This activity is to accompany the Teaching Tolerance article "Out of Bounds."
Sports rivalries can energize school spirit. But keeping events respectful takes a dynamic blend of foresight, leadership and buy-in from the community.
Reflect
- What does the saying "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game" mean to you?
- What is your school's biggest sports rivalry? How do students at your school prepare for that game?
- How did the rivalries described in the story relate to intolerance and bullying?
- What would you do if you knew that students from your school were going to pull a prank to a rival school that could possibly damage property?
Act
Often school sports rivalries go back for generations. Ask parents,
grandparents or older community members about the sports rivalries from their
high school days to see how they compare to current experiences.
- Talk with school leadership and coaches about approaching your counterparts at a rival high school in advance of a big game to discuss ideas that will help set a positive tone before, during and after the game.
- Research “rivalry-gone-wrong” games like those noted in the article to see why they generated so much controversy.
Resources for Growing Good Sports
Here
are organizations and resources that value competing with class while building
a school climate where sports serve the community.
Positive
Coaching Alliance
A
national nonprofit that promotes a healthy love of sports.
Respect
the Game
An
online multimedia resource produced by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Changing
the Game
Gay,
Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s multimedia project to address
homophobia in sports.
National
School Climate Center
Tools
to assess and improve a school’s social and learning climate.
Project
Unify
A
program of the Special Olympics to get young athletes involved with Special
Olympians.
Elevating
Your Game by Jim Thompson
A
book aimed at young athletes, describing ways to “make themselves, teammates
and the game better.”
Montana
High School Association Sportsmanship Program Crowd Control
A
step-by-step, no-nonsense guide to managing a large athletic event, with ideas
about effective conflict management.
