Displaying good sportsmanship is just as important as competing at a high level

Good sportsmanship builds teamwork, character, and teaches respect, honor, discipline, kindness, inclusion, resilience, perseverance, and more. The benefits of good sportsmanship are many. When kids enjoy active play, they look forward to sports and exercise as a chance to make new friends and develop new skills.

Good sportsmanship means being fair and ethical to those you're playing with—both your teammates and the opponents—and is especially crucial for young athletes to learn. ... Sportsmanship doesn't mean going easy on opponents, because most times, aggression is part of the game.