Promoting Sportsmanship in Youth Sports Perspectives from Sport Psychology

T his article provides theoretical and practical information about sportsmanship in youth sports. The authors fi rst defi ne the concept of sportsmanship and discuss how competition infl uences it; then, a brief overview of the theoretical underpinnings of sportsmanship and relevant empirical fi ndings from physical education and sport environments are provided. Next, the article reviews two recent initiatives, from Australia and the United States, that were developed and implemented to deal with recent behavioral issues in sport. Lastly, the authors make suggestions that can be implemented by today’s practitioners to make their sporting environments better for all involved. What is sportsmanship? In today’s sporting culture, most people would fi nd it diffi cult to give a clear defi nition of the term and would defer to the “I know it when I see it” approach. Unfortunately, to some youth sport participants, coaches, and parents, the practical application of the concept has been reduced to little more than the mandatory shaking of hands at the end of a game. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA, 2003) defi ned the concept as the