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Winning High School Essay

Hannah Knowles
Rocky Hill School
East Greenwich, RI

Do I "Dare to Play Fair?"

I once had a coach tell me, "Do whatever it takes to win; it's not cheating unless you're caught." After hearing his instruction, I asked myself, "Do I dare to play fair?" In a situation such as this, an athlete must decide to either play within the rules of the game or do whatever it takes to win. A true athlete would never question the integrity of fair play.

To me, an athlete's character is the basis of sportsmanship. Everything one says and does conveys one's values and character. How one acts, says more about character than one's athletic ability. In athletics, honesty and integrity should be second nature to an athlete and should never take "the backseat." Sportsmanship is not just the common courtesy of shaking an opponent's hand after a game; it is the act of conducting one's self within the rules of fair play, having respect for others, and being gracious in winning and in losing.

As a high school athlete, I have seen good sportsmanship and bad sportsmanship among my teammates, opponents, and coaches. Good sportsmanship is expected. Bad sportsmanship should not be tolerated because it is never acceptable to act unethically to win. Fortunately, I have participated on numerous teams in which good sportsmanship has been more important than winning. I have learned that it does not take one person to promote sportsmanship, but it takes a whole community. By being a student-athlete at a school that has been recognized as an All-American Sportsmanship School, this honor has helped me put my sportsmanship above my athleticism. I have learned that sportsmanship and respect on and off the playing field are the true keys to success.

Cheating is unethical and should not be the way to win. To do whatever it takes to win shows no honor to anyone. This poor conduct takes away from the true meaning of sport.

I ask you, "Do you dare to play fair?"