Winning Isn’t Everything..!!!!!

Is it cricket? Or isn’t it cricket? That might be a question many are asking these days while the rest of the sporting world is embroiled in one of Cricket’s biggest scandals ever; which decidedly isn’t cricket.

Confused yet?

The Aussies who are in the midst of a Test Series against South African and were tied 1-1 and decided they need a bit of leg up. According to reports, the entire leadership team of the Australian national team decided to cheat by scuffing the ball on one side to retain the shine on the other for reverse swinging. In one of the most amazing admissions ever, team captain claimed, “that the team’s “leadership group” had convened during the lunch break on day three of the third Test to concoct a plan to tamper with the ball and encourage reverse swing — cheating, in simpler terms — left a cloud hanging over many in the Australian dressing room.”

True sportsmanship is excellence in motion! ~ Lorii Myers

The scandal involves the highest levels of the Australian national Cricket team, who concocted a scheme to scruff the ball on piece of yellow tape in the pants pocket of the bowler, Cameron Bancroft. He was instructed to do so by (now former) team captain Steve Smith and (now former) vice-captain David Warner. All three have been thrown off the team. Now here is the best part, bowler Bancroft scuffed the ball on yellow tape on the pitch, not only in view of the entire playing field but all the fans in the stands. Better yet, he was caught on international television doing the deed. What they forgot is so clear in this quote of the great legendary tennis player Arthur Ashe, who said, " “You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own highest standards, and when you reach your limits, that is real joy.” The Aussies forgot it all.

Cricket is decidedly not baseball or (American) football or even soccer as it holds itself as a game of sportsmen who do not cheat. (Hence the phrase it’s not cricket). In cricket, unlike football, there is no joy taken in deflating footballs in a championship game; unlike in baseball, no moral righteousness in stealing the catcher’s signs and relaying them to the batter to win a National League (NL) playoff game; or as in soccer, no bragging that scoring a World Cup goal with a handball was the Hand of God.

“One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than a hundred teaching it. “ ~ Knute Rockne

Why Do People cheat?

Cheating is the result of competition. In today’s culture, with few exceptions, competitiveness is commonplace and in fact is rewarded. Sad, but true it is, children learn that losing is bad, and especially in the early school years, their wish to do well is very strong. As children play games with one another, cheating will frequently occur. In the early years there is a lot of breaking of rules and conflicts in these peer struggles. Watch how children play board games or card games, and you will recognize the competitiveness, striving and social learning taking place and sometimes digressing into cheating. As children become older and approach adolescence, however, this behaviour is much less tolerated by peers, and thus some children become labelled as cheaters. A sense of fairness has a higher value in these older peer relationships.

“Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” ~ John Woode

What If Your Child Cheats?

If you are confronted with a situation where your child has cheated, you need to consider many factors, including the degree of pressure that he is under to win or do well, and his own background regarding competition. Children tend to cheat, or set their own rules, when they are engaged in games or schoolwork that is too complex for them to handle. If you or others in his life expect him always to perform exceedingly well, then cheating can become almost a self-defence mechanism under the strain of this tremendous pressure. He may feel he has no other outlet than to cheat as a means of achieving success. Thus, the end becomes much more important than the process.

Also, consider the example that your family environment is providing for your child. If you or your spouse cheat from time to time - perhaps declining to return too much change given to you at the supermarket, or maybe even talking about fudging on your income taxes - those are the moral values you are teaching. Be sensitive to the examples you set; you can be an important role model for the prevention of cheating. To a large degree, your child's willingness to cheat is related to the values with which he is being raised.

“Sportsmanship for me is when a guy walks off the court and you really can't tell whether he won or lost, when he carries himself with pride either way.” ~ Jim Courier

How To Help Your Child?

For a child in the middle years, parents need to identify and deal with any cheating episodes in order to teach him right from wrong. For example, if he is caught cheating at school - a common phenomenon - sit down with him and discuss the seriousness of this infraction. Talk about the kinds of stresses and pressures he may be feeling, including your own expectations for success. Excessive punishment for these misdeeds is rarely helpful.

Playing family games where chance is involved can teach children to compete with one another without cheating. Under your watchful eye, your youngster can be guided toward appropriate conduct and healthy competition.

“Sportsmanship is not just about being nice. It is much more important than that. It's about realizing that you could not compete without an opponent and that she has the same goals as you.” ~ Stephanie Deibler