What unique strategies does Hilary Erickson use to instill good sportsmanship in children?

Hi there! I don’t actually have a specific, branded “sportsmanship system” I teach, but based on the same parenting strategies I share on my podcast, here are approaches I’d use to build good sportsmanship in kids:

• Teach when everyone is calm. Just like talking about chores or anger, I’d wait until after the game to ask, “What felt good out there? What didn’t? How could we handle that next time?”
• Use “M&M” style debriefs (morbidity and mortality from the hospital world): review what happened, what went well, what didn’t, and what we’ll try differently next time—everyone’s voice is valued.
• Focus on data, not drama: “You walked off after the loss—what was going on for you?” instead of “That was rude.”
• Problem-solve as a family: weekly check‑ins where kids can say what’s hard about losing or dealing with unfair calls, and you brainstorm solutions together.

Would you like ideas tailored to a specific age group or sport your child is in?