Northwestern University Athletics
8th Grade Winners
1/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
Jan. 17, 2007
First Place
Cori Coleman, Burr Ridge Middle School
My family has participated in sports for a very long time. Both my older brothers and my parents are great athletes. Each of them demonstrates high moral for appropriate behavior in sports. I have been taught by them that, that no matter what the outcome of the game, you still must show respect for the other team. Showing respect for the other team is the true meaning of sportsmanship.
One way to show sportsmanship is to wish the opposing team good luck. Not only will it make you feel exceptional, but the spirits of the other team also will be raised. If you wish someone else good luck, it will make you play better, because you have done something nice. If anyone sees you do this, you may also rise to a new level in their eyes.
You can also clap for someone that has gotten injured. It will make her feel better about herself. Also, it will make her realize that the other team supports her. It might even make her forget her pain.
One time that I showed real sportsmanship was during a softball game with Downers Grove Mud-dogs. It was an extremely competitive game. My team was up by one in the last inning. The Mud-dogs were up to bat. The Mud-dogs' best hitter approached the plate with a runner on second and another on third. The Mud-dogs' played hit a double and scored two runs. They won the championship. Even though it was a close game, I stilled cheered for them when hey were awarded their first place medals. Everyone else on my team was being a sore loser. I felt awesome that I had cheered.
I think that sportsmanship is the most important part of sports. If no one had it, the games that everyone loves would not be as fun.
Second Place
Krista McCurrie, Palos South Middle School
I think sportsmanship on a basketball team is really important. If everyone on the team had poor sportsmanship, the team would be always complaining, hard to work with and would eventually begin to fall apart. Sportsmanship will work with people as a group, and as you continue to use good sportsmanship, it will teach you to be a better and respectful person.
First, sportsmanship will teach you responsibility for your actions when you get older. As you get older, life will get harder and when people are always in a bad mood and always negative, doesn't make life any easier. I'm sure if you were to cheer someone on for doing a good job, or getting even one point in a basketball game, it will make them feel special. I know when I chant my teammates' names, they always go that extra step because they know that there's someone that really proud of them. Also, when you begin to use good sportsmanship all the time, you feel good because you know that you're making other people feel good. I also know that always giving compliments will make you a better person.
Second, sportsmanship will teach you to work as a group. Encouraging people and working as a group will help you a lot when you get older and in every sport you play. For the rest of your life, you will be working with people and it's good to start when you're young. In sports you will definitely work in a group and encouragement will male everything better even when you're losing. I know when I'm going up for a lay-up or just getting a rebound it makes me feel really good when I have teammates cheering for me. It also makes me want to try even harder.
Third, as you continue with positive sportsmanship, it will teach you to be a better person. Sometimes it's good to tell someone they're doing something wrong, but make sure it's just to make them better. I know if I use my wrong on a lay-up, I like when my teammates or coach lets me know, so I can work on it in the meantime. I also know for a fact that when you cheer someone on for doing a good job, they will cheer for you when you're trying your best to do a good job/win. Sometimes coaches pick their teams by good sportsmanship and a leader. I think that is really important for a team.
In conclusion, good sportsmanship on any kind of team is really important. Thus year on the basketball team, everyone has been great and I probably would never pick a team with the most positive like this one. I also think getting involved with some kind of activity is important. You can meet a lot of friends and it can change your whole life around.
