Friendly, fraternal and respectful behavior in sports competition
Fair Play is a concept widely used in the sports world to refer to the type of loyal and sincere behavior in sport, especially brotherhood and respect towards the rival, the referee and the assistants of this sport..
Also Known As fairplayas a consequence of the very important campaign carried out in this regard by the FIFAfair play has become the main concern of the aforementioned sports organization and many others as a result of the progress and reiteration of reprehensible sports behaviors, not only on the part of the players but also on the part of the public, referees, sponsors advertisers, leaders and coaches, among other social actors that make up the wide spectrum that involves the universe of football.
In sports, rivals always face each other with the aim of defeating the opponent, however, this does not imply doing it in any way, that is, not everything goes to that end. It is necessary to try to defeat the rival respecting the rules of the game that is disputed, never contravening the rules. Cheating, disrespecting, playing dirty are attitudes that are absolutely against the spirit of a competition that boasts of such.
Recover the pleasure of gaming and entertainment
The promotion of fair play has as its main mission to recover from the oblivion of some the pleasure and the feeling that playing produces. Unfortunately, in recent years, in the world in which we live, the idea that the most important thing is to always win, whatever the cost, and not that the most important thing should be being able to compete and interact through the game, has been growing. and from sport with other individuals and derive pleasant experiences from it. The systematic disqualification against those who do not win has somehow taken over the sports field and of course, this situation has led to the practice of behaviors such as cheating, physical and verbal aggression, among others, which certainly attempt against what proposes the true sports spirit.
The increase in violence in society has also been transferred to soccer, which is precisely one of the sports that most faithfully reflects the popular mood, with all the good and bad that this entails of course.
The famous phrase coined by British and French athletes decades ago: the important thing is not to win but to compete, should be the maxim that governs sport and the game, whatever the conditions in which they occur and also the condition that first Children and adolescents are taught that many times in these stages of life they are more concerned with winning than with the fact of competing.
The importance of teaching children that what matters is not winning but competing respecting the rival
It is precisely in this last matter of teaching that the roles that parents, family and school play, the main socializing agents of children in their early years, play are fundamental, because if a parent is constantly telling their child that what is important it is to win the game, regardless of the way, how, then, the child will display a behavior of going out to win no matter what, even if it costs him an injury or any other problem with the rival.
Different will be that father who instills in his son that the most important thing is to have fun playing and that if he wins better but above all he must respect the rival.
The two sides of the coin of this story that of course will directly affect the attitude that a child takes towards the game.
The positive attitude that the player must assume
Players can contribute to fair play by avoiding simulations, showing that they enjoy playing, not discussing the referee’s decisions, even when they are wrong, not simulating fouls in order to punish the opponent, not resorting to doping to gain an advantage sportsmanship in the game, and above all maintaining an excellent relationship with his opponents, not insulting them, not making obscene gestures, making fun of them when the results are not with them, among others.
On the side of the coaches, their contribution should be to avoid denigrating acts against their managers and promoting the respect of their players towards their rivals.
And the rest of the actors who also participate directly or indirectly in the sport, such as referees, fans, the media, parents and relatives, can contribute by avoiding messages that encourage rivalry or any other conduct incompatible with fair play.
We must also say that the concept is so deeply rooted in the popular community that it is often used with the same connotation in other contexts of life that have nothing to do with sport.
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