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The Psychology of Gamesmanship
How to Manage Mind Games and Tricks.

An unscrupulous player, trainer, or coach does not abide by the concept of good sportsmanship. He wants to win and will use any means not specifically forbidden in writing. He exactly follows the letter of the rules, but not the spirit. Every type of distractive tactic will be used to give himself or his team any advantage, however small.

These tricks can be subtle or obvious. An expert gamesman will use a variety of tricks and traps that are not immediately recognizable. Only the consequences bear testimony of their effectiveness. An unskilled amateur's effort will be so obvious that even young children can recognize the blatant effort to bend the concept of fair play.

Become educated on the subtle and unsubtle ways of competitive psychology. Once the concepts of gamesmanship are understood, knowledgeable observers (referees, officials, and spectators) can easily spot these attempts. When aware of an effort, effective steps can be taken to nullify, deflect, and even trap the instigator.

Table of Contents
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WELCOME PRIMARY SHARKING TRICKS & TRAPS  Accusations  Alzheimer's  Attention Deficit Disorder  Back & Forth  Bad Shooting  Bellyacher  Bigmouth  Boring  Call Every Shot  Celebration  Cell Phone  Clothes & Accessories  Compliments  Consoling Cripple Yourself  Drinks in Turn  Emotional Opposites  Equipment Envy  Fundamental Errors  Gayness  Generation Gap  Health Queries  Helpfulness  How & Why  Ignoring  Injuries  Insults  Invisible Friend  Jokes  Jump Starting  Late to Begin  Lingering  Listening  Lucky Me Mental Intimidation  Missing Ball  Musical Talents  Nit Picking  Noises  Odd Habits  Old Geezer  Partner Divorce  Politics  Powder & Chalk  Practical Joker

(continued)  Propositions  Put-downs  Random Sharking  Rules Expert  Self-delusional  Self-doubt  Sex Appeal  Shark Yourself  Shockers  Slow Racker  Slow Shooter  Smoking  Stand By Me  Stick Whisperer  Stories Sympathy  Table Critic  Team Tricks  Temper Tantrum  Thinker  Time-outs  Tragedy  Waiting to Play  Waive the Penalty  Walking Stick  Warming Up MINOR SHARKING TRICKS & TRAPS  Advance Notice  Am I in your way?  Annoyances  Concession  Leading Questions  Mixed Doubles  My stick is better  Nagger Overused Words  Self Talker  Start and Stop  The Gang is All Here  Waffler  Some Final Words ADDITIONAL NOTES  Definitions  About Hustlers & Gamesmanship  Expert Researching