Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship is traditional value in sports and competition. It means playing clean and handling both victory and defeat with grace, style, and dignity.^[1]

Sportsmanship is generally understood to include

• playing fair^[1]
• following the rules of the game^[1]
• respecting the judgment of referees and officials^[1]
• treating opponents with respect^[1]

The ideal of sportsmanship argues that "it doesn't matter whether you win or lose, but how you play the game".^[2]

Sportsmanship can be different 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 (game officials) had thought that he was not out. In another example, a tennis player who sees a ball go in but is called out by the linesperson could concede the point or suggest the opponent make a challenge, as was the case with professional tennis player Jack Sock on at least two occasions.^[3]

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Kidshealth.org, "Sportsmanship"; retrieved 2012-8-3.
2. ↑ Kendrick, Carleton, "Teaching Good Sportsmanship," FamilyEducation.com; retrieved 2012-8-3.
3. ↑ "Concepts of Sportsmanship Vary Across Cultures". Big Think. 2015-06-17. Retrieved 2023-12-09.