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      Sportsmanship, gamesmanship and conduct of performers

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can describe and give examples of sportsmanship and gamesmanship, and explain how athletes’ behaviour can be influenced.

      Key learning points

      1. Etiquette is the accepted and expected behaviour in sport, reflecting respect for opponents, officials and the rules.
      2. Sportsmanship is upholding fairness, respect, and graciousness in victory or defeat, demonstrating ethical conduct.
      3. Gamesmanship involves using clever yet unethical tactics to gain a competitive edge without breaking the rules.
      4. Deviance is cheating and goes against the etiquette of sport.

      Keywords

      • Etiquette - a convention or unwritten rule in an activity. It is not an enforceable rule but it is usually observed

      • Sportsmanship - playing by the written and unwritten rules of the game

      • Gamesmanship - attempting to gain an advantage by bending the rules to their limit (but not breaking them)

      • Deviance - behaviour that is either immoral or seriously breaks the rules and norms of the sport

      Common misconception

      Students may incorrectly assume that sportsmanship and gamemanship are the same thing.

      Sportsmanship is positively conforming to the rules and etiquette of the sport, whereas gamesmanship is more negative because a performer may bend the rules to gain advantage.

      Teacher tip

      You may wish to add in some high profile current examples of deviance in sport to engage students further and evoke discussion.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      The golden triangle consists of which of these components?

      commercialisation, sport, sponsorship
      commercialisation, media, sponsorship
      Correct answer: media, sport, sponsorship
      commercialisation, sport, media

      Q2.
      Commercialisation is when you exploit an organisation to make a ...

      Correct Answer: profit, money

      Q3.
      Which of the following are types of technology that help officials make more accurate decisions?

      Correct answer: video assistance referee
      Apple watch
      Correct answer: HawkEye
      scoreboards

      Q4.
      Identify the positive values that sport develops.

      Correct answer: respect
      to win at all costs
      Correct answer: teamwork
      cheating

      Q5.
      Match the keyword to positive or negative impact on sport.

      Correct Answer:positive,sportsmanship - conforming to the rules spirit and etiquette of sport

      sportsmanship - conforming to the rules spirit and etiquette of sport

      Correct Answer:negative,gamesmanship - to gain advantage by bending the rules in sport

      gamesmanship - to gain advantage by bending the rules in sport

      Q6.
      What is likely to happen as a result of a performer getting caught taking performance enhancing drugs?

      they earn more money
      Correct answer: they lose their sponsorship deals
      Correct answer: they get less media coverage
      they increase their sponsorship deals

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the correct definition to the keyword.

      Correct Answer:etiquette,a convention or unwritten rule in an activity

      a convention or unwritten rule in an activity

      Correct Answer:sportsmanship,conforming to the rules, spirit and etiquette of a sport

      conforming to the rules, spirit and etiquette of a sport

      Correct Answer:gamesmanship,attempting to gain an advantage by bending the rules to their limit

      attempting to gain an advantage by bending the rules to their limit

      Correct Answer:deviance,behaviour that is either immoral or seriously breaks the rules

      behaviour that is either immoral or seriously breaks the rules

      Q2.
      Which is an example of sportsmanship?

      bribery
      sledging in cricket
      Correct answer: apologising when the ball hits the net but goes over in tennis
      faking an injury in football

      Q3.
      Match the example to the type of behaviour seen in sport.

      Correct Answer:sportsmanship,in basketball: congratulating an opponent on a successful jump shot

      in basketball: congratulating an opponent on a successful jump shot

      Correct Answer:gamesmanship,throwing the ball away to waste time when your team is winning

      throwing the ball away to waste time when your team is winning

      Correct Answer:deviance,pushing over another player intentionally when they dribble past you

      pushing over another player intentionally when they dribble past you

      Q4.
      One reason why deviant behaviour happens in sport is because performers can feel by the referee's decisions.

      Correct Answer: frustrated, annoyed, irritated

      Q5.
      Identify the consequences of deviant behaviour in elite sport.

      Correct answer: fines
      getting injured
      Correct answer: match bans
      a warning

      Q6.
      Which is not a likely reason for deviant behaviour in sport?

      Correct answer: poor weather
      pressure from sponsors
      frustration at a teammate
      fatigue

      To help you plan your 11 physical education lesson on: Sportsmanship, gamesmanship and conduct of performers, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...