Sportsmanship certificate templates and badges
3 free designs. A set is one design as a badge, a landscape or a portrait certificate, or all three.
Free for up to 20 recipients a year
Handshake Line set
Badge · Landscape · Portrait
A sportsmanship certificate template gives coaches, schools and leagues a ready way to honour the player who makes the game better for everyone. It is the award for the athlete who shakes every hand, accepts a bad call without a scene and picks an opponent up off the floor. Youth leagues often give one per team at the end of the season, and many school sports programmes name a sportsmanship award of the year at their final assembly.
A good one says what the person did, not only that they were nice: respect for officials, encouragement for teammates, fair play under pressure. It names the season or tournament, says who chose the winner (coaches, referees or the other teams) and carries a coach's signature. The designs come as certificates in A4 and US Letter and as digital badges, so the award can be framed and shared online.
Wording
What to write on a sportsmanship certificate
Use these lines as they are, or as a start for your own. Every template comes with wording you can change in the studio.
Sportsmanship award wording for kids
- “For always giving a high five, win or lose.”
- “For cheering on every teammate and thanking the referee after every game.”
- “For playing fair, playing hard and making the game fun for everyone.”
Wording for a sportsmanship award of the year
- “Voted by the officials of the league for respect shown to opponents, referees and teammates all season.”
- “For leading by example on the field and off it, in every match of the 2025–2026 season.”
- “In recognition of the integrity, humility and fair play that define our club.”
Short lines for the badge or a social post
- “Good game, great player.”
- “Fair play, every match.”
Why send it with Hyperstack
More than a PDF
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One design, every name
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Sent by email
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Anyone can verify it
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FAQ
Questions, answered
Common signs are respect for referees and opponents, no arguing over calls, shaking hands win or lose, helping an injured or fallen player, and lifting up teammates after mistakes. Skill and results do not count; behaviour does, often over a whole season.
Many leagues let the referees or the opposing coaches choose, because they see the player from the other side and have no reason to favour them. Some teams add a vote by the players themselves. Say on the certificate who chose the winner, as it adds weight to the award.
In youth leagues, yes: one per team, or one per age group, keeps the focus on behaviour everywhere. At school or club level, a single award of the year gives it more prestige. Some leagues do both, with a team award and one overall winner.
They are often the same award under two names. Fair play awards, as used by many football bodies, usually rate a whole team's conduct, while a sportsmanship award usually honours one player's character and attitude.
Usually, yes: it is presented at the banquet, awards night or final assembly, together with the other team awards. Giving it in front of teammates and families shows that the club values conduct as much as results. Some leagues also give a weekly or monthly sportsmanship award during the season.
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