Spirit of the games

High fives following game

It was fun to witness the spirt of sportsmanship at the US Ultimate National Youth Club Championships held this past weekend in Blaine, MN.  Not only did these high school athletes demonstrate a high level of athletic ability, they also were off the charts in being fun and encouraging with their competition.  There were countless high fives throughout games by teams for their opponents when they made great plays.  How often do you see this in sport?

Sometimes during time outs while the seven active players from each of the teams gathered on the field with their coaches others from the sidelines got together members from the other team and played group games, such as "ninja".

Teams huddle together following game

Player wearing special prizes

Following the games the traditional sports line of high fives with the opposing team players occurs.  After this I noticed that many Ultimate teams often joined in a large intertwined circle with the other teams and provided encouraging remarks, and sometimes even prizes! The girls teams even share a creative song praising their competition... this is not so common with the boys ;-)

Hats off to the Minnesota Mixed Ultimate Team for winning the "Spirit of the Game" tournament award.  Congratulations also to the Minnesota boys team for taking first place in their division.

Ultimate layout and "D"

Outstanding spirit of the game

Armstrong and South players locking arms

High fives after the game

I witnessed amazing sportsmanship at this weekend's Minnesota State Ultimate High School championships. Exemplifying this spirt was a particularly hard fought game between Minneapolis South and Robbinsdale Armstrong.  These teams had a game earlier in the week that ended in a tie, due to time constraints. Their game on Sunday proved to be just as competitive, with tremendous defensive play that never allowed either team to go up by more than one point over the other team.

Reaching for the disc

Despite the intense competition the spirt between teams continued to be positive, as players congratulated one another on good plays throughout the game. Afterwards there was the traditional lines of players with high fives. But instead of quickly taking off to prepare for their next games they all gathered around in a circle with arms locked and talked about the good plays the other team had made during the game. They also combined their team names in a celebratory cheer after their huddle.

The winning catch

After the game a photographer, coach and seasoned player said he was almost in tears after witnessing the high quality of play and spirit of the game.  Way to go ladies of Armstrong and South Ultimate teams!

Oh, by the way, Armstrong won the game by a single point, when an Armstrong player caught a disc that had been just been blocked on its way down to the turf.

Team spirt alive and well in Ultimate

Armstrong HS Ultimate (AU Gold) singing to
St. Cloud Cathedral's Ultimate team after a close game

I've enjoyed attending many Ultimate (frisbee) games this spring, watching our daughter play for the Armstrong High School girl's team.  In addition to being a fun game to watch from an athletic perspective, it is also inspiring to see the camaraderie among and between teams.

After each game the teams share a cheer/song for the opposing team.  At tournaments an award is given for  team exhibiting the best spirit of the game.  Sometimes fun games, such as "ninja" are played following a game when the teams combine all their members.  Individuals also may receive a spirit of the game award for outstanding sportsmanship.

Ten Things You Should Know About Spirit of the Game (SOTG)™ 

(from USA Ultimate's website)

1. The golden rule: treat others as you would want to be treated.

Spirited games result from mutual respect among opponents. Assume the best of your opponent. Give him or her the benefit of a doubt. You would want the same for yourself. But if you are thick-skinned, do not assume that your opponent is. Maybe you should think of this rule as, "treat others as you would have them treat your mother."

2. Control: SOTG takes real effort.

SOTG is not just some abstract principle that everyone adopts and then games run smoothly without effort. Close calls are made in tight games. Hard fouls are committed. SOTG is about how you handle yourself under pressure: how you contain your emotionality, tame your temper, and modulate your voice. If you initiate or contribute to the unraveling of spirit, the concept falls apart quickly. If you act to mend things (or at least not exacerbate the situation) by following (1) above, the game heals itself.

3. Heckling and taunting are different.

Ultimate has a long tradition of good-natured heckling. Heckles are friendly barbs, typically from non-playing spectators. Heckling can be fun, but taunting is unspirited and wrong. Harassing remarks after an opponent's foul call or close play are NOT heckling: they are abusive taunts which create unpleasant playing conditions and often escalate to acrimonious disputes.

4. SOTG is compatible with championship play.

It is a fallacy to argue that the stakes are so important that some aspect of SOTG can be cast aside. Time and again, great teams and star players have shown that you can bring all your competitive and athletic zeal to a game without sacrificing fair play or respect for your opponent.

5. Don't "give as you got."

There is no "eye for an eye." If you are wronged, you have no right to wrong someone in return. In the extreme case where you were severely mistreated, you may bring the issue up with a captain, tournament director, or even lodge a complaint with the governing body. If you retaliate in kind, however, a complaint may be filed against you. We recall point (1): treat others as you would have them treat you, not as they have treated you. In the end, you are responsible for you.

6. Breathe.

After a hard foul, close call, or disputed play, take a step back, pause, and take a deep breath. In the heat of competition, emotions run high. By giving yourself just a bit of time and space, you will gain enough perspective to compose yourself and concentrate on the facts involved in the dispute (was she in or out; did you hit his hand or the disc; did that pick affect the play). Your restraint will induce a more restrained response from your opponent. Conflagration averted, you may resume business as usual.

7. When you do the right thing, people notice.

When you turn the other cheek, you know you've done the right thing. You may not hear praise, there may be no standing ovation, but people do notice. Eventually, their respect for you and their appreciation of the game will grow.

8. Be generous with praise.

Compliment an opponent on her good catch. Remark to a teammate that you admire his honesty in calling himself out of bounds. Look players in the eye and congratulate them when you shake their hands after a game. These small acts boost spirit greatly, a large payoff for little time and effort.

9. Impressions linger.

Not only does the realization that your actions will be remembered for a long time serve to curb poor behavior, it can also inspire better conduct. Many old-timers enjoy the experience of meeting an elite player who remembers their first rendezvous on the field and recalls the event in detail. A good first encounter with an impressionable young player can have considerable long term positive impact.

10. Have fun.

All other things being equal, games are far more fun without the antipathy. Go hard. Play fair. Have fun.