Sportsmanship: Respect Sports
A key challenge facing youth baseball and softball - and youth sports in general - is the increased incidence of violence and abuse during games. Baseball and softball help build confidence, enhance physical fitness, and teach valuable lessons about leadership, teamwork, and mutual respect. Unfortunately, excess emphasis on the competitive aspect of youth sports too often eclipses these positive values.
Play Ball! Minnesota is committed to promoting sportsmanship
in youth sports, supporting efforts such as Respect Sports,
a program founded by Richfield, Minnesota recreation manager
Frank White. White is working to raise awareness about violence
and abuse and provide a model to help youth sports move in
a more positive direction.
He offers the following tips for parents of young athletes:
- Remember why your son or daughter is in sports: to learn,
have fun, discover, and refine their talents.
- Let your son or daughter develop; give them time.
- Point out good reasons why poor conduct is unacceptable.
- Practice appropriate choice in use of alcohol,
tobacco and other drugs.
- Notice and appreciate good play - by either team.
- Without opponents, there wouldn’t be any
games.
- The opponent is someone else’s son or daughter.
Be respectful and positive when directing comments
to them.
- Keep things in proper perspective - it’s
only a game!
For more information, including age-specific recommendations
to help parents better understand and support young athletes,
visit the Respect Sports website at www.respectsports.com.
Additional tips from Frank White were also presented at the 2005 Conference.
For more Sportsmanship information and a tool-kit, please visit the Sportsmanship Alliance of Minnesota’s web site.
