Cheating in sports is a big topic these days, with significant news stories making the rounds. But what if you discover your child cheating during a big game or observe a youngster from the opposing side cheating when the ref isn’t looking? How can you reply in a friendly and fair manner? As a mother, I know my first reaction would be to rush over and defend my young. Or, if he’s the perpetrator, I’d like to assume I’d yank him from the sport and give him a lesson. However, these overt demonstrations are more likely to do harm than benefit.
Dr. Rick Sommo, a certified psychologist, specializing in performance and sports psychology, says that while complete honesty is usually the ideal option, cheating is rarely straightforward.
As a result, according to Dr. Rick, the goal is to get to the root of what causes a developing athlete to cheat in the first position. They may be under stress or have a strong drive to win at any cost, and they may not have been properly taught competitiveness ethics.
Tom Brady, the New England Patriots’ quarterback, was reportedly suspended without being paid for four matches for his suspected involvement in a deflated football scam to make them more comfortable in throw and catch.
It’s critical to step down and have a discussion with your children if they discover a professional athlete who has cheated.
First and foremost, please remember that witnessing professional sportsmen cheat might cause your children to get confused. “If the professionals do it, it’s okay for me and my buddies to cheat,” they may reason.
You want to get right in and quit thinking like that.
Clarify to your child that even elite sportsmen make poor decisions, and go over the scenario with them to assist them in understanding why some people cheat.
You could wonder, in the instance of the Brady incident, “Why then would football players like to make throwing and catching balls easier? Do you think that’s a bit of a ruse?”
Convey to your kids that when sportsmen cheat, their team loses faith in them. This makes it more difficult for team members to work successfully together.
Furthermore, other athletes may approve or disapprove of the cheating player, dividing the squad into “sides.” Followers of one side may support or pardon the cheating athlete, while members of the other side may be enraged. This might lead to a lot of conflict amongst teams.
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However, simply because of the penalties, youngsters should not try to escape cheating. When athletes cheat, that’s because they place such a high value on winning.
The mental health of children is harmed by a fixation on winning. They’re not focused on the here-and-now, which is important to “being in the zone,” feeling optimistic, and playing effectively if they’re too concerned about the scoreboard or the victory.
They’re also competing for the wrong reasons. Playing for the sake of winning may be stressful and detract from the enjoyment of sports.
Not only must you emphasize that cheating is immoral, but you should also explain to your children why dishonesty in sports makes it difficult for participants to trust one another and collaborate effectively. Furthermore, cheats are solely concerned with winning, which will harm their confidence, performance, and love of sports in the long run.