The Utah Salt Lake City Area sports committee newsletter for December includes a suggestion for stake leaders to hold sportsmanship firesides.

"The most-often expressed concern of stake presidents and bishops about church sports is poor sportsmanship, and the ensuing hurt feelings and loss of the Spirit that follows," the newsletter says.  

"Some stakes have positively influenced the attitudes of their members by sponsoring a fireside prior to the start of a particular sports season, where the stake president presides and sets the tone for what he expects from stake members who participate."

The newsletter then lists a half-dozen suggested topics for Mormon sportsmanship firesides, including:

• A review of the spiritual side of sports -- the unique power sports has to attract less-active church members and nonmembers to go into church buildings and onto playing fields where they can feel the spirit of LDS Church members.

• Emphasize that coaches, officials and event organizers have been called and set apart, and that they are entitled to respect and courtesy both during and after competitions.

• Testimonials by members who have stayed closer to the church, or been attracted to it, because of church sports.

• A strong affirmation on the part of stake leaders that the goal of the program is, indeed, to "bring people to Christ," and that church sports is a spiritual activity, not something separate and distinct from other church programs.

The full list of suggestions, along with the committee's entire December newsletter and calendar, is available on MormonTimes.com.

Click here for the complete newsletter.

The calendar for December includes clinics for basketball coaches, players, referees, scorekeepers and high councilors. Click here to see the schedule.

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