goal (pun intended).

They went after the win with the fierceness of a lion chasing down its prey.

Shoot (This is not Ladybug, but her teammate shooting)

They played their hearts out,

worked as a team,

and stayed determined and focused.

SCORE!

Ladybug congratulating her teammates on a job well done.

They used their honed skills to maneuver and control the ball.

(The girls have been practicing twice a week for an hour

and then scrimmaging a boys' team two years older than them

twice a week to learn aggression and fine tune their skills.)

Throw in!

Good game, girls!

In the end, Ladybug's team came out victorious.

I believe the score was 5-1.

I was so proud of our team for doing a great job,

not only with their skills, teamwork, and determination,

but with their sportsmanship.

They did not complain one bit even though they had

to play an entire game on a full size field without one break.

They were excited with the win but did not brag or boast.

And that, my friends, is what sports is all about.