INVOLVING PARENTS IN TEACHING SPORTSMANSHIP AND CITIZENSHIP

From the October 2001 IHSAA Bulletin

When teaching sportsmanship and citizenship to student-athletes, it is very important to involve parents. Involving parents will not only improve the behavior of the student-athletes, but of the parents as well. A school's athletic department has a unique opportunity to involve parents in teaching sportsmanship and citizenship. This opportunity exists because of the relationship coaches have with student-athletes and their parents. Parents are the primary role models for their children, and often share an interest in the sport their child participates in, so it is extremely important that they role model good sportsmanship and citizenship. Yet, they may not know what the school's expectations are in these areas.

Involving parents means helping parents understand the athletic department's philosophy regarding sportsmanship and citizenship. Messages regarding this philosophy can be printed in sports programs or on posters, made over the PA system, and discussed at preseason meetings, booster club meetings and award ceremonies at the end of a season.

A formal opportunity to involve parents in promoting sportsmanship and citizenship may be asking them to help host visiting teams. This provides visibility for those who are helping others. It also reinforces that visiting teams are guests at the school and should be treated as such. Another opportunity it is to give recognition to parents who are demonstrating good sportsmanship and citizenship during contests. This rewards parents who role model desired behaviors and provides an incentive for others to role model similar behaviors.

What coaches and parents believe to be important, are also important to students. If the beliefs about sportsmanship and citizenship are similar between coaches and parents, it sends a very strong message to students about their own behavior. In order for these beliefs to be similar, the athletics department must educate both coaches and parents about those beliefs. While this is probably best done separately due to working with two separate groups, the message must be the same.

The Athletic Association encourages schools to involve coaches and parents in teaching sportsmanship and citizenship.