VCAA EXAM 2008 A WORD FROM OUR COACH

While good sportsmanship is an expected attribute of young sportsmen, it does not seem to be
exemplified by parents at the local sports club. Coach Sams newsletter Club news A word
from our coach targets the parents of young athletes, contending that unsportsmanlike parents
are toxic to the club and hurting their kids, not to mention the sport. Sam alleges that good
sportsmanship is a fundamental element of both sport, and life, and should be adopted by
aggressive parents.
Sam demonstrates the destructive ramifications of abus(ive) parents, deterring readers from
engaging in such behaviour. An italicised anecdote is positioned at the commencement of the
newsletter, delineating the plight of young Emily whom was distraught after she was yelled
at by her dad, in front of all her team-mates. Repeating that she didnt care about her
own performance, nor the sledging by the other team, or even that her team had lost, but
cared desperately about her fathers response demonstrates the influence of parental
behaviour on the young and impressionable. The fact that Emily is just 8 years old may shock
readers, directing them to observe the fathers reaction for failing to shoot the goal and save
the game as excessive and unwarranted. Readers, who have engaged in such abusive
behaviour, may also feel a sense of embarrassment at generating emotions of distraught,
guiding them to avoid repeating their unsportsmanlike actions in the future. Following this
emotive introduction, Sam notes how toxic parents have a poisoning effect on the club.
Readers may be now predisposed to acknowledging the detrimental consequences of their
actions, and discontinue such behaviour.
The implications of lout(ish) conduct on the club itself is played to inspire readers to observe
the negative effects of their actions on the ability of their kids, and indeed all the kids at the
club, from participating in sport. Sam claims that many of (the) hard working volunteers left the
club disgusted, as a result of undesirable parental behaviour, which will only culminate in more
good parents departing and coaches hanging up their whistles. This discouraging impact
of sports aggressive parents is also further emphasised in Jeff Parkers cartoon which is
embedded towards the end of the newsletter. The oversized donkeys profanities and extreme
sports agress(ion) elicits emotions of frustration, disbelief and disapproval in other audience
members. The caption I wish these sports-aggressive parents could see themselves as we do
alludes to the fact that in behaving in such a manner; parents are indeed being an ass. The
hyperbole of the donkeys size and its vast contrast with the rest of the image accentuates the
immense influence which parents have on the sport, even resulting in the stopping of play.
Additionally the text on the beasts shirt, defeat is death, presents an extreme and irrational
position advocating the importance of victory; compelling readers to accept that possessing
such a stance is ludicrous, obnoxious and even despised. This would instigate readers to avoid
sports rage and looking like an ass, and instead learn to be a good sport.

Conquest Education

The importance of good sportsmanship is detailed by Sam, providing contrast to the adverse
effects of bad sportsmanship, and inciting readers to recognize the significance of their
sportsmanlike behaviour. The writer cunningly uses of rhetorical questions, forcing the parent
audience to evaluate their behaviour, and the ideal parents they should aspire to be. What sort
of parent are you? asks Sam, triggering readers imaginations as to how they portray
themselves as a parent to both their children and to others. By following immediately with his
answer to what is good sportsmanship, Sam guides readers to believing that a good parent is
one who understand(s) that the real winners in sport are those who know how to persevere
and to behave with dignity. This may ultimately vivify them to strive and become a parent who
knows the fundamentals of true sportsmanship, rather than one who focuses on the wins and
losses. Additionally, Sam claims that young people learn sportsmanship from adults in their
lives, especially their parents, impels readers to feel a sense of disappointment at their actions,
and then adjust their behaviour to be a good role model for their children. Furthermore,
paralleling sport to an act of heroism spurs readers believing that the capacity to persevere
and behave with dignity is far more essential than shoot(ing) (a) goal. Such sentiment is
reinforced with the anecdote of the Olympic runner who heroically stopped to help his rival
who had fallen over. Suggesting that we all remember the event directs readers to accepting
the good sportsmanship is a positively impacting act which resounds indefinitely. Readers may
seek to achieve likewise and thus become less fixated on victory and more on the only goal
that should matter in kids sport which is good sportsmanship.
Good sportsmanship is also described to have a multitude of advantages for kids, encouraging
readers to advocate their positive behaviour for the benefit of their children. A litany of the
constructive effects good sportsmanship is listed by Sam, stating that the kids can gain ability
to cheerfully rebound from the loss, (shake) hands with opponents before a game and
congratulate the opposing team after losing a hard-fought, close or important game. These
highly desirable traits may invigorate the reader to want and achieve such characteristics in
their children, resulting in them ceasing to be a sports-aggressive parent but rather a
proponent of good sportsmanship. Furthermore, Sam reminds readers of the thrill of just
being part of the team and the importance of just (having) fun. This challenges readers to
reconsider their emphasis on the scoreboard, possibly directing them to observe their
unreasonable expectations and behaviour towards their young kids. As such, readers may come
to the acceptance that kids see themselves as winner even if numbers (are not) going in their
favour, and thus encourage their kids to play fair, to have fun, and to concentrate on the team
while at the same time polishing their own skills. While the best parents teach their kids
the basics of good sportsmanship, the dichotomy with donkey in the cartoon positioned
directly above this assertion conclusively emphasises to readers that good parenting does not
manifest itself in an ass, but rather as an encouraging influence.
Though poor behaviour of spectators in the previous season may have deterred members from
the Sports Club, Sams newsletter in Club News demonstrates the tremendous benefit of good
sportsmanship over toxic and poisoning behaviours of some sports-aggressive parents.
Hopefully, the newsletter convinces readers of the fact that actions speak louder than
words, and that parents have a dramatic influence on their children, and the club itself.
Conquest Education