Developing a game plan for good sportsmanship

It is widely believed in the United States that competition is beneficial for youngsters. However, the media are full of examples of players, fans, and coaches whose behavior veers out of control. There have been well-documented examples of youth in livestock competitions illegally medicating show animals to make them appear calmer, officials biasing their rulings toward a team that will take the most fans to a playoff game, and team rivalries that have become so caustic as to be dangerous for competitors and fans. A university extension and its partners created a program called "Great Fans. Great Sports." in order to teach the kinds of behaviors we wish to instill among all who are involved in competitions. It requires entire communities to develop and implement plans for enhancing sportsmanship in music, debate, drama, 4-H, and other arenas, as well as sports. The goal is to make good sportsmanship not the exception but the norm. The authors provide anecdotal evidence that "Great Fans. Great Sports." is having a positive impact on the attitudes and behaviors of competitors, fans, and communities.