Kansas Wrestling Forums General Discussion Kids Folkstyle Sportsmanship

I just want to thank Ryan Hartley coach at Haysville. Our sons have wrestled each other the last 2 years and his son has won every time until yesterday in Mulvane. My son finally beat his son. He told my son good job and smiled at him. He even made a post telling him good job and thought it was good to see my son finally smile after a match with his son. I would like for some of you other coaches and parents take notice of this. Its ok for your kid to lose and for you to tell the other kid and coach good job. Thats very important to these kids to hear it from other coaches and parents and not just their own. Im not saying any names or trying to get anybody all ticked off. I just want those of you that have been out of line in the past to look at this post and take notice. This is what you could be doing and that is the right thing to do.

We were at Liberty this weekend and for 95% of all matches we participated or watched I was more impressed than I have ever been. After a large majority of matches not only did the kids shake hands but the coaches also shook each others hands. This is what this sport should be about. Winning isn't everything if your child gives 100%, and let me tell you All of the kids I watch at every tournament do just that. I feel that even if you lose, coaches should shake hands we are all doing our best to teach these kids the sport, we are not enemies just a bunch of guys doing what we love.

I have lived in a world filled with acronyms the last seven months. I decided to come up with an acronym for Sportsmanship that I felt would serve our wrestling community well.

S - Spirited
P - Proud
O - Objective
R - Respectful
T - Temporate
S - Sincere
M - Mature
A - Admirable
N - Neighborly
S - Sensitive
H - Honesty
I - Integrity
P - Principled

Practice sportmanship like your kids practice their moves. Both will pay huge dividends in the long run.

I completely agree with you. Having a daughter that wrestles we have had to deal with bad sportsmanship on a regular basis and have probably been guilty of it ourselves.

Liberty was a good tournament and agree with Spex.
Congrats to all the Kansas wrestlers for "REPRESENTING"