Youngsters prove sore losers on sports field

Around two fifths (38 per cent) of parents said they have witnessed their child sulking after losing a match, while a fifth (20 per cent) said their son or daughter resorted to crying, according to a poll by The Cricket Foundation and the MCC.

The survey, which questioned 1,008 parents of eight to 16-year-olds, found that many have seen their child react badly to losing at sport. Almost three in 10 (28 per cent) said their youngster had got angry with themselves after being beaten, while 13 per cent said their child had stormed off and five per cent had thrown a piece of sports equipment.

But while just 17 per cent of parents thought their child was always gracious in defeat, most believed their youngster was gracious in victory.

Three in four of those questioned 75 per cent said their child was a gracious winner all or most of the time.

But parents may not be setting a good example to their children, the poll suggests.

More than half (51 per cent) of parents thought Britain is a nation of bad losers, and many admit to reacting in a negative way after losing a match when they were young.

The majority of parents questioned said the greatest responsibility for teaching children good sporting behaviour lies with them (64 per cent). But almost two fifths (39 per cent) were worried that if their child saw a favourite sports person acting like a sore loser they would mimic the behaviour.

The poll was commissioned to mark the launch of the MCC Spirit of Cricket initiative which will bring lessons in good sportsmanship to state schools this summer.