Mill Valley Chess Team

Chess Sportsmanship

Just as important as the win-loss is sportsmanship. "It's not whether you win or lose - it's how you play the game." All players, especially children, can fall into the trap of letting their ego or emotions run away from them. This diminishes the fun and meaning of the game for others. Players need to remember to be both good winners and good losers. Both are very difficult. Below is an article I found on the Internet that discusses sportsmanship. - Mr. Seghers
___________________________________

Always be polite. Greet your opponent on time in a pleasant way with a handshake. You may say, “it’s a pleasure to meet you, my name is…” or “I look forward to playing you” or “thank you for playing me” or something along those lines. Never make any statement about your game expectations. Do not say anything that may offend your opponent. Also, avoid expressions, body language or gestures that may offend.

Always follow the rules of chess. If your opponent breaks a rule and does not correct the move when asked, or you disagree about the move, ask a tournament director or person in charge to make a ruling on the situation. Do not argue with your opponent.

Following a match, be a good loser or winner. Either way, thank your opponent for a good game with a handshake. If you lost, consider this to be a good learning opportunity and analyze what you might have done different, preferably with your opponent. This is much more productive than getting upset. Remember, you can learn more from a single loss than from many wins, and when you learn you really win. If you won the game, make no statement about having won or celebrate in front of your opponent. Simply thank them for a good game with a handshake.