Fair play and self-control in games

1What is fair play?

Fair play, also called sportsmanship, means playing clean and dealing with winning and losing in a calm, respectful way. It has four parts:

1. Play fair: no cheating, no pretending to be fouled, no hurting anyone on purpose.
2. Follow the rules, even when nobody is watching.
3. Respect the referee's decisions, even when you disagree.
4. Treat your opponents with respect, before, during and after the game.

An old saying puts it like this: "It doesn't matter whether you win or lose, but how you play the game." In cricket, a batter who knows he is out sometimes walks off the field, even when the umpire thought he was not out. That is fair play.

2A true story: the runner who would not win that way

Abel Mutai is a Kenyan long-distance runner who won a bronze medal in the steeplechase at the 2012 Olympic Games. In a cross-country race in Burlada, Spain, he was clearly in front. But he misunderstood the signs and stopped short of the real finish line, thinking he had already finished.

Iván Fernández Anaya from Spain was running behind him. He could easily have run past and won. Instead, he guided Mutai forward to the finish line instead of passing him. In January 2013 a video of that moment went round the world, and Fernández was praised everywhere for his sportsmanship.

Think about it: would a win like that have felt like a real win?

3Big feelings in games

In games you can feel excited, nervous, proud, disappointed or angry. All of these feelings are normal. What matters is what you do with them. Anger often shows in your body first: your face gets hot, your heart beats fast, your fists or teeth clench and your voice gets loud. Notice those signs early.

Why breathing helps: when you are angry or nervous, your heart beats faster. Slow, deep breathing helps your heart slow down again and your mind calm down, so you can think clearly before you act.

4Winning well and losing well

• A good winner shakes hands, says "well played", and never mocks or shows off in front of the other team.
• A good loser shakes hands too, congratulates the winners, and does not blame teammates or the referee.
• After any game, ask: "What went well? What can we do better next time?"

5Warm up

Jog around the pitch in pairs. When the teacher claps, shake hands with your partner, say "good luck", and find a new partner. Then do arm circles, leg swings and 10 star jumps.

6Games that train fair play and self-control

1. Fair-play points. Play 4-a-side football or handball for 8 minutes. A goal scores 1 point. The teacher also gives a team 1 extra point for each fair-play act: helping an opponent up, owning up to a foul, or shaking hands. Arguing with the referee loses a point.
2. Own-the-touch tag. Nobody else decides if you were tagged: you do. If a tagger touches you, call "Got me!" yourself, do 5 star jumps, and join back in.
3. Pupil referees. Make three teams. Two teams play and the third referees, with 1 referee and 2 line judges. Swap every 5 minutes, so everyone plays and everyone referees. A good referee knows the rules, decides quickly, explains calmly and uses the same rule for both teams.
4. Statue under pressure. Hold a balance, such as a stork stand, for 10 seconds. Your partner tries to make you laugh, without touching you. Then swap. It trains you to stay in control while someone is trying to upset you.

7Cool down

Walk slowly around the pitch with the other team. Stretch your legs, then sit in a circle and do the "Stop, breathe" part together: breathe in for 4 counts and out for 4 counts, 5 times. Share one fair-play act you saw today.

Try it yourself

Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.