Sportsmanship, in this connection, means the right spirit in which a man should take part in any sport, or play any game. Analysing “the sporting spirit”, we find its component parts are fair play and no favour, enthusiasm for the game, generosity to opponents, pluck, and the ability to take defeat well.
It goes without saying that a real sportsman will never dream of cheating in a game, or of taking any unfair advantage of his opponent. He will always “play fair”, and honourably keep the rules of the game. And he will not expect any concessions from his opponent. He wants keen competition and fair play.
He takes the game seriously. He has no patience with the man who plays at playing, and who does not care whether he wins or loses. He is keen to win, and plays with all his energy to beat his opponent. There is nothing lukewarm about his style of play, and he expects his opponents to be as earnest as himself.
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And yet he will always be generous to his foe. He would rather give away a point than claim an advantage, even though he may do so without breaking any rule of the game. And he will give in to this opponent’s claim, even though it is wrong, rather than wrangle over a disputed point.
He will play a losing game with pluck and patience. An un sportsman-like player will often get into a temper when he is being defeated, and throw the game away in a pet, like a spoilt child. But the true sportsman keeps in a good humour even when he is losing, and shows the greater pluck the more the odds are against him.
The final test of a real sportsman is whether he can take a defeat well. If, when defeated, he can sincerely congratulate his triumphant opponent, and shows no signs of humiliation or vexation, then he has indeed the true sporting spirit.