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Senior Citizen Sports
Senior Citizens Adamant in Saying Sportsmanship has
Declined
The older we get the
better things were when we were kids
By
Tucker Sutherland, editor
 August
25, 2006 – Whenever senior citizens are visiting together, or talking to
their grandkids, a favorite topic is "how great things were when we were
kids." As a senior myself, I certainly feel this way. If you do, too,
there is a new survey that shows how the older we get the better we
think things used to be.
The Awards and Recognition Association just
published a survey that found 63 percent of American adults believe the
current state of sportsmanship is worse than when they were growing up.
Just 5% think it is better.
You won't have any trouble guessing which age group
was the most adamant about the demise of sportsmanship, since the
glorious days when they took to the playground.
Dissatisfaction with sportsmanship increases
dramatically with age, as 81% of Americans age 60 years or older
reported that sportsmanship is worse now, compared to 70% of Americans
age 50 to 59, 69% of those 40 to 49, 54% of those age 30 to 39, and 45%
of those 30 years or less.
Amazing, isn't it, how the old days just get better
with age.
"We conducted this survey to learn more about the
current state of sportsmanship in America," said Rich Zydonik, president
of ARA. "We hope that drawing attention to this issue will help
encourage good sportsmanship among athletes, coaches and parents."
According to the survey, Americans overwhelmingly
believe that teaching good sportsmanship to children is a parental
responsibility. More than 86 percent of respondents reported that a
parent is the best person to teach sportsmanship, followed by coaches at
45 percent, teachers at 28 percent and friends at 17 percent.
They must not have had grandparents on the survey
form. It seems to me grandparents should help, too. And, should be
pretty high up on the scale of importance.
"There is no doubt that all the rules, coaching and
education can't replace what happens at home," said LaVell Edwards,
former BYU football coach, parent of three children and Chair of the ARA
Sportsmanship Award Selection Panel.
"Teaching good sportsmanship starts with parents,
and they need to model behavior throughout the entire process."
The Awards and Recognition Association recognizes
good sportsmanship in collegiate football players with its ARA
Sportsmanship Award, presented annually to the athlete who personifies
sportsmanship. ARA's selection committee, headed by Coach Edwards,
includes former collegiate and professional coaches and experienced in
the field.
To encourage good sportsmanship, ARA's selection
panel created tips to help teach sportsmanlike behavior at all ages:
As a parent (my note - grandparents, too):
● Remind kids of the importance of sportsmanship
and model that behavior during all competitive activities. Teach
children how to be good sports when playing games, whether in the
backyard or at the kitchen table.
● Do not put pressure on kids to be the best;
instead teach them to enjoy the game for the sport.
● Exhibit good sportsmanship yourself and ask
others to do the same. Bad behavior on the sidelines or in the stands is
just as bad as bad behavior on the field.
● Discuss the need for good sportsmanship with
your child's teacher or coach.
● Request that school coaches and other parents
address good sportsmanship early in the season.
As a coach:
● Set an example by treating all athletes,
coaches, officials and parents respectfully, and cheer on good plays
when you see them, even if they're by the other team.
● Do not emphasize competition or winning;
rather, emphasize skills and fair play, especially with younger
athletes.
● Praise positive and correct negative behavior
immediately.
● Create a zero-tolerance policy for bad behavior
... from athletes, other coaches and parents.
● Establish a sportsmanship award at the start of
the season, letting parents and athletes know that good on-field
behavior will be recognized.
● Demonstrate how to celebrate victory without
humiliating the competition, as well as how to lose with dignity.
The survey was conducted last month by the Awards
and Recognition Association (ARA) and TNS/NFO Research.
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