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I am a middle school head coach, and I have been scrolling through social media for months, looking at sports-related posts.My conclusion is that there is an urgent need to bring sportsmanship and discipline back. Let me share my thoughts on three things: sportsmanship, discipline, and kindness.I believe as everyone does that athletes have the right to celebrate. But celebrations should not come at the expense of another person or your team. There is no need to antagonize your opponent after the game. The final score does that. It is important to make sure that our celebrations reflect well on our team, our school, our community, and our family.Discipline is the ability to manage your emotions and actions. For instance, years ago, I watched with dismay an ejected player attacking the game official. He obviously ignored that fact that his ejection was a consequence of his actions on the field. But that is only one example. I see parents attacking coaches, referees, and each other. I hear coaches and players using inappropriate language.Everyone must remember that there are consequences for our actions. Too many times, we get emotional and we act and then think. Discipline helps us think about our actions before carrying them out, weighing whether what we intend to do is right or wrong.The sports world also needs kindness. We see plenty of it: a player gives her jersey to a fan, a player gives the ball to a fan, athletes sign autographs, and athletes visit those less fortunate than themselves. If we are kind, the images I mention replace the inappropriate images and actions.Coaches must establish a great, competitive atmosphere. They should stress competing with commitment, losing with honor, and winning with dignity. Coaches should always consider the environment they are creating because the team is always watching!Athletes, at least initially, try to mimic the behavior and the culture of the coaching staff. If they see professional, appropriate behavior, they follow those actions. Similarly, if they see overly aggressive outward behavior, they follow those actions. This is their coping mechanism, especially if they have not formed their own sense of commitment, sportsmanship, and discipline.Several years ago, I was coaching at a high school and I watched an opposing coach berating the official for several minutes, and then one of his players started berating the official. I assure you; I am not perfect. For instance, I remember coaching a recreation league game many years ago and I thought the calls were horrible. I started to throw my hat on the field in anger, but one of my players caught my eye. He was WATCHING. He stared straight into my eyes. Fortunately, I did not throw the hat, and I swallowed whatever words I was going to say. It helped me to keep my wits about me.I keep that lesson with me every day. Sometimes coaches want a penalty to possibly get their team going, but even that can be done with style and respect. Many coaches in many sports at many levels do this, but the good ones know how to do it without disrespecting the official or the game. When I need an “energy” penalty for my team, I just walk too far out on the field during play and do not step back when told to do so. I get the penalty, I say it is not fair, and the players get new energy.I am grounded by my 3D Philosophy: DEDICATION, DETAIL, and DISCIPLINE.• Ded·i·ca·tion /dedəˈkāSH(ə)n/. Noun: the quality of being dedicated or committed to a task or purpose.• De·tail /dəˈtāl,ˈdētāl/. Noun: an individual feature, fact, or item.• Dis·ci·pline /ˈdisəplən/. Noun: to train or develop by instruction and exercise, especially in self-control.Simply, we must be DEDICATED to the task at hand, we must pay attention to the DETAIL of what we see and what we are taught, and we must have DISCIPLINE in all things: Family, Faith, School, Community, Work, and Sports.