The first thing to remember about sportsmanship is it works both ways. You’ve heard the phrase “gracious in defeat,” but you can also be gracious in victory. Accepting defeat and working towards improving for next time is very similar to accepting you were better than an opponent and working towards coming out on top the next time.

There’s a reason umpires and referees tolerate very little at the youth levels as far as bad sportsmanship. Whether you’re an athlete or a coach, know that everyone makes mistakes and an important part of sportsmanship is accepting the result of a particular play and moving on to the next one.

Sportsmanship is reciprocal and circular. A good attitude not only comes back to you two-fold but it can spread to other players, the officials and the parents. Take the time to congratulate a teammate or opposing player on a job well done. Mention to an umpire or referee a difficult call he/she had to make and praise them for trying to get in position to make that call, whether it went against your team or not.

In contrast, a bad attitude can hang over the field of play like a virus. It can spread to teammates, opposing players, coaches, officials and fans making the athletic appearance un-

enjoyable. Berating an official for a call that went against your team can only create harm down the road. Remember: officials have long memories, too!

A small percentage of people have the god-given ability to play a sport and excel at it. It’s what they do with that god-given ability, not only physically, but emotionally, that can help them become a complete athlete.