Why do we teach our kids (in sports) to say "good game" and shake hands with the opposing team...?

Question

but in professional sports, they just high five each other (team mates) at the end of the game if they win?

I thought of this question because my 8-yr old son and I were watching the playoffs this afternoon and when the A's won, all the A's formed two lines and high fived each other. My son asked, "Why are they high fiving each other?" (Because in all my son's baseball and soccer games, we make them line up and use good sportsmanship to shake hands with the opposing team.) Any thoughts on this?

Answer 1

Well we (society) are harder on kids in many ways because they need to be taught things like sportsmanship, and adults suppossedly know those lessons and dont need to be "babied". I think it could be a good thing in pro sports though. After world cup soccer games, the players trade shirts with opposing team players. Nice way of saying that the harsh feelings are left on the field and are not "real" but only part of a game.

Answer 2

Too many games. And unlike other sports, you play a 3-4 game series against each team, rather than playing them once and going to the next city. Shaking the same guys' hands 3 or 4 games in a row would get monotonous.

Answer 3

We teach children that sports isn't always about winning. That it's more important to try your best and have fun. Unfortunately the older we get the more competitive we become. The good sportsmanship goes out the window. We are consumed with winning and winning only matters. Try explaining to your son that sometimes adults loose focus on enjoying what they do. You have to remember professional sports is a living for these people. So when they start to loose a lot they don't get the endorsement deals and all that jazz. Hope this helped you out. Thanks for the points.

Answer 4

Its true, we do use this only for good sortsmanship. But where i live, we have started to shake hands before games. And say good luck instead of good game, because of the fights that have broken out after a game for those people who are poor sports. Hope this helped.

Answer 5

I think it is more of a baseball thing than a professional sports thing. I know several football players will shake hands and exchange hugs with the other team after games. Usually members of both teams will pray in the middle of the field after games.

Answer 6

Because it is preferable to have them shake hands and say "good game" rather than have 8 year old kids boasting and bragging about who won and who lost and running around kicking opposing team members in their nuts after competitive sports events.

Answer 7

It's good sportsmanship, and I think it's important to remember that after every game, no matter the sport, everyone is still a person and deserving of respect.

Answer 8

as another has said, often in football, players will exchange handshakes, high 5's, hugs, slaps on the back or *** or some combination of the above, as well as kneel and pray together.

it is also tradition in hockey at the end of a playoff series for the teams to exhange handshakes at center ice.

for kids though, its primarily the foundation for teaching them sportsmanship and manners.....general traits they should learn and carry with them thru all phases of life, not just sporting events.

Answer 9

I wish they would do it.
But if they did, and someone on the losing team
happened to make a smart remark to someone on the winning team,
they might just open up another can of whoop-a** and beat 'em all over again!
So it could defeat the purpose.
All that testosterone can't always be trusted! : )

Answer 10

The high five is much more visual than merely speaking, and since it was being televised, they are probably encouraged toward the more visual way of expressing the words "good game".