IGCSE PE 0413 · Area 4 · Social, Cultural & Ethical Influences

Sportsmanship and Gamesmanship

Sportsmanship is fair play and respect for opponents, officials and the rules. Gamesmanship is using legal but questionable tactics to gain an unfair advantage without breaking a rule. Cambridge asks you to define both, say how each is displayed, and give examples in physical activities — and the marks are lost by giving gamesmanship examples that are actually just cheating.

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Syllabus coverage

  • The terms sportsmanship and gamesmanship
  • How sportsmanship can be displayed
  • How gamesmanship can be displayed
  • Examples of sportsmanship and gamesmanship in physical activities

Part of the IGCSE PE 0413 syllabus 0413 / 0995.

Sportsmanship respects the game and the opponent; gamesmanship bends the rules to gain an unfair advantage.

Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship is fair play: behaving honestly and with respect towards opponents, officials and the rules, whether you win or lose.

A sportsmanlike performer respects the opponent as a person, accepts the official's decision even when they disagree with it, and wins or loses with good grace. The test is what the performer does when nobody would know — a golfer who calls a penalty on themselves has shown sportsmanship, because they gave up an advantage they could have kept.

Sportsmanship protects the game as well as the opponent. If performers cheat, spectators stop trusting the result and the sport loses its appeal.

  • Playing within the rules and the spirit of the game
  • Respecting opponents, officials and spectators
  • Accepting decisions without arguing
  • Being gracious in victory and in defeat
  • Helping an opponent — stopping play for an injury or helping someone up

How sportsmanship can be displayed

Cambridge wants displayable behaviours, not just the word. Think of the small actions that happen before, during and after a contest.

Before and after the contest: shaking hands with opponents and officials, applauding the other team, congratulating the winner, clapping a good performance even when it is against you. During the contest: playing within the rules, owning up to a foul or to a ball touching your bat, giving the ball back to the opposition, and not appealing for a decision you know is wrong.

  • Shaking hands before and after the match
  • Stopping play when an opponent is injured and returning the ball to them afterwards
  • Calling a decision against yourself, for example walking in cricket or taking a penalty stroke in golf
  • Congratulating an opponent after they beat you
  • Accepting the official's decision and not crowding or arguing with them
  • Playing within the rules and not trying to deceive the official
  • Encouraging your own team-mates and respecting the opposition's effort

Gamesmanship

Gamesmanship is the use of methods that are within the rules but against the spirit of the game, in order to gain an unfair advantage or unsettle an opponent.

The key distinction is that no rule is broken. Gamesmanship works by putting psychological pressure on an opponent or an official, or by using up time, so it is difficult to punish. It is often described as bending the rules rather than breaking them.

Gamesmanship is the opposite of sportsmanship even though both performers might end up doing something that is technically allowed. The difference is the intention — gaining an unfair advantage rather than respecting the contest.

Say clearly that gamesmanship does not break a rule. That single sentence is often the mark that separates a good answer from a weak one.

How gamesmanship can be displayed

Gamesmanship is usually displayed in four ways: wasting time, distracting an opponent, putting pressure on the official, or exaggerating a situation to gain an advantage.

Time wasting might be taking an age over a serve, delaying a restart, or a team keeping the ball in the corner to run the clock down. Distraction might be a movement or a noise at the exact moment an opponent plays their shot, or bouncing the ball repeatedly before serving to unsettle the player waiting to return it.

Pressure on officials might be repeatedly questioning decisions, standing over the ball to stop a free kick being taken quickly, or appealing loudly for something that did not happen. Exaggerating a situation might be going down easily to win a free kick, or taking a timeout at the moment the opponent has built momentum.

  • Deliberately wasting time — slow restarts, long pauses before a serve, keeping the ball in the corner
  • Distracting an opponent as they play a shot — movement, noise or shouting at the key moment
  • Repeatedly questioning or crowding the official to influence later decisions
  • Standing over the ball to prevent a free kick being taken quickly
  • Taking an unnecessary timeout when the opposition has the momentum
  • Verbally unsettling an opponent, for example sledging in cricket
  • Exaggerating contact or the seriousness of an injury to win a decision

The same situation, two ways of behaving

The easiest way to keep the two terms apart is to take one situation and give both responses. Cambridge frequently asks you to give examples of each, so learn them in pairs.

SituationSportsmanshipGamesmanship
An opponent is injured and you have the ballKick the ball out of play and return it to the opposition from the restartPlay on and use the numbers advantage, or take your time over the restart
You know you touched the ball last before it went outTell the official and give the decision awayStay quiet and take the throw-in you should not have
A free kick is awarded against your teamStand back the required distance and let it be takenStand over the ball and delay the restart by a few seconds
You win a point with a lucky shotAcknowledge it and get back into positionOver-celebrate to undermine the opponent's confidence
Your opponent is playing very wellRaise your own standard and applaud good playSlow the game down and break their rhythm
You commit a foul the official missedOwn up by putting the ball out of play or admitting itSay nothing and take the advantage

Gamesmanship, cheating and what the syllabus covers

Gamesmanship is not the same as cheating. Cheating breaks a rule — diving to win a penalty, deliberately handling the ball, or feigning injury to get an opponent punished — and it is punishable by the official. Gamesmanship stays inside the rules, which is exactly why it is so awkward to police.

In an exam answer, link the two by saying that gamesmanship can shade into cheating when the performer goes a step further and breaks a rule, and that repeated gamesmanship damages the reputation of the sport even when nothing is punished.

One warning: the 0413 syllabus covers sportsmanship and gamesmanship only. The terms deviance and violence belong to the AS Level course, so do not build an IGCSE answer around them.

If a question asks for two examples of gamesmanship, do not give a rule-breaking action such as diving to win a penalty and expect both marks — give tactics that are allowed by the rules but against the spirit of the game.

Turning the definitions into marks

A definition question wants the two terms kept separate: sportsmanship is fair play and respect, gamesmanship is legal tactics used to gain an unfair advantage.

An examples question wants a situation, the behaviour and the effect on the opponent — not just the name of a tactic. A tennis player bounces the ball repeatedly before serving so the returner has to wait and loses concentration is worth more than time wasting.

A longer question will ask you to explain why gamesmanship harms a sport. Build the answer around respect: spectators and sponsors value a fair contest, so if performers gain advantages unfairly, interest falls and the sport loses income.

Key terms you must be able to define

Sportsmanship
Fair play: playing within the rules and the spirit of the game, and showing respect and honesty towards opponents, officials and spectators.
Gamesmanship
Using methods that are within the rules but against the spirit of the game to gain an unfair advantage or unsettle an opponent.
Fair play
Behaving honestly and respectfully in a contest, accepting decisions and playing within the rules.
Etiquette
The unwritten conventions of a sport that performers are expected to follow, such as shaking hands or calling a penalty on yourself.
Cheating
Deliberately breaking a rule of the sport to gain an advantage, which the official can punish.
Time wasting
Deliberately slowing play to use up the clock, for example delaying a restart or a serve; legal in some sports but against the spirit of the game.

Applied to your sport

Cambridge requires you to apply this knowledge to physical activities. Use these as models, then write your own for the sport you play.

Association Football

Sportsmanship: a player kicks the ball out of play when an opponent is down injured, and the opposition returns it from the throw-in. Gamesmanship: a team leading 1-0 keeps the ball in the corner to run down the clock, or a player stands over the ball to delay a free kick.

Tennis

Sportsmanship: calling your own serve out or applauding a winner from your opponent. Gamesmanship: bouncing the ball repeatedly before serving so the returner has to wait and loses rhythm, or taking extra time between points when you are behind.

Cricket

Sportsmanship: a batsman walks when they know they have edged the ball, without waiting for the umpire. Gamesmanship: sledging, where fielders talk constantly at the batsman to break their concentration.

Golf

Golf has a strong etiquette, so sportsmanship is shown by calling a penalty on yourself for a ball moving or for an accidental touch, even though no official saw it. Gamesmanship would be taking an unusually long time over a shot to unsettle a playing partner.

Basketball

Sportsmanship: helping an opponent up after a collision and handing the ball straight to the official. Gamesmanship: exaggerating contact to draw a foul, or calling an unnecessary timeout just as the opposition builds momentum.

Flashcards

Click a card to flip it. Mark honestly — the tracker uses this.

Q1Define sportsmanship.
Fair play — playing within the rules and the spirit of the game and showing respect and honesty towards opponents, officials and spectators.
Q2Define gamesmanship.
Using methods that are within the rules but against the spirit of the game to gain an unfair advantage or unsettle an opponent.
Q3Give two ways sportsmanship can be displayed.
Shaking hands with opponents before and after the match; accepting the official's decision without arguing; stopping play for an injured opponent; applauding good play.
Q4Give two ways gamesmanship can be displayed.
Deliberately wasting time; distracting an opponent as they play a shot; repeatedly questioning the official; taking an unnecessary timeout.
Q5What is the key difference between gamesmanship and cheating?
Gamesmanship stays inside the rules but goes against the spirit of the game; cheating breaks a rule and can be punished by the official.
Q6Which sport is a good example of sportsmanship shown by players calling decisions on themselves?
Golf — the etiquette of the game means a player calls a penalty on themselves. Cricket is similar, with a batsman walking when they know they are out.
Q7Is diving to win a penalty sportsmanship, gamesmanship or cheating?
Cheating — simulating a foul breaks the rules of the game.
Q8Give a football example of gamesmanship.
Standing over the ball to delay a free kick, or keeping the ball in the corner to run down the clock.
Q9Give a tennis example of gamesmanship.
Bouncing the ball repeatedly before serving so the returner waits and loses rhythm, or taking extra time between points.
Q10How does gamesmanship damage a sport?
It works against fair play, so opponents become frustrated, spectators lose trust in the result and the sport loses respect and sponsorship.
Q11How is sportsmanship connected to the rules of a sport?
Sportsmanship means playing within the rules and the spirit of them, not just avoiding punishment — a performer behaves fairly even when no official would notice.
Q12Which terms are NOT used in the IGCSE 0413 syllabus for this topic?
Deviance and violence — those belong to the AS Level course. The IGCSE syllabus covers sportsmanship and gamesmanship only.
0 of 12 marked as known

Exam-style questions

7 questions, 21 marks. Write your answer, then reveal the mark scheme and tick each point you actually made. Answering honestly here is what makes the rest of the site useful.

StateAO11 mark
State what is meant by the term sportsmanship.

Mark scheme — tick each point you actually made

Any 1 of these score full marks. The examiner only needs 1 distinct point - pick the ones you actually made.
Examiner tip: One mark, so either half of the definition is enough. Mentioning fair play, respect or playing within the rules all score.
IdentifyAO12 marks
Identify two ways in which gamesmanship can be displayed in physical activities.

Mark scheme — tick each point you actually made

Any 2 of these score full marks. The examiner only needs 2 distinct points - pick the ones you actually made.
Examiner tip: Each displayable behaviour scores one mark. Do not use an example that breaks a rule, such as diving to win a penalty — that is cheating.
DescribeAO12 marks
Describe how sportsmanship can be displayed by a performer during a match.

Mark scheme — tick each point you actually made

Any 2 of these score full marks. The examiner only needs 2 distinct points - pick the ones you actually made.
Examiner tip: Two marks, so two distinct behaviours. Describe what the performer actually does, not just the quality they show.
ExplainAO23 marks
Using an example from a physical activity, explain how gamesmanship can give a performer an unfair advantage.

Mark scheme — tick each point you actually made

Examiner tip: Name the activity, name the tactic and say what it does to the opponent. Three marks means three linked points.
CompareAO24 marks
Compare sportsmanship and gamesmanship, using examples from physical activities.

Mark scheme — tick each point you actually made

Examiner tip: Compare needs both terms defined and an example of each. A one-sided answer caps you at half marks.
ExplainAO24 marks
Explain why gamesmanship and cheating can both have a negative effect on a sport.

Mark scheme — tick each point you actually made

Examiner tip: Keep the two terms separate in your answer and then join them with the effect on the sport. Losing marks here usually means describing only one of the two terms.
EvaluateAO25 marks
A football team leading late in a match keeps the ball in the corner and delays every restart. Evaluate the effect of this gamesmanship on the team, the opponents and the sport.

Mark scheme — tick each point you actually made

Examiner tip: An evaluate answer needs both sides and a conclusion. Cover the team, the opponents and the sport, then finish with a judgement on whether the advantage is worth the damage.

Exam technique for this topic

  • Answer with both parts of the definition. Sportsmanship = fair play and respect. Gamesmanship = legal tactics used to gain an unfair advantage; no rule is broken.
  • When asked for examples, give a behaviour and its effect rather than naming the tactic. Delaying the serve so the returner loses rhythm scores; time wasting on its own usually does not.
  • Learn sportsmanship and gamesmanship in pairs so you can contrast them in one sentence: the same situation answered honestly or answered selfishly.
  • Check your gamesmanship example is not actually a rule-breaking action. Diving to win a penalty is cheating, and it will not score as gamesmanship.
  • Only use physical activities from the syllabus list — Association Football, Tennis, Cricket, Golf, Basketball, Hockey and so on — in your examples.

Why students lose marks here

A student wroteGamesmanship is when a player cheats to win.
Why it loses marksCheating breaks a rule; gamesmanship does not. This definition loses the distinction the question is testing and usually earns nothing.
The answer that scoresGamesmanship is using methods that are allowed by the rules but against the spirit of the game in order to gain an unfair advantage, for example repeatedly delaying a serve so the opponent loses rhythm. Cheating, by contrast, breaks a rule and can be punished by the official.
A student wroteIn football, a player dives to win a penalty — that is gamesmanship.
Why it loses marksDiving simulates a foul and is against the rules of the game, so it is cheating rather than gamesmanship. A question asking for gamesmanship examples will not credit it.
The answer that scoresA better gamesmanship example is a player standing over the ball to stop a free kick being taken quickly, which is legal but delays play and unsettles the opposition. Diving to win a penalty would be cheating, because it breaks a rule.
A student wroteSportsmanship is when both teams agree to draw.
Why it loses marksThis describes a specific and often unsporting arrangement, not the term itself. Sportsmanship is about respect, honesty and fair play, not about the result.
The answer that scoresSportsmanship is fair play: playing within the rules and the spirit of the game, respecting opponents and officials, accepting decisions and being gracious whether you win or lose — for example shaking hands with the opposition and applauding their performance.
A student wroteGamesmanship only matters in professional sport because there is money involved.
Why it loses marksIt happens at every level. The mark is for the effect on the sport — loss of respect, spectators and sponsors — not for the level at which it occurs.
The answer that scoresGamesmanship damages any contest because it works against the spirit of fair play. If performers gain advantages unfairly, opponents become frustrated, spectators lose trust in the result and the sport loses respect and income from sponsors.

Where this fits in IGCSE PE 0413

This page is one topic of Cambridge IGCSE PE 0413 / 0995. IGCSE PE 0413 is the course home: every area and every topic in Cambridge's own order, the papers you sit and what each one tests, and the exam-practice tools. The full topic list, with each topic linked to its revision page, is on the IGCSE PE 0413 syllabus page.