The definition of good sportsmanship is when athletes exhibit respect for their opponents, conduct themselves graciously when they are winning or losing the game, and being fair during sports games. Unfortunately, sometimes parents get a little too competitive during athletic events and they don't always model good sportsmanship from the bleachers. As a Basketball Mom, I have experienced frustration when my son's team has been down by a lot of points, made technical errors during an important game, or even lost a tough game by only one or two points. It's not easy to watch the disappointment on my son's face when his team loses or when they get a bad call from the referees since I know how hard both he and his teammates work all year long. However, since we are the parents and the responsible adults, our children look up to us to be their role models when it comes to handling their emotions around losing with honor or conducting themselves responsibly as young athletes. … [Read more...]