Sportsmanship is traditional value in sports and competition. It means playing clean and handling both victory and defeat with grace, style, and dignity.
Sportsmanship is generally understood to include
- playing fair
- following the rules of the game
- respecting the judgment of referees and officials
- treating opponents with respect
The ideal of sportsmanship argues that "it doesn't matter whether you win or lose, but how you play the game".