pride, and respect. It is the demonstration of generosity and genuine concern for others. It is a concrete measure of the understanding and commitment to fair play, ethical behavior and integrity. Sportsmanship is blending of cheers for “your team” and applause for the “opponents,” observing the letter and spirit of the rules and showing consideration for others. Sportsmanship is respect. Respect for others and the self. However, modern sport especially at the elite level does not reflect true sportsmanship. A lot of times, we see scenes, during live or televised matches, where players, spectators and even coaches swear at officials as well as using abusive words.

The highly visible actions of the players, spectators and coaches do not model good behavior among the youth and children who are genuinely in love with sport. It is therefore imperative that coaches take the lead in getting the players as well as themselves to uphold the principle of sportsmanship. This entails respect for the rules, officials, opponents and exercising self restraint when provoked.

Coaches must demonstrate and apply leadership, integrity, responsibility, self-control, knowledge of sport rules and regulations, honesty and sportsmanship at all times on and off the playing field. It is necessary and important that the coach carries himself or herself with a high sense of responsibility and professional disposition at all times because he/she represents the organization, institution, club, school, community, profession, faculty and student body.

The coach must set a good example for there are many followers and participants who follow his or her example. Coaches are on the forefront of facilitating the participants to enjoy the sport by preparing the team well so as to put on the best possible show. The game therefore is essentially for the participants. The primary justification for including the athletic programs in the total school curriculum is based on the fact that athletics provides both physical, social,

and character values for those who participate in them. Thus coaches must strive to instill these values into the players. The coach plays his or her role on a delegated basis as they represent an institution's, organization's or club's senior management.

Responsibility of the Coach

As a leader, a coach sets the tone for all the other participants in the game. Therefore, a coach should:

• Exercise self control and be modest in victory and gracious in defeat
• Be as objective as possible in public and when addressing the media by making remarks related to the game statistics and to the performance of ones own team
• Teach sportsmanship and reward players that exemplify the true spirit of sportsmanship
• Not encourage or condone the use of profane or obscene language and other improper actions
• Take time to emphasize that disrespectful behavior will not be entertained. The coach should stress that disrespectful behavior, especially taunting, trash talking and intimidation is anti-sportsmanship and therefore will not be tolerated.
• Where appropriate and whenever there is an opportunity, instruct participants and spectators in proper sportsmanship responsibilities and demand that they make sportsmanship the No. 1 priority.
• Treat opposing coaches, athletic directors, participants and fans with respect. Shake hands with officials, opposing coach and players in public before and after the game.
• Exemplify the highest moral character, behavior and leadership
• Adhere to strong ethical and integrity standards
• Respect the integrity and personality of the individual athlete
• Abide by and teach the rules of the game in letter and in spirit to the players
• Set a good example for players and spectators to follow by refraining from arguments in front of players and spectators
• Avoid gestures which indicate an official or opposing coach does not know what he or she is doing or talking about and also avoid throwing object s in disgust
• Respect the integrity and judgment of game officials and treat them with respect, even if you disagree with their judgment

Conclusion

Coaches have an enormous responsibility to shape the social and moral values of the youthful players. They should therefore strive without ceasing to make a positive impact on the players by explaining, teaching, instructing and setting a good example of being a true sportsman or woman. The old adage that action speaks louder than words sets the tone for the coaches to "do" rather than just talk about sportsmanship. Practice it and let all participants see the good model in you.

Football has a strict testing installed, but has still let few slip through their fingers. But for the most part, have caught any player using performance enhancing drugs. The NFL has turned into a league filled with selfishness and stupidity, lucky enough there are plenty of class acts in the league too. It is by far the most popular sport in the country, especially with the present situation in baseball.

The negative publicity involving NFL players this past fall has started to make a majority of head-case players look like bad role models. Young kids start to follow sports more regularly, and hear the crimes these players commit. What does it tell them? The NFL shows hope however,with its vast amount of role models like Peyton Manning, a great player but still a class act off the field.

Baseball faces many issues right now, and will be a better place when this witch hunt is over, if it's ever over. Congress questioned big names like Mcgwire a few years back, and didn't really get much. Now the nation has Roger Clemens lying about steroid use on the stand, and doing a very poor job doing so. The steroid area in baseball is making the 1919 world series seem like less of thrown game. Clemens did things in his career that amazed a fan whether they're a first time viewer, or a die hard ball fan. He was fun to watch, and a well respected player by all. Barry Bonds is probably jumping in joy over his new cell mate.

The history books will soon be filled with black marks signifying the era where cheating was everywhere, and everyone was doing it. In this day and age the winner seems like they should have their urine tested prior, and following the game. Sporting events start to look sad when there is a heavy confusion as to if what you're watching, is history being made, or a big scandal going down. The only thing steroids, and other forms of drugs do for sports is paint a scary picture of what the future could be like.

But with all the negativity surrounding the sporting world right now, the role modeling really doesn't come down to the players. The athletes we watch are being paid to play their sport well, and hopefully act like a civilized human being when they aren't doing so. These athletes show kids how cool it looks to be that talented and give them something to reach for. At the end of the day it's really up to the parents to explain that even athletes make decisions that aren't right.

In a perfect world athletes wouldn't disappoint the fan with their actions off the field, but it's been going on forever. Even the greats like Mantle, and The Babe acted like tom cats off the field and still went on to inspire millions. Athletes are human beings that are capable of making the same mistakes as anyone else. The only difference between a mistake the average Joe makes and an athlete, is Joe won't be in the news tomorrow, he'll just make the local docket.

However, as a inhabitant of Mumbai, (where road traffic is a function of the crisis level in a test match being played thousands of miles away, as well as the batting of a Tendulkar or Dhoni,) throughout the last several cricket series, there is something that has stood out in all its shining glory.

Rahul Dravid.

Here is a guy who thinks . Thinks before reacting. Came up the hard way. Rose through the ranks. Became a Senior; but when they asked him to keep wickets, chipped in with a sincere effort, while the then captain enjoyed this buy -one -batsman-get one- wicketkeeper- free , facility. There is a no- nonsense air about him. Its all about the team, and individual idiosyncrasies have no place in his scheme of things. His system of leadership doesn't appear to be conducive to chamchagiri. You are given a chance to play, and a sincere intelligent effort is appreciated. You mess around , and someone else gets a chance. Its all about whats good for the team.

Dravid captains in a manner where one tends to always look up to him. Not for the glamor, nor the sound bites. But good solid knocks. Almost ALWAYS, when ever the team is in trouble, he appears at the crease, patiently piling on the runs while trying to keep the wickets intact, inspiring the player at the opposite end. Showing them how its done. He NEVER throws his wicket away, and you never hear about how pressures of captaincy are affecting the angle of swing or straightness of his bat. You never see him muttering, mouthing curses at the opposition, glaring people down. Yes, he is human, and occasional flashes of anger on and off the field are to be expected. Steve Waugh is thrilled that Dravid agrees to write a preface to his book, and after losing the Test series, Lara, selects Dravid to lavish all his praise on.

And he doesn't remove and wave his shirt; Thats just not cricket. The most one has seen him do is hold the ball up and run across the field as if in a trance , while claiming a wicket , sometime during England's tour on India 2006. He plays mentor to those younger and newer; he doesn't create situations where there is an element of "neta giri". Even Greg Chappel appears to have nothing bad to say about him, as he makes his measured responses to queries. The coach probably cannot hide his own delight in being given a captain like this, as straight as the front face of the bat he presents to difficult balls. Cant find anything bad to say. Not about his cricket, nor about his man-management on and off the field.

He has a lfe off the field. He keeps it there. He studied when he had to study as a youngster. Did well. The studiousness has bred in him an innate curiosity about cultures and places different from his, as something to learn from. He is a keen observer of the history of any country that he visits as part of his cricket tours. He is constantly learning. While in Pakistan he made it a point to go visit Mohenjodaro and Harrappa sites. He actively campaigns for and takes part in AIDS eradication campaigns, after learning details about the problem from his wife , who is a surgeon.

He does commercial ads, and most of them non controversial. Keeps his family away from it all. You never see pictures of him hob interacting with social butterflies, dancing away in discotheques, with groups of dubious people, flaunting style. No one has ever linked him with vague actresses, and no one ever hears of members of his family , various government types etc , commenting on the facets of cricket selection, play and treatment in India.

Young people unconsciously search for role models. Some appear fleetingly on the horizon, flashing across with the help of fawning publicists, and favored journalists. Some are pillars of cricket but midgets when it comes to their non cricketing ways.

Somehow one feels reassured, that in a world full of Beckhams, Maradonas and such, found later on to be made of clay, so to speak, Dravid stands tall, a completely outstanding role model for Indian children and older youth today.