Teaching kids how to be a good sport might just be one of the most important life lessons you can sneak into the school day. Whether it’s a heated game of GaGa Ball at recess, a math relay, or a small group game, someone is going to win, and someone is going to… well, not win. And that’s okay! As you’ve seen, these moments can bring out BIG feelings, and that’s why teaching sportsmanship isn’t just about playing fair. Showing kids how to be good sports is about helping them grow into kind, respectful humans who can handle the highs and lows of life. Check out these 7 easy steps to teaching kids how to be a good sport in elementary school this year.
What Is Sportsmanship, Really?
At its core, sportsmanship is about how you treat others when you’re playing a game, no matter if you win or lose. Good sportsmanship is about kindness, fairness, and respect.
When kids are good sports, they aren’t just following the rules of the activity or game, they’re cheering each other on, playing fair, and being the kind of teammate everyone wants on their side.
What Good Sportsmanship Looks Like
- A student high-fives their friend after a game, even though they didn’t win.
- Someone says, “Good try!” to a classmate who missed a turn.
- Losing gracefully— without blaming others or pouting.
- A team helps a player who got left out feel included in the game again.
These kinds of moments show a child’s true character!
Why Sportsmanship Matters at School
Competition is an emotional event. In an elementary classroom, anything (and everything!) can feel competitive, from the class spelling bee to lining up for recess.
When kids practice good sportsmanship, they learn:
- Empathy
- Perseverance
- Self-regulation
- Patience
- Respect for others
- Teamwork
- Confidence
- Growth Mindset
These skills don’t just stay in the classroom or at school events, though— these important character skills will be used far beyond in the rest of life too!
7 Steps to Teaching Kids How to Be a Good Sport
So, how do you actually teach this important skill in a way that sticks? Try these 7 tried-and-true strategies to help you make good sportsmanship a natural part of your classroom environment:
1. Talk About It
First things first— clearly explain what being a good sport looks like. Be as clear as possible to ensure your students understand.
Give examples of what good sportsmanship IS and what it ISN’T. Make sure you use kid-friendly words too!
2. Be the Example
Next, model this skill throughout the day. You already know your kids are watching every little thing you do!
Celebrate others, admit your mistakes, and model respectful behavior during activities and games. You’ll be surprised how quickly your students are likely to imitate your behaviors in their own actions and words.
3. Practice During Play
Games and activities are the perfect opportunity for teaching kids how to be a good sport in the moment. Stop mid-game to point out kind behavior or pause and talk through a tricky moment when things seem to go off the rails. Real-time modeling and coaching make a huge difference!
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I get a small commission that costs you nothing and helps me continue to provide this content.
4. Use Engaging Books
Don’t overlook the power of using children’s books as teaching tools! These favorites are perfect for sportsmanship lessons or character refreshers:
The Way Champs Play by Naomi Osaka
In this book, kids learn that champions aren’t just the ones who win— they’re the ones who are kind, work as a team, do their best, and have lots of fun. It’s a great reminder that kindness is the most important part of play!
The Big Cheese by Jory John
This hilarious and relatable book follows a super competitive piece of cheese who is the best at everything and loves to brag about it too. The Big Cheese gets a piece of humble pie when the new kid, Wedge Wedgeman, wins the annual Cheese-cathlon. He learns what it really means to be a team player, and that life isn’t all about winning after all.
Lucia Lacore, Poor Sport by Christianne Jones
Lucia really struggles with losing. Every time she loses, she pouts, cries, and yells. When she wins, it’s even worse; she rubs it in all her friends’ faces. Throughout this story, kids follow along as she transforms from a poor sport into a great teammate.
I Really Want to Win by Simon Philip
This funny story shows a determined girl who realizes that trying her best and having fun are just as important as winning. Your students will LOVE the humor in this one!
5. Use Hands-On Activities
Next, reinforce good sportsmanship with the Sportsmanship Character Education Resource. It’s full of hands-on activities, writing prompts, and visuals to help kids think about and practice what it means to be a good sport.
The 9 activities include:
- Ways to Show Sportsmanship: Ways to show sportsmanship at school, home, and in your community with a sorting activity (cut and paste)
- People Who Show Sportsmanship: Students will learn how to show good sportsmanship behavior as a student, a leader, in a career, and digitally.
- Good Sport or Not?: Sorting activity determining if actions were showing good sportsmanship or not.
- Cause and Effect: Students will determine the effect that a given decision will have.
- Road to Sportsmanship: Students will choose the best sportsmanship solution to a problem.
- A World of Good Sports: Students learn the difference between being a good or bad sport, following the rules, trash talk, and more.
- Self-Reflection: Students will reflect on how they will show sportsmanship in their lives.
- Think & Discuss Task Cards: 40 cards with questions about being good sports.
- What Would You Do? Situation Cards: 40 cards with given situations and asking students to decide what the good sportsmanship thing to do is
This resource is perfect for SEL times, class meetings, or sub plans!
6. Watch & Chat About It
Sometimes a quick video can say a lot! Try showing this short, kid-friendly YouTube video on sportsmanship. It uses simple examples and real-life scenarios that kids can understand.
Afterwards, start a discussion with your class:
- What did you notice?
- Have you ever felt that way?
- What would you do differently?
7. Celebrate the Good Sports
And finally, celebrate good sportsmanship whenever you see it!
Use special shoutouts, stickers, or a “Good Sport of the Day” spotlight to reinforce what you’re teaching and encourage students to keep up the great work.
Teaching kids how to be good sports is one of those magical things that pays off in every aspect of your classroom. It helps build stronger friendships, makes small groups run more smoothly, and recess becomes more fun. Remember, the small moments matter, and you ARE making a difference in each of your students’ lives!
You might also be interested in reading:
How-To Guide for Setting Goals for Elementary Students: 3 Action Steps for Success
Teaching Fairness in the Classroom: A Practical Guide for Teachers
You might also be interested in these products:
Our School is a Family Book Companion Lesson - School Community
Acceptance - Character Education & Social Emotional Learning
Follow along and don’t miss a thing!
Instagram 💜 Pinterest 💜 Facebook 💜 Teachers Pay Teachers 💜 Amazon 💜 Counselor Collab
