(NAPSA)—There may be good news for people concerned about whatthey think is a lack of sportsmanship in America. A program created to reward and recognize sportsmanship on andoff the field has developed a set of practical steps that parents and others can take to encourage fair play in youngsters and adults alike. Tips To Help ABCs of sportsmanship. Teach sportsmanship as part of the fundamentals of the sport. Sportsmanship isn’t naturally learned and must be taught daily. * Go team. Parents should cheer for the team, not just their child, to teach the importance of being part of a group. Reward the positive. Give gameballs, provide privileges for the “best sport of the game” or give the opposing team an award. More than the handshake. Start new end-of-the-gamerituals that highlight sportsmanship. From creating a special song to a new ceremony, create an atmo- spherethat’s positive. Be a reporter. Call or email the media when witnessing great displays of sportsmanship to spread good news. Form a sports support group. Join forces with parents, coaches and communityleaders. Expert Advice Consider the advice of LaVell Edwards, the legendary former coach of the Brigham Young University Cougars football team and chair of the blue-ribbon panel that selects the winner of the national ARA Sportsmanship Award. The award is given annually to a college senior who excels at sportsmanship on andoff the football field. More Americans say they’ve seen displays of good sportsmanship at various gamesthan say they’ve seen bad sportsmanship. Said Edwards, “This is an issue we need to address at the gradeschool level and with coaches and parents everywhere.” The Good News A higher percentage of Americans (83 percent) report they have witnessed positive displays of sportsmanship than have seen bad sportsmanship(78 percent). That’s according to a national sportsmanship survey fielded by TNS for the Awards and Recognition Association (ARA), an international trade association whose membersare specialists in recognizing people through awards, trophies and other forms of appreciation. Learn More To learn more, visit www.ara sportsmanshipaward.com.
