i49: A guide to good Sportsmanship

Displaying good sportsmanship is not something we would usually relate to gaming. Sportsmanship is demonstrated by attributes such as fair play, respecting rules, integrity, respect for others (team-mates, opponents, officials, spectators), accountability, self-control, and graciousness in victory and defeat. Sportsmanship is a great tradition in sports and competition.

Having recently attended Multiplay's i49 event in Telford (United Kingdom) I can hands down say that Team Dignitas are some of the most gracious players I have ever met. You can't expect to win every game you ever play, and the top tier of players (generally) deal with losses extremely well. I was pleased to see that not only did Team Dignitas take defeats on the chin and keep their spirits high, they complimented other teams, being humble in defeat and showing respect to others.

Taking second place during the SC2 tournament Samayan 'Bling' Kay stated when interviewed "I hadn't practiced enough, he caught me off guard, at the end of the day the better player won, congratulations".

After every game win or loss, Team Dignitas would walk across the Telford International Center just to shake the hands of their opponents, wishing them luck and thanking them for the games.

Good Sportsmanship as a Player;

- Play fair ~ Sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how many players will cheat to win. Remember, it’s just a game, there’s no need to stoop to dishonesty to win something. If you cheat, you may get the victory in the short term, but it will forever be a hollow victory for you.

- Be a team player ~ Do your best to get the whole team involved. What it comes down to is this: why are you playing this game? Is it for a win to help boost your sense of self-worth? Or is it for the pure love of playing itself? "Nice play, Garath!" Cheer each on, its motivating and encourages smart play.

- Stay positive ~ It’s easy to get negative when things aren’t going your way. Even if a teammate royally screws up, keep positive. Raging at your team-mate doesn’t accomplish anything besides making him feel worse than he already does. Instead, tell him to shake it off, offer some advice, and let him know some of the things he’s doing right. Just remember: you’re not perfect either.

- Keep trash talk to a minimum ~ That the player who continually runs his mouth with trash talk is usually the player that isn’t actually doing much to help his team win. I guess it’s their way of making up for their lack of skill. Instead of wasting your energy running your mouth, concentrate on actually outplaying your opponent. Let your performance speak for itself.

- Lose gracefully ~ In any sport, there will be winners and losers. And sometimes you’re going to be on the losing side of the equation. The sooner you accept this fact, the easier it will be to handle a loss. When you lose, don’t sulk, don't throw a temper tantrum, give the other team a congratulatory handshake. Don’t blame your team-mates or the officiating. Show some leadership after the game by rounding up your team and point out what people did well, but also what needs to be worked on. That’s much more constructive than telling your team-mates they suck, or the opponents for that matter.

- Win with class ~ If you find yourself on the winning side, remember to show some class. Don’t gloat or put down the other team after your win. After the game, make sure to tell the other team “good game.” Offer some compliments to the opposing players.

A player should understand that good sportsmanship enhances the experience of both playing and watching eSports. Players feel encouraged by one another and take satisfaction that the game was played fairly. It's far more enjoyable to watch two teams that respect each other, than two teams that are so blinded by rage and trash talk that they miss every skill shot they fire.

Above all, remember to have fun on those fields of battle!