Brite Star Sports & Recreation "Fair Play"

Fair Play A Brite Star Sports and Recreation Copyright © 2023 by The Brite Star Foundation, Inc., a 501 (c)3 All rights reserved.

Published by The Brite Star Foundation, Inc. 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway Suite 338 Las Vegas, Nevada 89141 Vincent W. Goett, Publisher ISBN Paperback

979-8-89750-115-1

Digital

979-8-89750-116-8

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Ken, Sam, Brooke and Whit were excited for the big tennis tournament. They always looked forward to the Fall Tennis Classic. It wasthe biggest tennis event of the year. This year Whit had a good chance of winning the Junior Championship event. Her sisters helped her warmup in the driveway.

“Remember that tall girl I played against last year? What if she’s back this year?” Whit asked. She had lost to the other girl in lastyear’s final.

“Oh she’s nothing to worry about Whit. She’s an OK player but mostly she’s just a bad sport. Her momis not the nicest person either. Remember how she yelled through the whole match?” said Ken.

“Yeah, sportsmanship is important,” said Sam. “Remember Coach Murph told us that winning is good but how you behave whether you win or lose is just as important. Younever want to be seen as a poor loser,” she said. “That’s mostly whatweremember about that girl, right? Not whether she’s a good player.”

“Hop in the car, girls!” Mom said. “It’s time to get to Brite Star Sports Park.”

As the car pulled out Whit asked, “Mom whatdoes good sportsmanship mean?”

“Well, a good sport is someone who understands that being humble and kind is better than being mean and selfish. For some people winning is the most important thing and they behave very badly toward other players.”

When the four sisters arrived at the Brite Star Sports Park there were already lots of people there. Some tennis matches had already started. There wasa buzz of excitement in the air. Whit wasnervous though.

She wasworried about having to play the same tall girl from the previous year. She ran to check the brackets to see if she might have to face her. Sure enough, that girl wasin the other bracket. If she won her bracket and Whit won hers they would play for the championship!

“Let’s go watch the tall girl’s match,” Whit said. “I want to see how she’s doing.”

“That’s a good idea since you could end up playing her in the final just like last year,” said Ken. The sisters were surprised to see that the tall girl was losing to a much smaller girl named Leslie who was a friend of theirs. Each time the tall girl lost a point she got very frustrated. The sisters also noticed that the girl’s mother wasreally upset. She wasyelling at the chair umpire and at her daughter. The sisters felt embarrassed by the mother’s poor sportsmanship.

Just then Coach Murph satdown by the girls. He came to the tournament every year to watch the kids from Brite Star School. “Coach Murph, the tall girl is losing to Leslie.”

“It’s not always the biggest or oldest player who wins,” said Coach Murph. “It’s the one who tries her hardest.” Just then the tall girl lost another game and threw her racket down on the court. “Now that’s poor sportsmanship,” Coach Murph said.

“Wow,”said Brooke, “I can’t believe that girl lost to Leslie.”

“I know,” said Ken. “And the way her momyelled at her and the umpire. Whew. That’s tough. I bet her daughter feels pretty embarrassed.”

“Well. let’s hope Whit plays good against Leslie. If Leslie could beat the tall girl she mustbe really good,” said Sam. Whit and Leslie warmed up before the start of their match. They laughed and had fun, while their mothers talked and laughed.

The match wasgreat. The score wasback and forth.

Whit and Leslie both played wonderfully. “Good shot, Whit!” said Leslie.

“Thanks!” said Whit. The girls cheered for each other and the spectators clapped for each good shot.

“It’s a lot more fun when the players are good sports,” said Coach Murph. Everyone had fun cheering for the girls who were both playing very well.

Whit did eventually win the match but it wasvery close. Whit and Leslie met at center court and congratulated each other with a big hug.

“You played great, Whit!” Leslie said.

“So did you. Youwere tough, Leslie. That wasso much fun,” saidWhit.

The girls stood side by side with their trophies while the crowd cheered and everyone took pictures.

“Great job, Leslie and nice game, Whit,” said Sam.

“Great sportsmanship,” said Coach Murph. “Now Moms, you can be good sports and take both girls and the sisters for ice cream,” blurted Sam. Everybody cheered for that great idea!

Think About It 1. Which sister is playing in the tournament?

2. Which player is the sisternervous about playing?

3. What did the sisters notice about the tall girl’s mom?

4. What did Coach Murph say helps a player whowins?

5. How did Whit and Leslie show good sportsmanship?

Let’s Work Together!

Winning is always the mostfun. But, no one wins all the time. Doing your best withall your energy is best whether its sports or music or art or whatever you do.

I will . . .

• Practice my skill so Icando mybest.

• Be a good sport whether Iwin or lose.

• Encourage and cheer for others.

Show that you are a good friend and a good sport by cheering for and encouraging your opponents. Be willing to compliment them when they do something good. Understand that being a good person is more important than winning. What kind of person you are showsthe most when you are a good sport.