What kind of loser are you?

Even though it’s not about winning or losing, but rather how you play the game, there’s still something to be said about how you win and lose. Having good sportsmanship is one of the most important parts of being an athlete. When you lose, do you do it with dignity, or are you a sore loser? Take our quiz to make sure you’re being a good sport (and be honest)!

If your squad doesn’t place well at a competition, and someone walks over and tells you what a good job you did anyway, you…

a) Give her a big hug and gush over the compliment.

b) Smile and thank her.

c) Smile blankly and walk away.

d) Reply, “Well, it wasn’t good enough, was it?”

You were really hoping to make captain this year, but your BFF is chosen instead. You…

a) Make it a point to congratulate her in front of the whole squad and reassure everyone that you couldn’t be happier.

b) Are disappointed, but give her a big hug and offer your help if she ever needs it.

c) Say congratulations to her face but sulk behind her back.

d) Throw a fit and start listing all the reasons why you’d make a better captain.

Your school’s football team loses the big game by a measly field goal. As the players leave the field, you…

a) Start cheering for the winning team.

b) Keep smiling and chanting to let your team know you’re proud of them.

c) Clap a little before grabbing your stuff to leave.

d) Boo the other team into the locker room.

For the first time ever, you’re not in the front row for the halftime routine. You…

a) Tell your coach it’s a great way to give other girls a chance.

b) Don’t make it an issue. You’re happy to cheer in any formation.

c) Grin and bear it, but slack off a little.

d) Start picking on the girl who got your spot.

Your squad’s main goal at camp is to snag the coveted Spirit Stick. When it’s awarded to another team, you…

a) Start performing a cheer by yourself in their honor after congratulating each and every member of the squad.

b) Clap and shout encouraging words because they deserve it.

c) Give a single “Woo!” as you stand with your arms crossed.

d) Construct your own Spirit Stick and carry it around with you until the end of camp.

After tryouts, the coaches start announcing who made varsity, and your name isn’t called. You…

a) Stand up and let everyone know you’re happy for them and that you’ll be back!

b) Decide to give 110 percent on JV.

c) Accept a position on JV and start ignoring your friends who made varsity.

d) Badmouth the coaches for the rest of the year.

At the awards ceremony at Nationals, your squad receives second place. You…

a) Leave your squad to request pictures with the winning team.

b) Couldn’t be happier to be second in the nation!

c) Smile for your group photo then ask your mom to go get the car.

d) Stomp off the stage the second you know you didn’t win.

If you answered mostly As, you lose like an Overkill Cutie.

OK, we get it. You’re happy for whoever wins and not at all upset that it’s not you. It’s wonderful that you treat people with whom you’re competing with such respect, but when it gets to be too much, it can come off as insincere and even offensive. You should congratulate someone because they’ve earned it and accept a compliment because you appreciate it, not because you need everyone to know that you’re OK with losing. Just remember to mean what you say. Otherwise, you might as well not say anything.

If you answered mostly Bs, you lose like a Gracious Girl.

Oh, you—the perfect picture of sportsmanlike conduct. You’re a breath of fresh air in a world that’s seen its share of cattiness between athletes. You embody the true goal of cheer: to fill people with spirit and encourage and inspire them to aim high. You’ve set a standard of behavior for yourself as a cheerleader and uphold it even when someone achieves something you were vying for. Athletes like you enforce one of the major rules in sports: If you’re going to lose, lose with class. Keep it up, buttercup.

If you answered mostly Cs, you lose like a Minimal Mama.

If you cheered the way you lose, instead of yelling “GO! FIGHT! WIN!” you’d be more like, “Go…fight…win—I guess.” What do you think it means to someone when your mouth says “Congratulations,” but your face says, “It should have been me”? You’re one of those athletes who puts up just enough of an act with a smile, a few words or a bit of half-hearted applause to fool people into thinking you’re a good sport. Nix the negativity pronto and start taking pride in what you stand for as a cheerleader. It doesn’t stop when your two-and-a-half minute routine ends or once tryouts are over. You’re always a cheerleader, even when you lose, so start acting like it.

If you answered mostly Ds, you lose like a Bitter Babe.

Girl, you need to stop with the temper tantrums. Based on your answers, it’s obvious that you’re so focused on the end result that you’re not enjoying all the fun to be had while getting to that point. Calm down and remember why you’re a cheerleader. Hopefully it’s because you love to cheer. If you love it, you need to keep that in mind whenever you don’t get what you want. And think about your squad and coach. If you care about them or at least respect them, consider how it makes them look and feel when you exhibit such poor sportsmanship. Perhaps if you keep certain people in mind other than yourself, you won’t react so badly in the future.

*Comment below and let us know what kind of loser you are! We just know you’re all Gracious Girls, right? How do you practice good sportsmanship? Let us know!

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