The Sportsmanship Initiative is a series of programs implemented by the Sports Commission to make St. Louis a model community for good sportsmanship and to create more positive environments for kids to play sports so they will remain active and lead healthier, happier lives.

Too often today, kids are turning away from playing sports because of an over-emphasis on winning, unrealistic expectations by parents, over-specialization, or simply, sports are no longer fun.  These factors put the long-term health of youth sports – and most importantly the health of youths themselves – at risk.  After all, the benefits of participating in sports are numerous, from a decreased risk of obesity to learning lifelong lessons about character and teamwork.  Still, 70 percent of youngsters drop out of sports by age 13.  It’s the goal of the Sports Commission to reverse that trend in St. Louis.

Through the Sportsmanship Initiative, the Sports Commission seeks to improve the experiences of young athletes.  It is reaching out to coaches, parents, officials, athletes and fans to make youth sports more enjoyable and to reinforce the ideals of respect, civility, integrity, and fair play at all levels.

Help set the tone for good sportsmanship.  Help us make St. Louis home to America’s Best Sports!

For more information on the Sports Commission’s Sportsmanship Initiative, contact Solomon Alexander, Director - St. Louis Sports Foundation, at 314-345-5130 or salexander@stlsports.org.

The Sportsmanship Initiative is a project of the St. Louis Sports Foundation, the 501c3 charitable affiliate of the St. Louis Sports Commission.  The Foundation was established as a legacy of the U.S. Olympic Festival in 1994 to enrich the lives of area children.