Evening star., 1943-05-30

AAASaAAAAAoitoo ~ Nou dlOll y. lltle >
!: :nothlng more annoying than to face
an opponent who apparently doesn't t
care about the outcome of the con-
test, and doesn't try.
/ But, according to the sportsman S
code, you must strive hard for vic
tory, yet act as though it doesn't
matter when you are defeated. You
must put out" to your utmost in an
effort to triumph. but when you have
acnleVed your ann, you mustn't act
/ triumphant
| Sportsmanship Must Be Learned.
Naturally, this is hard to do. It's
no wonder that oul feelings some
times get the better of us, and we
exhibit some of the faults that char
acterlze poor sportsmanship.
i But you can't do that for long and
retain the respect of your fellow
1 players. Therefore. all of us must
StrlVe 10 overcome our natural tend
encles to be elated when we win
and dlsgruntled when we lose, and
display to the world calm exterior
even though were triumphant or dis
heartened inside.
Good manners in sports also de-
mand absolute fairness to an on
pohent. In doubtful cases, you must
give MN the breaks. You want to
WIN, but only if you can do SO with
out taking advantage of your ad-
Versary In any way.
II you're good, you mustn't be
patronlzlng toward those who are
less capable. This is particularly i'm
poftant for boys who are playinp
against girls. On the other hand
1alse modesty is insincere and mis-.
leading. When you win. give Won,
opponent full credit for a good try
When you lose, don't alibi or COM
plain: Naturally, you'll be dis
appointed, but if you must show
your disappointment, take it out or
yourself. It's all right to bawl vour-
self out for your own mistakes b,,t
don't blame the umpire or the
weather or bad luck.
Observe the Rules.
Sportsmanship also demands 8
willing observance of all rules of the
game, including the unwritten rules
that form the etiquette of that par.
ticular sport. In bowling, you donr
carelessly distract an opponents at.
tentlon when he is about to let the
ball go. In tennis, you don't return
loose balls SO wildly that your op.
ponent tires himself out CHASING
them.
Over and above the principles O.
fair play, the etiquette of sports il
little different from good manner
on any other occasion You show {
decent respect for the rights O
others, and cheerful consideration
for their convenience and comfort
On a bathing beach, you don't kicl
sand in the face of an innocent by
stander or playfully push Tessi
Tlmid's head under the water. Yo,
don't hog the diving board or tn,
beach ball. You aren't loud or bois
ferrous, and you don't annoy othe
swimmers with roughhouse antics.
You observe the safety rules of tn,
pool or beach, realizing that the,
were made for your protection. If /;
lifeguard cautions you, you compl,
cheerfully with his instructions, will
no back talk and no wisecracks.
On any sports occasion, a bo,
looks out for a girls comfort ant
welfare, but doesn't baby her unles
she obviously wishes to be babied
Thus, on a hike. he might carry he
pack for her, and he'd help her owe
the rough places, but he'd act a.
though he considered her perfectl,
capable of doing these things fo
herself if she preferred. He is cour
teous and considerate, but not supe
rior and condescending.