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Encouraging Good Sportsmanship: A Behavior Modification Tool Approved by East Carolina University Intramural Participants

Intramural sport programs can largely justify their existence on the basis of the many positive experiences which can be associated with a recreational environment. Development of participant coordination and athletic skill, fitness improvement, potential stress relief, and the enhancement of one's ability to interact positively with a group are well documented benefits of a competitive sport setting (Fox, 1983; Fox & Mathews, 1981 ; Ardell & Tager, 1 982). Along with these positives, however, recreation professionals must acknowledge the existence of certain human elements which can negatively influence any competitive setting. Competition often leads to aggressive behavior. This behavior, when intensified to a point where it is no longer a positive contribution within the spirit of the game, ultimately can become unsportsmanlike. Whether in the form of physical action or verbal expression, unsportsmanlike behavior most certainly detracts from the structure of a positive recreational environment. Even limited displays of negative behavior can seriously infringe upon the recreative experience of the majority. For these and other reasons, good sportsmanship should be positively reinforced whenever possible. It is the intent of this article to present a behavior modification tool, in the form of a sportsmanship rating system (SRS), with a primary focus on acknowledging superior sportsmanship, and a secondary purpose of identifying and controlling poor sportsmanship.