The Golden Rule in Sports
Encouraging sportsmanship, respect and honor.
Sportsmanship is not outdated.
What is the end goal for your child’s sports experience? Is it to win the T-ball championship? Is it to earn a college athletic scholarship? Is it to create a “win at any cost” mentality? Or, is it to develop respectful, Christ-honoring kids who become Kingdom-minded adults? If your answer is the latter, then you can begin by setting a standard of sportsmanship, respect and honor with your child.
Do not be enticed to think that competing to win and competing honorably are mutually exclusive concepts. I played 25 years of organized sports beginning at age 5, and I tried my best to win every game. But I also did what I could to honor and respect my opponents (and game officials) and exercise good sportsmanship by recognizing poor sportsmanship: taunting, bragging, cheap shots, trash talking, booing, yelling/cursing the official and demonizing opponents. I realize in today’s sports culture, the aforementioned actions are celebrated, but most parents do not want to encourage these boorish behaviors in their children. Right? Do you want your children to become culture followers or Christ followers? The Golden Rule still applies, even in sports competition.
Sports are a laboratory for learning how to respect and honor opponents and refs. Yes, your child can exhibit good sportsmanship and still compete hard for the win. You can help produce good sportsmanship by modeling it in the stands. You can build up your child during competition without tearing down someone else’s child. Come on, Mom and Dad: Embrace good sportsmanship by respecting and honoring all those participating in the game. By instilling this character trait in your child, you will make a deposit that pays huge dividends throughout the rest of their life, long after they cease playing competitive sports.
Before reading how the Bible addresses honor and respect of others, take a moment to ask God to help you understand and apply the verses provided.
Bible Study
What do these verses say about how God looks at a “me first” mentality? How might this lesson help you parent your child?
Can you think of a high-profile athlete or coach who has exhibited humility while excelling as a competitor? Describe what you observed in this person.
Romans 12:10 and 1 Peter 2:17 teach about honoring one another. In the sports context, describe what it means to honor an opponent or ref.
What is your big idea or take-away from the Bible verses provided in this chapter on sportsmanship?
Practice Session
Make a list of a few practical things you can do to honor another during your child’s next game (e.g. offer a kind word to the parent of the opposing team, welcome opposing team parents to your home gym or field, etc.).
Have a discussion with your child about sportsmanship. Get a sheet of paper and draw two columns at top. Title one with “good sportsmanship” and the other with “poor sportsmanship.” Ask your child to write in behavior examples of each.
Share one or more of the Bible verses provided in this lesson with your child. Ask them what they believe the verse is teaching. Ask them how they might be impacted or influenced by the verse(s) in their next game.