In the sports world, having good sportsmanship is extremely important. But, it is often not taken seriously and is forgotten about. 

Having good sportsmanship means having a good attitude when losing or winning, not bragging and being self-aware. It is how a player treats their teammates, coaches and spectators. 

Good sportsmanship needs to be taken more seriously and not be a choice for players.

Recently during the Superbowl, Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce, yelled at his coach because he wasn’t involved in a play and it didn’t end in their favor. Kelce later apologized to his coach and all was forgiven. 

But because Kelce is one of the best players on the team, no serious actions were taken. He was being extremely disrespectful and rude. That’s not what sports is about. Many people look up to Kelce and other athletes like him, and this incident is giving the wrong impression about athletics. 

Unlike in the Superbowl, the Olympics often takes actions against bad sportsmanship. Multiple athletes have gotten their medals taken away because of their behavior when getting second or third place. 

This may seem extreme, but at a professional level, playing a sport isn’t just being good at it. It’s about being loyal to the rules and respecting everyone involved. 

Even in high school, good sportsmanship can make or break a team. When players have a good attitude and respect everyone, a game can go much smoother. 

Being a good sport can lead to bonding with the opposing team on the field or court. Games are more enjoyable to play in and watch when the teams have a friendly competition rather than a harsh one. 

Sports are meant to bring people together, and bad sportsmanship gets in the way of it. More players need to check themselves before they wreck themselves. Remembering the reasons for sports other than winning can make the sport so much more fun for everyone.