Special Olympics South Dakota Newsletter

December 16 2025

NEWSWORTHY WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED NEXT WEEK.

WE WILL BE BACK ON DECEMBER 30TH. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

At the request of the Athlete Leadership Council, SOSD will be amplifying messaging about sportsmanship.

Sports are amazing… Please respect the Game.

In sports, there’s nothing more unattractive and unpleasant than poor winners and sore losers. Poor winners brag about their performance and blow their own horn to make themselves look good. They don’t care if they bother or upset their opponents, teammates, or coaches.

Sore losers complain, criticize, and make excuses for their performance or the outcome. Instead of taking ownership and responsibility for what happened in a game or match, they blame the weather, officials, coaches, teammates, opponents, or just bad luck.

Winning with dignity

Good winners are respectful, humble, and kind to teammates and opponents. They aren’t concerned about building themselves up in the eyes of others. Instead, they praise their opponents’ effort,

compliment their fine play, and encourage them to continue working hard. These players have a selfless mindset and it shows in what they do and say to others.

Losing with grace

Good losers are level-headed, optimistic, and encouraging to their teammates, coaches, and fans. They find the good in the bad and the not-so-good, and they understand it’s okay to fail and be disappointed at times. Good losers don’t belittle opponents, blame officials, complain about coaching decisions and strategy, or criticize their teammates’ play. They understand that you win as a team and lose as a team, and that no one person determines either outcome. Additionally, they recognize that often after a loss, the best course of action is to simply acknowledge their opponents’ good play and move on.

SPORTS

Coaches, athletes, and fans of SOSD, please join us for the

2026 Unity Conference

Conference Agenda

SOSD Coaches, Athletes, & Family Registration

UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS

FRESH MERCH

The latest Spread the Word apparel is here—fresh, bold, and made for inclusion. Whether you’re prepping for the Day of Activation or repping the movement every day, we’ve got tees, hoodies and gear you’ll love. Shop here.