The contract to compete

‘An unwritten code whereby performers agree to strive against each other to win’

• Acceptance of this contract involves an expectation of how the opposition will play – within the rules, appropriate ethics and sportsmanship
• Also recognition that opposition can win, within the laws of activity
• This concept is based on Victorian ideas of air play, athleticism, sportsmanship, taking part important not winning

• Try their best
• Show sportsmanship
• Respect the rules and officials
• Fair play refers to allowing all participants an equal chance to achieve victory – it assumes respect for others

Idea that 'winning is everything'

• Display gamesmanship/not sportsmanship/not fair play
• Break the rules of the sport/injure other players/aggressive behaviour
• Not following the etiquette of the sport, eg shaking hands/racism
• Drugs/doping
• Not try their best to win, eg match fixing/weaker team selected
• Disrespect officials and their decisions 

• Sportsmanship -> conforming to the rules, sprit and etiquette of the sport
• Gamesmanship -> bending the rules