How to play the game

What should you do if you have a paper due on Wednesday and a marathon soccer practice on Tuesday night? How should you react if your biggest rival is taunting you on the basketball court?

Questions like these were answered for about 10 Clayton A. Bouton High School students who attended the Colonial Council Sportsmanship Summit on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at Hudson Valley Community College.

"This helped me recognize you can’t let negative comments bother you," said Mike Snyder, a sophomore football and basketball player.

During the summit, which was attended by about 150 students from around the region, the athletes attended presentations about alcohol/drug use, Internet safety, sportsmanship and time management.

Sophomore Kelly Glath, who plays soccer and basketball, said she will bring back to her school and her peers lessons about appropriate behavior for athletes and good, sportsmanship practices.

For example, if fans from the opposing team are criticizing you, or a referee makes a call that you think is poor, athletes should transform the negative feelings into positive outcomes.

"Let fan comments or bad calls motivate you to do better," Snyder said.

Students said they would use the lessons they learned to help their teammates in Voorheesville understand good sportsmanship conduct.