Sportsmanship is important for all athletes

In high school I played softball. I played from the time I was 5 years old until I was 20 years old. It was my love and passion for 15 years. I still consider myself to be a softball player because there will always be laces on my heart.

In my years of playing ball, I’ve heard some calls that didn’t go my way, and some calls that probably shouldn’t have gone my way. I was also granted some playing time I maybe didn’t deserve, and I didn’t always get the playing time I thought I deserved, but I think almost all players can relate to these situations.

One thing I was sure of in all my years of playing is that I would never let anyone say, “She disrespected the game.”

Sports are some of the greatest gifts God gave to man. We learn, grow, and have fun through these games we play.

I learned as I grew in my sport that I wouldn’t get the opportunity to play softball professionally. But I still wanted sports to be in my life. So I got used to watching sports and taking pictures of different sports through watching my little brother compete in basketball, football, baseball, track, and wrestling.

Jarred is now 16 years old and last weekend I watched him earn his way to the state wrestling tournament for the first time. It was an extremely emotional day and I was filled with immense pride when I watched him. Jarred lost his semifinals match forcing him to wrestle-back to earn his spot. When he lost, he kept his cool and remained collected. No yelling, making excuses, stomping his feet or throwing a fit of any kind. When he won his way to the tournament, he didn’t excessively celebrate in his opponent’s face and he remained respectful through the whole day.

At the same tournament I watch a teammate of Jarred’s lose in the heartbreak round, ending his season and his chance at state. This kid lost because of the referee (and you’ll rarely hear me say that, I don’t like blaming the refs, but in this case it’s accurate). He could have thrown a fit, caused a scene, and yelled and kicked things, but he held his head high, shook his opponent’s hand and the other coaches’ hands, he walked off the mat and went to the locker room. He acted like a professional and I respect him for his actions.

I’ve watched many college athletes and professional athletes throw fits and whine and complain after losing, after making a bad play, or after being taken out of a game. I’ve seen those who are supposed to be looked up to throw bats, gloves, balls, chairs, etc. during games.

When I was in high school there were four sweet kids who would come and watch my softball games every once in a while. After coming to my games, I noticed they each changed their batting stance to mimic mine. I was only a high schooler, but there were kids younger than me looking up to me and the way I carried myself during the game.

Now college athletes and professional athletes can be watched on TV and online and there are young kids closely examining the way they carry themselves and the way they act during games. This is how the trend is set; the kids watch the athletes older than them and start mimicking the “cool” guys on the team.

I ask all those who play college sports to think about those kids when they step out onto the field, court, or track. You are blessed with the opportunity to play collegiate sports, but it comes with the responsibility to respect the game and those watching you. Be the example. Act like those 16-year-old boys I watched last weekend, and act like a professional.