Basics:
This is the fundamental question of teaching youth athletes not to cheat, especially in sports. It’s a tough call. The time demands that parents and coaches sit with their children on a regular basis and discuss with them about cheating. A parent needs to drill in youngsters that they should not ever cheat in their lives. Teaching them all the platitudes is essential. Teach them if they win through cheating, it’s not acceptable, nor it’s correct. With such a hollow win, you will never feel accomplished or satisfied even though you get a gold medal or win the championship. Deep down in your heart, you know that you are not completely successful or fully victorious.
Why do children cheat?
The main problem is we live in a society where everyone cheats for their interests. Our culture is heavily frowning upon cheating, although we give a lot of opportunities to others. Our future generations see, absorb, and ultimately adopt everything going around. It has a significant impact on them which is quite alarming. If we look around, cheating is prevailing everywhere in the world of sports. It’s ironic and sad to witness managers appreciating individuals appreciating and applauding the individuals involved in different scandals and controversies related to cheating and cutting corners.
They were portrayed as wonderful and amazing individuals who create a poor impression. At the end of the day, all knowingly cheating to attain success is deeply hurting. Big names like AJ Hinch, Alex, Cora, Carlos Beltran, and Jeff Luhnow are out of work because of it.
The huge cause of concern is that the next generation is witnessing all these things, and thus, it ultimately creates an adverse impression in their minds. Will the firings serve the purpose as a meaning deterrent and warnings to the youngster- It seems like it won’t. In the Olympics, cat-and-mouse athletes always take drugs to enhance their performance while without being noticed or caught. Suspension does happen if someone is caught red-handed, but it’s becoming useless in today’s competitive world where one tries to outclass the other and, thus, ignore the rules.
Similar is the case with the NFL, where now and then players are suspended due to drug abuse or substance in their system. They are forced to sit for a few days while welcomed once the ban uplifts. They don’t feel the humiliation of their wrongdoings. In baseball as well, the situation is no different; players use drugs to elevate their performance and raise their performance to a higher level. This is clear cheating, fellows like McGwire, Bonds, and A-Rod all are in it while they enter into the Hall of Fame.
Teaching kids right from wrong:
As a parent, teach your kids about teaching at the tender age of 5 when they commence playing sports. Let them learn that winning is only honourable and highly respected if it’s within the rules and regulations without cutting corners. Teach them that cheating is not acceptable in any form; it will remain unethical and wrongful activity. How would you feel if your opponent cheats against you? Victory by cheating will remain wrong and is overshadowed in terms of authenticity.
The bottom-line:
These basic lessons must be taught regularly and repeated to the kids for better understanding. If parents teach their kids honesty and integrity in sports, this will inculcate a positive attitude among kids, which will enable them not to cheat in their lives. Kids come across several ways of cheating; if parents guide them, they will refrain from cheating. Cheating will badly damage the reputation, and kids must feel ashamed if they cheat. This is a vital life lesson that must be taught by parents and coaches.