How to improve your team's sportsmanship

Sportsmanship isn't just about shaking hands after the game.

It's about helping young athletes enjoy the spirit of competition, deal with adversity, and handle authority figures properly. (Skills that are good for any kid to learn.)

More: How Young player Can Deal With Failure

Here are five tips to boost sportsmanship in young players-and help them prepare for life in the process.

Sportsmanship Tip No.1: Find a Role Model

Character is a word that gets used often, but its true meaning may be hard to explain to a young mind. It's ultimately a choice to hold oneself to a higher standard. By raising standards early, an athlete can both give and expect mutual respect during their course of competition.

Find a pro player the child idolizes, and is a good character athlete, and have them "visualize" themselves acting as that footballer would.

Sportsmanship Tip No.2: Give 110 Percent

One way to instill the idea of sportsmanship is to let the player know that they should do their personal best and to treat teammates and opponents in the same fashion they wish to be treated. This age-old idea will help them become an admirable and respected competitor, and help them off the field as well.

Sportsmanship Tip No.3: Forget the Numbers

It's important to the young player to understand that for as many victories as they hope to have, they must face losing if they're going to play their sport.

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