Introduction

The crack of the bat, the swoosh of the basketball leaving the net, and the screams and shouts of proud parents are the sounds of one of America's biggest and fastest growing industries, youth sports. More than 20 million American children compete in organized youth sports such as baseball, softball, bastketball, football and soccer. All across the nation, each and every day, our youth steps onto the field or court in hopes of victory.

The highly stressful, competitive, 'win at all costs' attitude affects the world of children's sports, creating an unhealthy environment. It is important to remember that the attitudes and behavior taught to children in sports carry over to adult life. With the help of this webquest, we will see the importance of a child's youth sports experience and how to teach all young kids the value of sportsmanship.

The Quest

How do I teach my child to perform good sportsmanship?

The Process and Resources

In this WebQuest you will be working together with a group of students in class. Each group will answer the Task or Quest(ion). As a member of the group you will explore Webpages from people all over the world who care about CHILDREN IN SPORTS. Because these are real Webpages we're tapping into, not things made just for schools, the reading level might challenge you. Feel free to use the online Webster dictionary or one in your classroom.

You'll begin with everyone in your group getting some background before dividing into roles where people on your team become experts on one part of the topic.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Use the Internet information linked below to answer the basic questions of who? what? where? when? why? and how? Be creative in exploring the information so that you answer these questions as fully and insightfully as you can.

• Promoting Sportsmanship - This website list essential tips for promoting sportsmanship. The winning ideas listed will help parents and coaches establish valuable habits for young kids.
• Sportsmanship from A to Z - This website provides a dictionary of ways to promote good sportsmanship only for the child, but parents and coaches too.
• Good Sportsmanship - This website explains what good sportsmanship includes, the importance of being a good sport, and how to teach all children to remain a team player.

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Individuals or pairs from your larger WebQuest team will explore one of the roles below.

2. Read through the files linked to your group. If you print out the files, underline the passages that you feel are the most important. If you look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into a word processor or other writing software.

3. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to to prove your point.

4. Be prepared to focus what you've learned into one main opinion that answers the Big Quest(ion) or Task based on what you have learned from the links for your role.

CHILD

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to CHILD:

Questions from the link 'Teaching Kids to be Good Sports'

1. Select one important habit from the checklist and list three ways to promote that habit in a positive way.

2. Explain why it is important to follow the habits listed on this site.

3. What are two other tips that could be helpful in promoting good sportsmanship? Why?

Questions from the link 'Sportsmanship'

1. How would you define good sportsmanship?

2. Explain the positive effects of being a good sport.

3. Why is it important to avoid the 'win at any cost' attitude?

• TEACHING KIDS TO BE 'GOOD SPORTS' - It is important that we commit ourselves to guiding our youth, reminding them what sportsmanship is all about, rewarding them for showing good sportsmanship and showing, by our example, that sportsmanship is still alive and valued in youth sports today. With the help of the checklist and tips provided on this website, kids can develop good habits of sportsmanship.
• Sportsmanship - This website explains an incident which a young girl's team just lost the county championship, but she remained in good spirits. It defines what good sportmanship is and the importance of it.

PARENT

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to PARENT:

Questions from the link 'Parents & Sportsmanship'

1.Why do you think parents act inappropriate at youth league games? How can parents avoid acting this way?

2. Why is it important that parents practice good sportsmanship?

3. For each example explain how each parent could improve their attitude.

Questions from the link 'Save Good Sportsmanship from Extinction'

1. Explain three different ways parents can promote good sportsmanship.

2. List three standards parents should set for his/her child and three consequences for each standard if it is not followed.

3. Rank the tips on the checklist for parents and kids in order of importance. (One being the most important) Explain why you chose your number one choice.

Questions from the link 'How to Foster Good Sportsmanship'

1. List three negatives that can occur in youth sports and turn them into positives.

2. How can parents set good examples for kids? Why is it important?

3. Why is learning respect an important part of good sportsmanship?

4. What tip do you believe is the most effective? Why?

• Parents & Sportsmanship - Youth sports are supposedly an avenue to teach values to kids: teamwork, hard work and practice, handling and learning from mistakes, developing confidence and winning and losing gracefully. In order to teach children the values they will receive from sports, parents must remain a significant role in their sporting experience. With the help of the checklist and personal experiences on this website, parents will understand how to teach good sportsmanship skills.
• Save Good Sportsmanship from Extinction - Experts agree that kids should be taught good sportsmanship as soon as they begin playing in a sports program. This website lists the many ways parents can help their child promote good sportsmanship.
• How to Foster Good Sportsmanship - This website is designed for parents to list tips on fostering good sportsmanship. These tips will help parents effectively promote good sportsmanship skills.

COACHES

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to COACHES:

Questions from the link 'A Behavior Checklist for Youth Sports Coaches'

1. Describe three ways a coach can serve as a positive role model to young children.

2. Explain why coaches should always present a positive attitude.

3. Choose one tip from the checklist and explain the importance of it.

Questions from the link 'Coaches Keep the Flame of Sportsmanship Burning'

1. Why do you believe sportsmanship is sacred?

2. What should a coach do when children on their team begin acting inappropriate?

3. List three expectations in terms of good sportsmanship that a coach may have for their team. Why is each important?

Questions from the link 'Teaching Good Sportsmanship'

1. Do you think creating a contract for a youth team would work affectively? Why or why not?

2. What should coaches expect from their team? Why?

3. List and explain what characteristics a coach should posses inorder to shape character in their team.

• A Behavior Checklist for Youth Sports Coaches - The task of the positive coach is to teach youngsters to be in control of their emotions throughout the competitive contest and afterward in their interactions with opponents and officials. The checklist provided on this website, will help coaches remain a good role model for kids.
• Coaches Keep the Flame of Sportsmanship Burning - As the leader of the TEAM FAMILY, the coach is responsible to train each member in this basic fundamental of sportsmanship: respect others, and in so doing you will earn respect for yourself. With the help of this website, coaches will understand how to keep their team from blowing out the flame of sportsmanship.
• Teaching Good Sportsmanship - A coach must model good sportsmanship at every level and make it a core goal of his work with kids. This website lists tips for coaches on how to promote good sportsmanship to the players on their team. It recommends giving each player a contract on good sportsmanship and explains to coaches the importance of setting a good example.

SOCIETY

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to SOCIETY:

Questions from the link 'Emphasizing Sportsmanship in Youth Sports'

1. Explain the five dimensions of sportsmanship in detail.

2. List three moral concepts that can teach kids sportsmanship. Why is each important?

3. Describe the ideal climate that fosters good sportsmanship.

Questions from the link 'Why Should Anybody Care?'

1. How does the media lack in promoting good sportsmanship? What should they do to improve this?

2. How can the media effect young children's perspective of good sportsmanship?

3. What can society do to strengthen the lack of respect that is often presented?

4. Why is it important that society remains concerned with teaching good sportsmanship?

• Emphasizing Sportsmanship in Youth Sports - Coaches, teachers, and parents serve as role models for sportsmanlike behaviors in children. This story from the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports examines the latest research on the topic of developing sportsmanship. With the help of this website, everyone can help stop incidents that show poor sportsmanship.
• Why Should Anybody Care? - This website list many unsportsmanlike behavior from society and the troubles facing youth sports. With the help of this website, society will understand their importance in setting an explain for young kids.

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

You have all learned about a different part of CHILDREN IN SPORTS. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. You must all now answer the Task / Quest(ion) as a group. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will agree and others disagree. Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc. from the Webpages you explored to convince your teammates that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's answer to the Task / Quest(ion). Your WebQuest team should write out an answer that everyone on the team can live with.

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

You and your teammates have learned a lot by dividing up into different roles. Now's the time to put your learning into a letter you'll send out for real world feedback. Together you will write a letter that contains opinions, information, and perspectives that you've gained. Here's the process:

1. Begin your letter with a statement of who you are and why you are writing your message to this particular person or organization.

2. Give background information that shows you understand the topic.

STATE THE TASK / QUEST(ION) AND YOUR GROUP'S ANSWER.

3. Each person in your group should write a paragraph that gives two good reasons supporting the group's opinion. Make sure to be specific in both the information (like where you got it from on the Web) and the reasoning (why the information proves your group's point).

4. Have each person on the team proofread the message. Use correct letter format and make sure you have correctly addressed the email message. Use the link below to make contact. Send your message and make sure your teacher gets a copy.

When you have finished choose from one of the following:

A. WRITE A PARAGRAPH

Have each student write a paragraph on the importance of good sportsmanship. It should include how good sportsmanship effects the individual, the teammates, and the coaches.

B. CREATE A CONTRACT

In small groups have students create a contract listing rules that each player of a team must abide by. Each rule must encourage positivity toward themselves, their teammates, and their coaches.

C. CREATE A CHECKLIST

Have each student create a checklist for young athletes. The checklist should empathize good manners for all sports. At the end, have students share their checklist to the class and decided what are the most important habits.

Your Contact is: Mrs. Cynthia Moser

Conclusion

Learning good sportsmanship is a team effort. It takes effort from the young athlete, the parent, the coach, and society. In a world where sportsmanship is involving into a thing of the past, we must all work together to keep it going. By exploring my webquest, we have learned numerous ways to promote good sportsmanship. Wouldn't it be wonderful to see all athletes, young and old, to win as if they were used to it and lose as if they enjoyed it for a change? With this webquest, we can make it happen.