NEW! Outstanding Sportsmanship Awards

Outstanding Sportsmanship Awards – Rec Sports 

We are excited to recognize Kenston student-athletes who exhibit outstanding sportsmanship in Kenston Community Education’s Recreational Sports programs. Sportsmanship Awards will honor players who treat their teammates, coaches, officials, and parents respectfully and behave with integrity and self-control. This program will begin with the 2024 Rec Basketball Season.

See All Outstanding
Sportmanship Award Recipients

How do Outstanding Sportsmanship Awards work?

Kenston coaches will identify at most one (1) opposing player per game, only if deserving, to be recognized for their outstanding sportsmanship. (This award does not have to be given for every game or to every athlete.) This is only awarded once per athlete per season.

  • Coaches will identify the Outstanding Sportsman and let the Scorers Table know.  
  • A game referee will present the award to the athlete(s).
  • The scores will take a horizontal photo of the athlete(s) of the game and email it to [email protected]. The scorers will record the name of the Outstanding Sportsman at the bottom of the game score sheet.

 Sportsmanship is exhibited by:

  • Have a positive attitude and give their best effort.
  • Follow the rules of the game. Accept calls and don’t argue with officials.
  • Support their teammates. Don’t criticize others if they make a mistake. 
  • Treat the other team with respect, and don’t tease or bully. Shake hands after the game. Help players up if they fall — even if they’re not on your team.
  • Take pride in giving their best at each practice and game. They accept the loss without getting upset or blaming others if they lose.
  • Learn from mistakes and get back in the game.

Deserving Outstanding Sportsman will be recognized:

  • At the end of the game, the referees will present the Outstanding Sportsmanship award in front of the Scorer’s Table.
  • A Scorer will take a photo.
  • Via Kenston Community Education Social Media post (Instagram, Facebook and Twitter)

We appreciate your help in recognizing athletes who exhibit Outstanding Sportsmanship. From you, they learn and practice actions and behaviors that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

More Information & Directions for…

Coaches
Scorers
Referees

Tips for Teaching Good Sportsmanship

Good sportsmanship includes following specific guidelines for good behavior. 

  • Avoid arguing. Stay focused on the game instead of giving in to anger with teammates, coaches, or referees. Always avoid using foul language and negative words.
  • Everyone should have a chance to play. In youth sports, it’s important to encourage even those players who are the least skilled to have fun playing in the game. Parents, coaches, and even other players have an important role in allowing less talented teammates time to participate.
  • Play fair. Good sportsmen want to win because they followed the rules and played the best game they could. Never support any effort to win that attempts to go around the rules. Cheating is not acceptable.
  • Follow directions. Emphasize the importance of listening to coaches and referees and following their directions while on the field and involved in team activities.
  • Respect the other team. Whether your team wins or loses, it’s important to show respect for the effort of the other team. If the other team wins, accept defeat, acknowledge their abilities, and move on. If your team wins, resist bragging—that’s what it means to be a gracious winner.
  • Encourage teammates. Team sports work best when each individual supports the team. Praise teammates for what they do well and encourage them when they make mistakes. Avoid criticism and unkind actions. Parents should model this behavior for children by praising them for specific things they have done well, even if they made a mistake or may not have played as well as hoped.
  • Respect the decisions of referees and other officials. These people are charged with making difficult decisions about plays in the game. Good sportsmanship requires that you accept a call, even if you disagree with it. Remember that it’s only one call in a long game—get back into play and focus on the game.
  • End with a handshake. Good sportsmen enjoy sports and know how to end a game on a positive note, whether or not they won. Threats, anger, criticism, and other negative expressions are not acceptable.