As adult role models, we want our young athletes to learn about sportsmanship, overcome adversity, and achieve emotional growth—but are we teaching them the right lessons?
It’s all over the headlines and social media feeds. It’s in our schools and our families. We may even be responsible for it ourselves. We’re talking about bad sportsmanship . . . and if no one stops it, a single case of it can spread through a stadium in seconds.
With 15 years of experience officiating over 5,000 different games—from youth tournaments to varsity high school championships—author and veteran referee Jeff Eckert has seen it all. #SPORTSMANSHIP: Go Viral With It! is full of stories that will make you laugh, cringe, and even cheer . . . and it will reveal how the harmful effects of bad sportsmanship can ripple far beyond a single game or season.
But can we really transform the culture of amateur sports into a positive environment where our children can thrive? Yes. And that change starts with us.
You will learn:
- Why 7 out of 10 children quit the sports they love before high school
- The surprising ways we parents sabotage our young athletes
- How to stamp out poor sportsmanship before it can go viral
- How to set a great example by being the best version of yourself
- The single most important “car ride home” conversation you can have with your child
This book is the perfect resource for anyone who wants to help stamp out unsportsmanlike behavior, encourage youth leadership, and positively impact those around them. With entertaining anecdotes, important insight, expert advice, and real-world solutions, #SPORTSMANSHIP: Go Viral With It! gives parents, coaches, and other role models the tools they need to demonstrate and encourage humility and good sportsmanship—both on and off the field.
PRAISE FOR #SPORTSMANSHIP
"#SPORTSMANSHIP: Go Viral With It! is an educational and fun read for any parent, fan, coach, or teacher involved in youth athletics. Thanks, Jeff, for the insight and reminder of why we need to take this message 'viral.'"
—Bill Severns, former professional baseball player and author of Keepers of the Sandlot
“A lack of sportsmanship by coaches and fans, especially at the youth level, is the #1 reason why officials quit. This book shows a way forward, a way that enables us to enjoy athletic competition, play them by the rules, and show commitment to competing in an honorable way.”
—Barry Mano, President, National Association of Sports Officials (NASO)
“The game-time scenarios add perspective to the educational value of the book and engage the reader with each story by providing a road map for athletes, coaches, parents, fans, and officials. The KSHSAA hopes all readers will find connection points from these stories and better understand that appropriate sportsmanship #StartsWithMe.”
—Bill Faflick, Executive Director, Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA)
