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By default, I mean that playing a game inadvertently instills various aspects of personality development and character building. While parents, grandparents, teachers, and other influential figures often attempt to impart moral values and character traits through storytelling and role modeling, the true shaping of an individual’s character arises from their experiences, choices, and personal reflection. Encouraging your ward to play a game of their choice can be a means to achieve this.
To reinforce my belief that sports inherently contribute to character building, I would like to emphasize that the numerous quotes about resilience and perseverance in life can be effortlessly ingrained in a child’s mind through participation in sports, rather than merely teaching them in a classroom setting during moral studies.
Sportsmanship, a commonly heard and used term, extends far beyond athletic prowess. It encompasses qualities such as fairness, respect, integrity, and camaraderie. Through interactions with teammates, competition against opposing teams, guidance from referees who enforce rules and maintain discipline, and instruction from coaches who train and mentor, sports inherently instill these values.
Being a sport starts with displaying good sportsmanship. It means treating opponents, teammates, officials, and coaches with respect, regardless of the outcome of a game or competition. It is about recognizing and appreciating the efforts and skills of others, even in the face of defeat. A true sport doesn’t belittle or demean opponents but instead acknowledges their abilities and congratulates them on their successes.
Sports instils the important lesson of gracefully accepting both victory and defeat, as well as acknowledging the
accomplishments of opponents. This principle aligns with teachings found in self-development books and spiritual literature. These resources often emphasize the idea of embracing life’s ups and downs, not being overwhelmed by success, and refraining from succumbing to sadness in the face of failure. The parallel between sports and these teachings underscores the broader understanding that life is a journey of learning and growth, where maintaining equanimity in both triumph and adversity is crucial.
The blame game is a common phenomenon in life, where individuals tend to attribute their failures to others without taking personal responsibility or engaging in introspection. However, in contrast, sportspersons possess a unique ability to reflect upon their performances. They engage in introspection, discuss with their teammates, appreciate the capabilities of their opponents, and ultimately hold themselves accountable for any shortcomings, whether in team games or individual sports.
A research study revealed that when elite and novice sportspersons were asked about the reasons for not winning, the concept of winning being within their control (WTC) outweighed external factors outside their control (OTC). This demonstrates
the mindset of sportspersons who, when interviewed after a loss, often respond with statements such as, “It wasn’t my day,” “I didn’t feel in sync,” or “I couldn’t give my best.” These responses consistently reflect the individual taking full responsibility and refraining from blaming others or external circumstances.
This is the profound impact that sports can have on an individual. The mindset of owning one’s actions and outcomes contributes to the development of resilience, determination, and a growth-oriented mentality, both on and off the field of play.
The concepts of teamwork, discipline, perseverance, resilience, fair play, integrity, and ethical behaviour are best understood through active participation in sports. Engaging in sports provides practical experiences that teach these values firsthand. Moreover, the lessons learned from being a sport extend far beyond the boundaries of the playing field.
Therefore, let us all strive to embody the qualities of a sport, not only during sports activities but also in our everyday lives. By doing so, we contribute to a world where sports are not solely focused on winning or losing, but rather on the development of character, the fostering of positive relationships, and the creation of lasting memories.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.