The great ones know that sportsmanship counts

The games, meets and matches for high school and middle school athletes will soon begin. During these contests, many athletes and coaches will strive to win while still practicing the values of sportsmanship.

For such times, it’s interesting to look back on some past and current great coaches and athletes for their perspectives on competition and sportsmanship. I found an interesting sampling of those perspectives from quotes compiled by the Institute for International Sport. Here’s some that stood out:

. “Good coaching is about leadership and instilling respect in your players. Dictators lead through fear – good coaches do not,” John Wooden, legendary UCLA men’s basketball coach.

Even though they are becoming less common, there are still coaches out there who don’t follow Wooden’s credo. They’re the coaches who might grab a player by the shirt and then yell nose-to-nose. Coaches who rule by intimidation will often have their players turning quickly during a game as they are either distracted by the coach’s yelling of instructions or checking the coach’s reaction to a play.

Most schools don’t tolerate such behavior from their coaches and don’t buy into the myth that such behavior produces winning teams. For those dinosaurs out there who may still believe the myth, take the time to check out John Wooden’s record.

. “In the end, it’s extra effort that separates a winner from second place. But winning takes a lot more than that, too. It starts with complete command of the fundamentals. Then it takes desire, determination, discipline and self-sacrifice. And finally, it takes a great deal of love, fairness and respect for your fellow man. Put all these together, and even if you don’t win, how can you lose?” Jesse Owens, winner of four Olympic gold medals in track and field at the 1936 Berlin Games.

Following that philosophy, Owens showed the world that he was a true winner and that Germany’s Adolph Hitler was the ultimate loser. Owens set high standards for himself and he did something that’s difficult for all of us – he practiced what he preached.

. “The most important decision I ever made in my career was to live my life in sports as honestly and ethically as possible. Never having compromised my values allows me to look back on my life with no regrets and feel satisfaction in what I was able to accomplish,” Greg LeMond, three-time Tour de France cycling champion.

LeMond, who won his last two Tours after coming back from a hunting accident, hits on a common theme in sports and the old cliche of “the ends justifies the means.” How does a young athlete get to a victory? Through fair, competitive play or by bending the rules and poor sportsmanship? It’s an answer the athletes will have to live with each morning when they look in the mirror.

. “There are times when you’re tired and times when you don’t believe in yourself. That’s when you have to stick it out and draw on the confidence that you have deep down beneath all the doubts and worries,” Jim Abbott, former Major League Baseball pitcher.

Abbott possessed lots of confidence and it ultimately helped him to be successful as a one-armed pitcher. Confidence can be a pivotal component for high school and middle school athletes. Anyone who has followed youth sports over the years has seen more examples of a confident, average-skilled athlete finding more enjoyment and success in sports than a tentative, talented one.

. “The time when there is no one there to feel sorry for you, or to cheer for you, is when a player is made,” Tim Duncan, two-time NBA champ.

At the end of the game, sometimes you’ll see players that fit Duncan’s description. They’re the ones holding their heads up regardless of the game’s outcome.

. “One man practicing good sportsmanship is far better than 50 others preaching it,” Knute K. Rockne, legendary college football coach.

Thanks, Knute. I know when to take a hint.