National Sportsmanship Day

Being a good sport is one of the most important parts that makes playing games and sports fun, safe and enjoyable! Sportsmanship is a characteristic that is present in those who have respect for the game as well as their fellow players,

Now, National Sportsmanship Day is here for athletes and sports people to enjoy and celebrate in a myriad of ways!

History of National Sportsmanship Day

While the idea of good sportsmanship has been around for centuries, perhaps since 1700s England, National Sportsmanship Day is a more recent occurrence. It seems the day was founded in 1990 by the folks at the Institute of International Sport at the University of Rhode Island. The inaugural observance of the day was celebrated at more than 3000 schools throughout the United States.

Since that time, for more than 30 years, National Sportsmanship Day has been celebrated each year to promote the idea of good sportsmanship, honoring and rewarding those who show this character trait. The day has made a positive impact on hundreds of thousands of young student athletes across the United States since that time and will continue to do so, far into the future!

How to Celebrate National Sportsmanship Day

Take some time to consider the best possible ways to pay heed to and enjoy National Sportsmanship Day. Get creative in celebrating or perhaps get started thinking about it with one of these ideas:

Reward Good Sportsmanship in Young Athletes

Those who are parents, teachers, coaches or others who work with young people in sports may celebrate the day by promoting sportsmanship-like behavior among their athlete participants. Acknowledging character traits like kindness, strong leadership, a positive attitude, treating others with respect and many others is a great way to promote and celebrate National Sportsmanship Day.

Host a National Sportsmanship Day Event

Coaches and parents of students who are involved in sports might want to organize a banquet or dinner in honor of their athletes. Whether hosted by the school or a community athlete committee, It’s a great time to have an awards ceremony where the kids with the best sportsmanship characteristics and qualities are given a certificate or award.

Check Out Examples of Sportsmanship

Whether doing a little online search engine research, reading a book or watching a movie, National Sportsmanship Day is a great time to get inspired by other people who have shown what it means to be a good sport. Get inspired by some of these movies that reveal the character of good sportsmanship in their storyline:

• Chariots of Fire (1981) starring Ben Cross and Ian Charleson. Based on a true story of Olympians participating in the 1924 games.
• The Mighty Ducks (1992) starring Emilio Estevez. This trilogy of films is about a group of young hockey players.
• A League of Their Own (1992) starring Geena Davis, Tom Hanks and Madonna. This film tells the story of a league of women baseball players.
• American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story (2021). Also based on a true story, this movie follows Warner as an undrafted player who goes on to win the Super Bowl.