I walk by a house with a sign proclaiming someone inside has a sportsmanship award. I know sometimes children are given these awards if they are not the top winners, but I hope it is because this child exhibited some sort of responsible behavior of caring for other individuals. I think you do see it more often among children than adults who are so driven by their ambition and aggressive machismo that they trample those in their way. I do love reading the heartwarming feature stories about those who went to extraordinary effort to ease the burden of someone else. If only more people acted this way, we wouldn’t have as much fighting or violence. Those who play sports do have opportunities to show their care and concern. Let’s learn more about sportsmanship.
According to Wikipedia, sportsmanship is an aspiration or ethos that a sport or activity will be enjoyed for its own sake. This is with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors. A "sore loser" refers to one who does not take defeat well, whereas a "good sport" means being a "good winner" as well as being a "good loser," i.e., someone who shows courtesy towards another in a sports game.
Analysis
Sportsmanship can be conceptualized as an enduring and relatively stable characteristic or disposition such that individuals differ in the way they are generally expected to behave in sports situations. Sportsmanship mainly refers to virtues such as fairness, self-control, courage and persistence, and has been associated with interpersonal concepts of treating others and being treated fairly, maintaining self-control if dealing with others and respect for both authority and opponents. Sportsmanship is also looked at as being the way one reacts to a sport/game/player.
The four elements of sportsmanship are often shown being good form, the will to win, equity and fairness. All four elements are critical and a balance must be found among all four for true sportsmanship to be illustrated. These elements may also cause conflict, as a person may desire to win more than play in equity and fairness, thus resulting in a clash within the aspects of sportsmanship. This will cause problems as the person believes they are being a good sportsman, but they are defeating the purpose of this idea as they are ignoring two key components of being sportsmanlike. When athletes become too self-centered, the idea of sportsmanship is dismissed.
Today's sporting culture, in particular the base of elite sport, places great importance on the idea of competition and winning; sportsmanship takes a back seat as a result. In most — if not all — sports, sportsmen at the elite level make the standards on sportsmanship, and no matter whether they like it or not, they are seen as leaders and role models in society.
Since every sport is rule-driven, the most common offense of bad sportsmanship is the act of cheating or breaking the rules to gain an unfair advantage; this is called unsportsmanlike conduct. A competitor who exhibits poor sportsmanship after losing a game or contest is often called a "sore loser," while a competitor who exhibits poor sportsmanship after winning is typically called a "bad winner." Sore loser behavior includes blaming others for the loss, not accepting responsibility for personal actions that contributed to the defeat, reacting to the loss in an immature or improper fashion, making excuses for the defeat and citing unfavorable conditions or other petty issues as reasons for the defeat. A bad winner acts in a shallow fashion after his or her victory, such as by gloating about his or her win, rubbing the win in the face(s) of the opponent(s) and lowering the opponent(s)'s self-esteem by constantly reminding the opponent(s) of "poor" performance in comparison — even if the opponent(s) competed well. Not showing respect to the other team is considered to be a bad sportsman and could lead to demoralizing effects. As Leslie Howe describes, "If a pitcher in baseball decides not to pitch to his maximum ability — suggesting that the batter is not at an adequate level — [it] could lead to the batter to have low self-confidence or worth."
There are six different categories relating to sportsmanship: the elements of sports, the elements of sportsmanship, clarifications, conflicts, balance and irreducibility. All six of these characterize a person with good sportsmanship. Even though there is some affinity between some of the categories, they are distinct elements. "In essence, play has for its directed and immediate end joy, pleasure and delights, and is dominated by a spirit of moderation and generosity. Athletics, on the other hand, is essentially a competitive activity which has for its end victory in the contest and which is characterized by dedication, sacrifice and intensity." (Feelezz, 1896, pp. 3) Hence, the virtues of a player are radically different from the virtues of an athlete. (Feelezz, 1896, pp. 3). When talking about misunderstanding sportsmanship, Rudd and Stoll (2013) provide an example from 1995, a U.S. high school athletic league banned the post-game handshake that was a part of sports such as football and basketball. The handshaking was banned because of fights that were ensuing after the handshake. Most players are influenced by the leaders around them such as coaches and older players. If there are coaches and administrators who don't understand sportsmanship, then what about the players?
Examples
In 1954 Australian middle-distance runner John Landy was the second man to break the four-minute mile barrier in the mile run and held the world records for the 1500-meter run and the mile race. At the 1956 Australian National Championships prior to the Melbourne Olympic Games, in the final of the mile race, Landy stopped and doubled back to check on fellow runner Ron Clarke after another runner clipped Clarke's heel, causing him to fall early in the third lap of the race. Clarke — the then-junior mile world record holder, who had been leading the race — got back to his feet and started running again; Landy followed. In the final two laps Landy made up the deficit to win the race. The National Centre for History and Education in Australia said that "[i]t was a spontaneous gesture of sportsmanship, and it has never been forgotten." Sculptor Mitch Mitchell created a bronze sculpture of the moment when Landy helps Clarke to his feet.
There are various ways that sportsmanship is practiced in different sports. Being a good sport often includes treating others as you would also like to be treated, cheer for good plays — even if it is made by the opposition, accept responsibility for your mistakes and keep your perspective. An example of treating others how you would like to be treated would include being respectful and polite to other team members and the opposition because in return you would also like to be treated the same way. Cheer for good plays could include if in netball a player of the opposition made a good lead for the ball, which then resulted in a goal, everyone would either clap or make a supportive comment to acknowledge that what the player did was very well done. To accept responsibility for your mistakes will entail not placing the blame on other people.
Some popular examples of good sportsmanship include shaking hands, helping an opponent who may have fallen over, encouraging everyone, cheering, clapping or hi-fiving and being respectful to everyone including teammates, the opposition, parents and officials. Most importantly, it is often encouraged and said regarding sportsmanship that, "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game."
Sportsmanship can be manifested in different ways depending on the game itself or the culture of the group. For example, in the sport of cricket, a player will sometimes acknowledge that he is out by walking off the field, even though the umpires or game officials had thought that he was not out.
Contributing factors
Sportsmanship can be affected by a few contributing factors such as the players' values and attitudes towards the sport and also the professional role models that are shown to the public. Role models in sports are expected to act in a moral and respectful way. When elite sporting role models do not encourage sportsmanship, this can also encourage people in society to act in similar ways to the athletes that they look up to and idolize. For example, if an individual looked up to an athlete who was drinking excessively, they may see this as acceptable behavior. The direct correlation between sportsmanship and leadership is also considered to be another contributing factor. Having a positive environment in a sporting team will therefore create good sportsmanship from the individuals. Having positive leadership from the captains, coaches and supporters would then encourage a positive sporting environment.
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for the National Hockey League
The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability." The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy has been awarded 88 times to 53 different players since it was first awarded in 1925.
The trophy is named in honor of Marie Evelyn Moreton (Lady Byng), wife of the Viscount Byng of Vimy, who commanded Canadian forces at the Battle of Vimy Ridge and who was Governor General of Canada from 1921 to 1926. Lady Byng, an avid hockey fan, decided to donate the trophy to the NHL in 1924–25.
Lady Byng decided the trophy's first winner would be Frank Nighbor of the original Ottawa Senators. Late in the season, she invited Nighbor to Rideau Hall, showed him the trophy, and asked him if the NHL would accept it as an award for its most gentlemanly player. When Nighbor said he thought it would, Lady Byng, much to Nighbor's surprise, awarded him the trophy.
After Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers won the award seven times within eight years, Lady Byng was so impressed that she gave him the original trophy to keep. She then donated a second trophy in 1935–36. When Lady Byng died in 1949, the NHL presented another trophy and changed the official name to the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. In 1962, the original trophy was destroyed in a fire at Boucher's home.
The voting is conducted at the end of the regular season by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, and each individual voter ranks their top five candidates on a 10-7-5-3-1 points system. Three finalists are named, and the trophy is awarded at the NHL Awards ceremony after the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Besides Boucher, a number of players have won the award multiple times, including Wayne Gretzky who won it five times, Red Kelly and Pavel Datsyuk with four wins, and Bobby Bauer, Alex Delvecchio, Mike Bossy, Martin St. Louis, and Ron Francis with three each. Because of Boucher's seven wins, the New York Rangers join Detroit as the only two clubs who have won the award fourteen times, followed by Toronto with nine wins, Chicago and Boston tied with eight and Los Angeles with six. Adam Oates was a six-time finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy but never won.
Five players have won both the Lady Byng Trophy and the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP in the same season: Buddy O'Connor (1947–48), Bobby Hull (1964–65), Stan Mikita (1966–67 and 1967–68), Wayne Gretzky (1979–80) and Joe Sakic (2000–01). Mikita is also the only player to win the Hart, Art Ross and Lady Byng trophies in the same season, doing so consecutively in the 1966–67 and 1967–68 seasons. Gretzky, Bobby Hull and Martin St. Louis also won these three awards, but not in the same season. Bobby and Brett Hull are the only father-son combination to win the Hart and Lady Byng trophies.
Bill Quackenbush, Red Kelly and Brian Campbell are the only defensemen to have won the Lady Byng Trophy, with Kelly being the only one to win it multiple times — three as a defenseman, four overall. After Kelly, no defenseman won the award for a 58-year stretch which ended in 2012 when Campbell received the honor, though Nicklas Lidstrom narrowly lost to Joe Sakic in 2001. No goaltender has ever won the award.
Great displays of sportsmanship
According to the Sept. 19, 2016 article “Eight of the greatest displays of sportsmanship” at bbc.com, after Alistair Brownlee carried brother Jonny across the line at the World Triathlon Series final in Mexico in 2016, Monday's Sportsday debate at bbc.com asked readers to name their greatest sporting gesture. Here are eight of the best from readers’ suggestions.
Luz Long and Jesse Owens
According to the At the infamous 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Owens — the American world record holder in the long jump — had foot-faulted twice in his bid to qualify for the final.
With his rival clearly worried, Germany's Long, the European record holder, offered Owens advice on how to adjust his run-up to make the qualifying distance.
Owens' next jump was successful, and he went on to win the gold medal with Long earning silver.
"You can melt down all the medals and cups I have," said Owens later. "And they wouldn't be a plating on the 24-carat friendship that I felt for Luz Long at that moment."
Nikki Hamblin and Abbey D’Agostino
New Zealand's Hamblin and D'Agostino of the US collided with each other with 2,000 meters to go during their 5,000-meter heat at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
D'Agostino got up and tried to help Hamblin to her feet before falling over because she had injured her leg.
Hamblin then helped the American to her feet, and the pair ran most of the rest of the race together before embracing on the finish line.
The pair were reinstated in the final, but D'Agostino was not able to compete because she had torn her anterior cruciate knee ligament.
Hamblin came in 17th, and organizers awarded the duo the Olympic Fair Play Award.
"She helped me first," said Hamblin after the race. "I tried to help her. She was pretty bad. That girl is the Olympic spirit right there."
Tana Umaga and Colin Charvis
During a 2003 test match between New Zealand and Wales in Hamilton, Wales’ No. 8 Charvis was knocked out by a tackle from Jerry Collins, his opposite number for the All Blacks.
As play surged back towards the Welsh half of the pitch, Umaga left his position to help Charvis, removing his gum shield and rolling him into the recovery position.
Umaga was later given the Pierre de Coubertin medal, becoming the first New Zealander to win the award handed out for great displays of sportsmanship. He was also honored by the Welsh Rugby Union.
Tony Jacklin and Jack Nicklaus
At the 1969 Ryder Cup, an event that was dominated by the USA at the time, Britain's Jacklin and American Nicklaus reached the 18th hole all-square with the overall scores tied at 15.5-15.5.
It was the final match of the competition, and after Nicklaus holed his putt to make par, Jacklin faced a three-footer to earn the first-ever tie in the event.
Instead of forcing his rival to take the shot, Nicklaus picked up Jacklin's ball marker and conceded the tie.
"I don't think you would have missed that Tony," Nicklaus said, "but I didn't want to give you the chance."
Paolo di Canio and Paul Gerrard
West Ham's Italian striker Paolo di Canio won a FIFA Fair Play Award after his sporting gesture during his side's Premier League game at Everton in 2001.
Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard had left an open goal after he rushed out of his area to make a challenge and fell to the ground injured.
As a cross came in, Di Canio caught the ball to stop play rather than shoot towards the empty net, earning him a standing ovation from the Goodison Park crowd.
Andrew Flintoff and Brett Lee
The second Test of the 2005 Ashes series will go down as one of the greatest cricket matches of all time after Steve Harmison took the final wicket of Michael Kasprowicz with Australia needing just two runs to win.
But as his England teammates rushed to celebrate, all-rounder Flintoff chose to console Australia's Brett Lee, who had slumped to his knees after being left on 43 not out.
Asked in 2010 what Flintoff had said to him at the moment, Lee said, "Something like 'Bad luck mate; we tried very hard to get you out but we didn't think it would come down to the last two or three runs, but I will see you inside for a beer after.'"
Derek Redmond and his dad Jim
British runner Derek Redmond's 400-meter semifinal run at the 1992 summer Olympics in Barcelona produced one of the best images of the games.
He was well-placed when his hamstring tore with less than half the race to go.
Redmond got up and attempted to hobble the rest of the distance to the finish line. Seeing his son in agony, Jim Redmond ran from the stands, fending off stewards in the process.
Father and son completed the course with Derek in tears to a standing ovation from the crowd.
Although Redmond was officially disqualified, the moment went down in history with Jim later being named a torch bearer for the 2012 London Olympics.
David Purley and Roger Williamson
At Formula One's 1973 Dutch Grand Prix, Britain's David Purley abandoned his car after seeing Roger Williamson — competing in only his second race — crash spectacularly.
As ill-equipped stewards stood by, Purley tried desperately to put Williamson's burning car back on its wheels before grabbing a fire extinguisher in a vain attempt to put out the flames. He tried to flag down fellow drivers to help, but Williamson died of asphyxiation.
Purley, who died in a plane crash at the age of 40, was awarded the George Medal for his bravery.
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