However, Ali Adem recently took part in his very first real baseball game, and during the game, he learned a great lesson from the parents who were cheering for their own children. Ever since this summer, when he attended baseball summer camp, he has been eager to play in a real baseball game against an opposing team. Unfortunately, due to the fact that the sport is still relatively new to Turkey, opportunities are rather limited. A match was arranged between another İstanbul team with players in the same age range. There was a mix of nationalities, with English and Turkish being the predominant languages.Being a sports mother is completely new territory to me, and over the years I have heard horror stories about parents who become overly involved in their children's sporting activities. Some of these parents become aggressive towards coaches who they feel do not give their children the best positions or the most play time on the field. They have also been known to belittle their children in public when they do not perform well. With these stories in the back of my mind, I wondered how the parents would act during this baseball game as they watched and cheered from the sidelines.
I was relieved to discover that all of the parents in attendance were there to observe and let the children play and allowed the coaches do their jobs unimpeded. The adults shared seats and snacks as they chatted and watched the game. Sitting together, we all cheered for both teams equally. If an opposing team made a good play, they were applauded by parents from both teams. Words of encouragement were shouted out to all players, no matter what their level of ability happened to be. As in any game, some players excelled, and others were just learning the rudiments of the game. With this group, however, those differences disappeared as parents enjoyed the game and gave the players the chance to try their best, knowing that they would hear all the parents rooting for them.
I think that in addition to having the chance to play in a real baseball game, a rarity in Turkey, the children learned an important lesson in sportsmanship. At the end of the game, both teams lined up and congratulated each other on a game well played as they high-fived each other. The joy was in the game itself, not necessarily in who won or lost. Parents from both teams were there to support both sides. While I watched, cheered and encouraged players, I observed a subtle shift in the players themselves. Some who were nervous about playing seemed a little more confident and relaxed.
My son was one of those who had been nervous about the game, wondering if his teammates would get angry at him if he did not play well. Despite my assurances that his team only expected him to try his best, he was apprehensive as the game began. Since he is still new to the sport, he did not do as well as some of the others who have been playing for a longer time. I noticed his demeanor changed in the course of the game as he realized that no one would be booed or jeered at if they struck out or missed a play. At the end of the game, he was thrilled to have taken part in a game against an opposing team, and he was proud of how hard he had worked. Realizing that he needs more practice to improve his game, he eagerly looks forward to each weekend and more practice.
The parents themselves all set good examples for the players on the field. Children who struck out while at bat received positive, encouraging comments from the sidelines, as did those who dropped balls or missed plays. While learning the importance of sports, the children learned the value of coming together to work as a team. They also learned that everyone deserves to be encouraged and cheered on.
When I compare this weekend outing to some of the interactions among parents at our local parks and even at my son's school, I wonder how it is that parents become so competitive with each other. Too often there seems to be a one-upmanship going on as parents try to best each other when talking about their children. We all want our children to do their best, have a positive outlook and take pride in themselves and their actions. Learning good sportsmanship is an important step in this process.
Send comments and questions to k.hamilton@todayszaman.com 
