The Six Pillars of Character give us an easy guide to follow to be a good sportsman. Photo from Josephson Institute.
Sportsmanship is defined as “conduct becoming to an individual involving fair and honest competition, courteous relations, and graceful acceptance of results.” Focusing on what you can learn makes you a better competitor and helps you improve your animal projects. Your behavior in the show ring reflects your behavior in life. Sportsmanship is a reflection of your character and impacts your reputation. Good sportsmanship is one of the most important things you can gain from showing animals in 4-H.
- Be gracious, win or lose. Do not brag about winning or complain about losing.
- Congratulate peers who succeed!
- Focus on what you can learn from the experience, not on ribbons or trophies.
- Respect yourself, your competitors, the judges and officials, and the rules.
- Accept responsibility for your loss or shortcomings. Use this information to improve yourself and your project.
- Although it is important to always do your best, the real goal is not to win, but to learn!
- If you ignore the feedback you gain from showing, you’re not doing your best to improve.
- Smile – showing your 4-H animals is fun!
Ways to encourage good sportsmanship –
- Lead by example!
- Thank or recognize good sportsmanship. Some counties give awards for exceptional sportsmanship.
- If someone is having a tough time, talk to them and help them come up with a plan to reach their goals. This will help shift a negative attitude to a positive one!
The Josephson Institute’s Character Counts! initiative has been a part of the 4-H Youth Development Program for years. The Six Pillars of Character:
- Trustworthiness
- Respect
- Responsibility
- Fairness
- Caring
- Citizenship
are important goals for all 4-H youth, volunteers and parents to strive for. If we can all follow the pillars, good sportsmanship will follow.
Sportsmanship and ring etiquette are essential for a successful, fun, and educational show ring experience! Your behavior is a reflection of your character, so you should always do your best to have a positive experience! Up next month, a closer look at etiquette.
By Mary McLaughlin, Somerset County 4-H Volunteer, Rutgers Cooperative Extension