American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance - AAHPERD

Issue: September 2011

Why Sportsmanship Programs Fail, and What We Can Do About It
David Light Shields & Brenda Light Bredemeier 

Abstract: The concept of sportsmanship is meant to support the ethical foundations of competition. However, promotion of sportsmanship is often ineffective in curbing such ethical problems as egotism, cheating, and aggression. A radical approach to reclaiming the ethical foundations of competition requires that we rethink its fundamental meaning and purpose. The importance of doing so stems from a widespread cultural distortion of what the word competition denotes. Literally, the word competition means "to strive with." The reason we have contests is to enable a mutual striving for excellence. Too often, however, competition devolves into "decompetition" ("to strive against"), in which the goal shifts from excellence to conquering opponents. When the fundamental purpose of competition is lost, appeals to sportsmanship fall on deaf ears. This article provides specific suggestions for reclaiming competition for excellence, ethics, and enjoyment.

Article category: Philosophy of Sport