SPORTSMANSHIP is to play a sport to be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for:

- fairness: playing by the rules of the game.
- ethics:  motivation based on ideas of right and wrong
- respect:  courteous regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others and a feeling of friendship and a sense of fellowship with one's teammates & competitors.

SPORTSMANSHIP is striving for success, while maintaining a commitment to being fair, honest, respectful and to following the rules of the game…

- A full commitment to sport participation.
- Respect for the rules and fair play.
- Concern for social conventions, such as being a good loser and winner.
- Respect for teammates, coaches, officials and opponents.
- Avoid a winning-at-all-cost mentality.

SPORTSMANSHIP is the ability to:

- win without gloating
- lose without complaining
- treat your teammates, coaches, opponents and officials with respect.

SPORTSMANSHIP tips:

- If you make a mistake, don't pout or make excuses.  Learn from it and be ready to continue to play.
- If a teammate makes a mistake, offer encouragement, not criticism.
- If you win, don't rub it in.
- If you lose, don't make excuses.

SPORTSMANSHIP CHECKLIST:

1. PLAY BY THE RULES.  They are there to make sure the game is fair and fun, and to help keep the players (and officials) safe. So breaking them can be dangerous, in addition to dishonest. Plus, victories earned by cheating don't feel nearly as good as honourable wins do.

2. ACCEPT THE JUDGMENT CALLS OF THE GAME OFFICIALS.  Part of the human condition is making mistakes. Arguing with an official over a judgment call simply wastes energy. The player with good sportsmanship knows that errors may be made, but the player also knows that a game is made up of all the plays and calls from the beginning to the end of the game, not just the call in dispute. The player with good sportsmanship may be upset, but that player also has learned to focus his/her energies back on the game and on doing the best he/she can do for the rest of the game

3. BE A TEAM PLAYER AND SHARE IN THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TEAM.  Being part of a team means having a positive attitude and never thinking that team rules and policies don't apply to you. It also means sharing the spotlight, so don't hog the ball or the glory.  Good sportsmanship implies that the player on a team is a team player. In other words, the player understands that his or her behaviour reflects on the team in general. Moreover, a team player does not condone unsportsmanlike conduct from teammates and reminds players that they all share in the responsibility of promoting good sportsmanship.

4. BE A GOOD FRIEND AND TEAMMATE.  If a teammate gets hurt, makes a mistake, or feels sad, offer some encouraging words. Never blame or taunt a team member for losing a game, giving up a score, or committing an error. You win as a team and you lose as a team.  A sign of good sportsmanship is a player who praises teammates when they do well and who comforts and encourages them when they make mistakes. Criticising teammates in the heat of battle simply distracts from the focus of working together and gives the advantage to the opponent who develops a sense of confidence when seeing signs of weakness or a lack of unity in the midst of the competition.

5. OWN YOUR MISTAKES.  If you're the one who drops the ball, accept responsibility instead of trying to make excuses or shift the blame to others.  A good player learns from mistakes (and a good coach makes the most of errors, turning them into teachable moments).

6. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS OF THE COACH.  A player with good sportsmanship listens to and follows the directions of the coach, realising that each player's decisions affect the rest of the team. If a player has disagreements with the coach, the player discusses the disagreements privately in a civil manner, away from the public eye.

7. AVOID TRASH TALK & TAUNTING.  Using inappropriate gestures or saying mean things about and to your opponents (even if they can't hear you) is disrespectful to them, to the game you all love, and even to your own teammates. It makes them look bad too.  So keep comments polite or keep them to yourself.

8. SAY "THANK YOU".  Your coach deserves your thanks for all the time he or she devotes to your team. So do other volunteers, including coaching assistants, sidelines helpers, referees and other officials.

9. ASK FANS TO BE GOOD SPORTS TOO.  When parents, brothers and sisters, other relatives and friends come to watch you play, they need to be good spectators. Nicely remind them to keep comments (about players from both teams, coaches, and officials) positive and polite.

10. SHAKE HANDS AFTER THE GAME.  Or trade high-fives and tell the opposing team "good game." This shows the other players that you respect and appreciate them. After all, it takes two teams to play—games wouldn't be much fun without opponents.  And don't forget to shake the hand of the opposing team's coach and thank the referees as well!

11. BE RESPECTFUL WHEN YOU WIN.  Don't brag and gloat when the losing team is around, or make fun of them for losing. It's okay to enjoy a win. You earned it! Just don't put the other team down while you're celebrating.

12. BE GRACIOUS WHEN YOU LOSE.  Not every game will go your way. Take responsibility for your losses instead of blaming them on the other team, the weather, or the officials.