Sportsmanship

Ozzie Smith is a CLASS ACT!

During his playing days, Ozzie displayed good sportsmanship by playing baseball clean and to the best of his ability. That same reputation is true for Ozzie off the field as well.

Sportsmanship is defined as handling both victory and defeat with grace, style and dignity.

Here are the fundamentals of Sportsmanship according to The American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.

Show respect for the opponent at all times. -Always treated an opponent with honesty, and generosity which all human beings deserve.

Show respect for the umpires. Good sportsmanship implies the willingness to accept and abide by the decisions of the umpires. Remember an ump is not perfect, what would you think if an ump criticized you after you made an error or struck out?

Know, understand, and appreciate the rules of baseball. Be familiar with the current rules of the game.

Maintain self-control at all times. The key of good sportsmanship is understanding that being calm, cool and collective are more important than the desire to win. Good sportsmanship is concerned with the behavior of all involved in the game (coach, players, parents, and fans).

Recognize and appreciate skill in performance, regardless of affiliation. The ability to recognize a great performance and the willingness to acknowledge it without regard to team membership is one of the most highly respectable gestures of good sportsmanship.