It's about fair play, or is it?

written by Isobel Kleinman, author of Too Dangerous to Teach

It has been difficult to promote sporting behavior when kids are exposed to the preponderance of big time sports on TV every day. All too frequently what they see and learn is something we do not want them emulating, but they do.

For the athlete, his coach, sponsors and the media, success is all about the win. The thought that it's how you play the game that counts has no place in the dialogue. Statistics tells us who the winners are, and the winners make money. Lots of it. For the longest time, no amount of beastly behavior or illegal activity tarnished their stardom or their bank account.

We have watched violent hockey, knowing that its worst offenders are the best paid. We have learned that irreversible brain damage is a consequence of hard contact, even when the impacted athletes seem perfectly healthy. We know drugs used to enhance performance have dangerous side-effects, so we want our athletes free of them. Yet, more and more of our sports icons, who have hidden their abuse - all in the name of winning – are getting exposed every day.

Well, take heart. The media has actually been drawing attention to ethics (sportsmanship) in sports and the consequences associated with misdeeds. Suddenly it seems, consequences are making a mark. Is there a growing recognition and guilt for pushing our athletes to win at all costs? Maybe.

Almost daily, someone famous is accused of something illegal or unethical, be it the athlete who has won years of acclaim because of their performance, their valued coaches, or the corporate sponsors. Each level of impact has escalated the 'win at all cost culture' that silently encourages illicit drug use, gaming the system, unethical decisions, and grand cover-ups.

National disgust is rising as true confessions role in. There is finally a recognition that the business of sport has changed our culture, and not necessarily for the better. From Little League up, for many, playing for fun is not the motivating factor. It is the possible paycheck down the road that is.

And, as the nation re-evaluates the value of sports in our society, and exposes the cheats, teachers have plenty of real life examples that make an argument for getting sportsmanship back in our lessons and on the athletic agenda. Once again, it might be relevant to say, "It is how you play the game that counts."

How do we do that?

Comment About Applicable Current Events During Lessons

Here are some recent issues:

• The Baseball Hall of Fame refused to nominate anyone in 2012 when they denied Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa their place in history.
• Lance Armstrong's confession on Oprah Winfrey (and to his son) was not only amazing, because it exposed his lies and that of many others over many, many years. Sadly, it probably would never have occurred if he hadn't been stripped of his titles, lost his endorsements, and had to give up his place on the board of his favorite charity. Lance may also be taking down his coaches, trainers, and doctors (people who assisted, encouraged, and covered up for him) in the process. Maybe the yet-to-be-vilified corporate sponsors, who built our 'win at all cost' culture will be taken down, too.
• Penn State was not allowed to compete for a year, because of their failure to take action against a coach who used his access to young athletes to sexually abuse them.

Incorporate Rules Into Your Lessons and See That They Are Followed

All social activity has rules, and the world of sports is one of those activities. Students should play by the rules, but they need to learn them first, and understand the need for them second. If your lessons are well planned, you can teach rules easily. Here's how:

• When you teach a skill, teach the related rules so students know them from the start. For instance, when teaching how to put the ball in play, teach how to do it legally and see that students practice it correctly. Students should know that in some sports:
  • They must serve from outside the court. Once they do it, teach them not to foot fault while learning to serve.
  • Some sports require a certain motion when serving. The serve is underhand in badminton and pickleball, but servers in tennis, paddleball and volleyball may choose whether to hit the serve underhand or overhead.
  • Some sports have both teams facing each other and vying for the ball at the same time. Teach all the rules associated with doing that safely.
• If you modify the rules to enable greater success, be clear what the new rule is, that it is adapted for them temporarily, and make certain the modified rule is followed.
• Make it clear what your behavioral expectations are. Stop anything that smacks of bullying, derisive remarks...any kind of abuse...even in the heat of a game.

Encourage and Reward Leadership and Good Sportsmanship

Set up leadership opportunities...

• In class
  • Be consistent about teaching the rules.
  • Apply rules uniformly
  • Encourage a variety of students to become class leaders.
  • Have students officiate games if they are not playing, or if they are leader volunteers.
• After school
  Create a Leaders Club
  • Club members come to play, and learn the rules of what is being taught in class and how to officiate.
  • Club members volunteer their free time (study hall or lunch) to help in the gym.
• Hold an end of year awards ceremony. If the school has one, make sure you are on the agenda.
  • Award students who gave up their time to help in the gym.
  • Award students who displayed good sportsmanship.
  • Award team captains who worked with their team, and helped everyone feel an important part of the team.
  • Award the most improved student.
  • Award the most all around student for good athletics, good leadership, and good sportsmanship.

Consistently Respond to Behavior You Do Not Want Continued

Bad sportsmanship, bullying, and not playing by the rules happens. Do not let it continue. When we turn the other check when students do things that are not acceptable, we are perceived as condoning the behavior. Step in, even though it requires time and effort. And please, if someone tells you it is just "boys being boys," that is not good enough. If we do not act, we will never see the end of that type of behavior.

• Find a way to respond to the offender when bad behavior is on display and, in a constructive way, let the rest of the class know that you are displeased.
• If the behavior continues, escalate the consequence. Sometimes simply removing the student from activity a few minutes, and suggesting that offering an apology would be an appropriate way to return to the activity, is all you need to do to stem the bad behavior. Frankly, some students do not know that they are doing something wrong. The only way they will learn is if you tell them.
• If the bad behavior continues, escalate your response.

Let me close by reminding you that if we don't change the tide and teach our kids right from wrong, who will? If we assume our professional responsibility, we will be putting the notion of fair play back on the agenda if we haven't been already.

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