A special feature of National Sportsmanship Day 2009 is Team Sportsmanship. Team Sportsmanship presents schools with an exciting opportunity to engage students, teachers, administrators and parents on issues of sportsmanship. The discussion leaders are student-athletes of high school and college age whom the Institute prepares to lead younger students in stimulating conversations about sportsmanship. The teams visit elementary, middle and high schools during the month of March. Team Sportsmanship is a wonderful way for students to meet community service requirements!

HOW TO ENROLL

Simply email Erica Wheeler, Coordinator of National Sportsmanship Day 2008 at ewheeler@internationalsport.com and tell her you want to be involved in Team Sportsmanship. Upon hearing from you, Erica will establish regular communication with you, as you prepare for the "Team Sportsmanship" experience. You may also call Erica at 401-874-7405.

WHAT'S INVOLVED

Once you are enrolled, you will be sent guidelines for Team Sportsmanship Discussions. A sample guideline is provided below. You are expected to meet with your team at least once before visiting your selected elementary, middle or high school in order to be thoroughly prepared.

SAMPLE GUIDELINE FOR TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP DISCUSSIONS

Ethics is an obedience to the unenforceable.
- Lord Moulton, 17th Century Ethicist

1) Introduction (10 minutes)
- Introduce the ideas of sportsmanship and gamesmanship - see full definitions below
- Introduce the idea of Right-vs-Right situations

2) Large Group Discussion - Sportsmanship vs. Gamesmanship (10 minutes)
- With the entire group, create a clear definition for both sportsmanship and gamesmanship.
i. Sportsmanship - Conduct becoming to one participating in a sport (such as fairness, respect for one's opponent, and graciousness in winning and losing).
ii. Gamesmanship - The art or practice of winning games by questionable means without actually breaking the game's rules, but violating their spirit; or the use of ethically dubious methods to gain an objective.

- Ask the group for examples of gamesmanship. Team Sportsmanship leaders should be prepared to provide examples of their own (careful pre-discussion preparation is essential here).
i. For example, holding an opponent's jersey in basketball, faking an injury to stop the clock in football, taking a "dive" to get a possession of the ball in lacrosse, etc.

- Ask the group for examples of good sportsmanship. Team Sportsmanship leaders should be prepared to provide examples of their own (again, careful pre-discussion preparation is imperative). For example, picking an opponent up off the ground after a hard foul in basketball, shaking hands with the opposing team after a well-played hockey game, deciding not to argue with a tennis official after an incorrect call, etc.

3) Small Group Exercise (20 minutes)
- Divide the large group into a series of smaller ones - the actual number of small groups will vary depending on the overall size of the audience. Each small group should consist of 4 - 6 members, and should be supervised by at least one Team Sportsmanship leader.

- Ask each group to devise and then perform a skit, story, poem, etc. that depicts a Right-vs-Right situation that they have encountered or observed. (Right vs Right conundrums can be found by clicking on "Discussion Topics" elementary, middle, high school or college on our website).

4) Large Group Discussion - Role Models (10 minutes)
- Ask the group to cite their athletic role models. Team Sportsmanship leaders should be prepared to provide examples of their own (once again, careful preparation is very important).

- Discuss the idea of selecting role models based on both athletic achievement and consistent demonstration of good character - hold your role models to high standards!
i. Good examples include Mike Krzyzewski, Joe Dumars, Herman Edwards, Cal Ripken, Jr., Mia Hamm, Grant Hill, Sue Bird, etc.

5) Wrap-Up/Conclusion (10 minutes)
- Discuss the idea that good sportsmanship should not be limited to the sports field - it should permeate all aspects of life!
i. For example, being a "good teammate" to a struggling student in math class, discouraging a bully from picking on another child, etc.

- Young student-athletes should aspire to act with revolving integrity - no matter which way you turn, no matter what situation you are presented with, you always demonstrate integrity, honesty, and good sportsmanship!

Thank you! By bringing up and discussing the important issue of sportsmanship with younger student-athletes, you have helped to insure that fair and honorable play remains the rule, and not the exception in the American sports culture. Keep up the good work!