Good Sportsmanship for Kids
This complete good sportsmanship toolkit teaches kids ages 4–12 how to win with grace, lose without meltdown, and compete with the kind of character that earns respect — on the field, on the court, and on the game board at home.
It includes sportsmanship pledge cards, win and loss scripts, a 7-day plan, and a parent coaching guide ready to use the day it launches.
Trust + Quick Proof
Vernon J. DeFlanders Sr. is the author of Teaching Kids Good Manners: The Old School Way and the founder of MannersMatterNow.com, a character and manners education platform serving families, schools, and youth organizations. He has spent decades teaching young people that respect, courtesy, and good manners are not relics of the past — they are the building blocks of a successful future.
How to Use It (7-Day Plan)
Spend 10–15 minutes a day with your child this week. By Day 7 they will have specific language and habits for competing with genuine character.
Day 1 — What Good Sportsmanship Really Is
Read the Coaching Guide together and talk about a sports moment — one your child was part of or one you watched together — where someone showed real class in how they competed.
Day 2 — Sign the Pledge
Read the Good Sportsmanship Pledge together, talk through each commitment, and let your child sign it — then post it somewhere they will see it before every game.
Day 3 — Learn the Scripts
Go through the Win and Loss Scripts together and practice saying each one out loud — in the calm of home, not in the heat of the moment.
Day 4 — Learn the On the Field Rules
Review the On the Field Rules Cards together and talk through each one — ask your child which rules they already follow and which ones are hard for them.
Day 5 — Real-World Challenge
Your child goes into the next game or practice with the pledge in mind — using at least one script after the game and following the rules cards throughout — then reporting back afterward.
Day 6 — Start the Tracker
Begin the 30-Day Sportsmanship Tracker today — record the moments from Day 5 and commit to filling it in after every game or practice going forward.
Day 7 — Reflect and Celebrate
Sit down together, review the week, celebrate the moments your child competed with character, and talk about which habits are becoming automatic and which still take effort.
What’s Inside
Six tools that help your child compete with confidence and character — whether they win, lose, or finish somewhere in the middle.
The Good Sportsmanship Pledge
A printable pledge card your child signs committing to compete with effort, respect opponents, and handle both wins and losses with grace — powerful when posted on the wall before every game day.
Good Sportsmanship Win and Loss Scripts
Six specific things to say after a win and six specific things to say after a loss — so your child is never at a loss for words when emotions are running high.
On the Field Sportsmanship Rules Cards
Eight cards covering the core behaviors of good sportsmanship — no trash talking, shake hands after every game, cheer for teammates, accept a referee’s call — stated clearly and memorably.
My 30-Day Sportsmanship Tracker
A fill-in tracker where your child records one sportsmanship moment each day — win, loss, or practice — building the character habit through daily reflection.
The 7-Day Sportsmanship Challenge
A step-by-step daily plan that takes your child from understanding what good sportsmanship means to practicing specific behaviors until they become automatic responses.
Parent and Coach Coaching Guide
Complete adult guide with how to handle post-game meltdowns without making them worse, what to say in the car on the way home, and how to model good sportsmanship in how you watch and talk about sports.
Common Sportsmanship Struggles
Does this sound familiar? This toolkit was built for exactly these moments:
The Loss Scripts give him specific, practiced words for the moment after a loss — so he is not starting from zero in an emotional moment. A phrase he has rehearsed is available when he needs it most.
The Win Scripts give her specific, gracious things to say after a win — and the Pledge commits her to competing with respect regardless of the outcome.
The On the Field Rules Cards name this behavior specifically and give him language for accepting a call — because the response to a bad call is a skill, not a personality trait.
The Coaching Guide addresses this specifically. Self-criticism after a loss is its own sportsmanship issue — and the toolkit includes strategies for helping your child separate performance from worth.
Good sportsmanship is not about being okay with losing — it is about competing as hard as possible and handling the result with character. The Coaching Guide distinguishes between healthy competitive drive and behavior that undermines a child’s reputation and relationships.
Keep the Learning Going
Built on the Book Parents Already Trust
Every technique in this toolkit comes from the framework in Teaching Kids Good Manners the Old-School Way — rated 4.8 stars with over 140 reviews on Amazon. The book gives you the complete parenting philosophy. This toolkit gives your child the daily practice. Together, they build habits that last.
Built on the book. Scan to find it on Amazon.
amazon.com/dp/B0GG6KGQK7
Good Sportsmanship — Frequently Asked Questions
What ages is this toolkit designed for?
This toolkit is designed for children ages 4–12 who are involved in any competitive activity — sports, board games, classroom competitions, or school events. Younger children focus on the basic scripts and pledge; older children can engage with the full range of tools.
Does this work for non-sports competition too?
Yes. The toolkit was written for sports but every tool in it — the pledge, the scripts, the rules cards, and the tracker — applies equally to classroom competitions, board game nights, sibling rivalry, and any situation where winning and losing are involved.
How much time does it take each day?
The 7-Day Challenge is structured for 10–15 minutes per day. Game day reflection using the tracker takes about two minutes per session.
Is this toolkit faith-based or secular?
The Good Sportsmanship Toolkit is fully secular and works in any setting — home, school, public programs, or community groups. An optional faith-friendly framing is included for families and youth groups who want to connect these skills to values of respect and service. The main toolkit stands completely on its own without it.
Can coaches use this with a team?
Yes. The Sportsmanship Pledge works as a team pledge signed by all players. The Rules Cards can be posted in the locker room. The Coaching Guide includes team adaptation notes.
Is the checkout page for this toolkit live yet?
This toolkit is coming very soon. Check back at MannersMatterNow.com for the launch announcement, or join the email list to be notified the moment it is available.
Do I need to buy the book to use this?
No. This toolkit stands completely on its own. If you want the broader character and manners framework, Vernon’s book Teaching Kids Good Manners: The Old School Way is available on Amazon.
Related Toolkits & Resources
Ready to Teach Good Sportsmanship the Old-School Way?
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