As a Start..
Sample Speeches
Motion: Professionalism detracts from sportsmanship
Side: Negative
Opening speech of the captain
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen,
Having been enlightened by the affirmative side on the definition of the motion, I’d like to redefine it in a broader, more up-to-date way.
“Professionalism” refers to the practice of paying players who participate in certain sports. More and more sports are becoming professional. Why? Because paid players have the time to pursue excellence, in fitness and ability to reach high levels of skill.
I’d like to remind our opponents that professionalism also includes setting up professional bodies and employing people who have expertise of the profession, people like professional trainers.
The word “sportsmanship” involves both attitude and behavior. Dear opponents, I’ll shake hands with you, whether my team wins or loses. That shows sportsmanship, right? But genuine sportsmanship goes beyond gestures of courtesy. It refers to fairness, honesty and politeness in a competition. Respect for the rules and for other players is important. If we win this debate and gloat over our victory, we show poor sportsmanship. If we lose and curse our opponents and adjudicators, we also show poor sportsmanship. If we think we are likely to lose and give up trying, that’s poor sportsmanship too. Or if we resort to dirty tricks like spying over our opponents, needless to say, poor sportsmanship again.
In defining sportsmanship, our opponent has missed one very important point. Jill Oser says, “sportsmanship is about competing and training and getting to your peak ability.” Please note the phrase “getting to your peak ability”. This is precisely what professionalism helps players achieve.
Sportsmanship is seen and admired in professional games despite some aberrations. Don’t you admire the skill and sportsmanship of Pele? Not many admire John McEnroe and enroll in His School of Sportsmanship, do they?
Motion: Professionalism detracts from sportsmanship
Side: Negative
Opening speech of the captain
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen,
Having been enlightened by the affirmative side on the definition of the motion, I’d like to redefine it in a broader, more up-to-date way.
“Professionalism” refers to the practice of paying players who participate in certain sports. More and more sports are becoming professional. Why? Because paid players have the time to pursue excellence, in fitness and ability to reach high levels of skill.
I’d like to remind our opponents that professionalism also includes setting up professional bodies and employing people who have expertise of the profession, people like professional trainers.
The word “sportsmanship” involves both attitude and behavior. Dear opponents, I’ll shake hands with you, whether my team wins or loses. That shows sportsmanship, right? But genuine sportsmanship goes beyond gestures of courtesy. It refers to fairness, honesty and politeness in a competition. Respect for the rules and for other players is important. If we win this debate and gloat over our victory, we show poor sportsmanship. If we lose and curse our opponents and adjudicators, we also show poor sportsmanship. If we think we are likely to lose and give up trying, that’s poor sportsmanship too. Or if we resort to dirty tricks like spying over our opponents, needless to say, poor sportsmanship again.
In defining sportsmanship, our opponent has missed one very important point. Jill Oser says, “sportsmanship is about competing and training and getting to your peak ability.” Please note the phrase “getting to your peak ability”. This is precisely what professionalism helps players achieve.
Sportsmanship is seen and admired in professional games despite some aberrations. Don’t you admire the skill and sportsmanship of Pele? Not many admire John McEnroe and enroll in His School of Sportsmanship, do they?