My name is Tristan Pham and I am a junior tennis player in Socal. Sportsmanship is one of the most important aspects of any sports but in particularly in tennis where you generally have only 2 players.
During Covid, tennis exploded as the perfect sport that encouraged outdoor exercise while social distancing. The sport stayed current as tennis professionals continued to play in tournaments. However, with the resurgence of its popularity, many people have come to overlook sportsmanship. New players and new spectators have come to enjoy the sport but know very little about its history. In this year alone, we’ve seen angry outbursts ranging from racquet abuse, temper tantrums, and spectators calling players names, from professionals to junior tennis players alike.
I wanted to take a different approach in sportsmanship education. Since competition and sportsmanship go hand in hand, I wanted to find a way to motivate players to participate in learning about the rules. My idea was to create a mobile friendly website that players playing their first tournament must log onto to take a 15-20 minute sportsmanship quiz. This would be mandatory for first time players. I also hoped to incorporate a parental aspect as well. Those who have been penalized for bad sideline behavior could be required to take the quiz.
I hope that by starting sportsmanship education at an earlier age, the integrity of the tennis will continue for the next generation.