Cheating is a very touchy subject, primarily because it goes to the very core of who you are. Let’s face it, everyone prefers a win over a loss, but, as it states over the entrance to Wimbledon, you should be able to meet with triumph and disaster and treat both imposters the same! Parents and coaches should be teaching their youngsters that winning or losing with honesty and with integrity is its own reward in any competition.

I spend a week each year at one of the world’s biggest junior tournaments and I see children playing matches and looking to the sidelines for their parents’ encouragement and approval. Many of them feel that a victory is the only way to gain that approval. Parents that criticize their kids and allow them to believe that victory is the only path to family harmony are doing a tremendous disservice to their kids; a disservice that could last a lifetime.

The rules of tennis are clear; if you can’t honestly call a ball out, even if you’re unsure, your opponent deserves the benefit of the doubt. This rule doesn’t consider whether one player has already cheated the other or how tight the match is or if its match point. If you’re not sure—it’s IN!

Parents and coaches need to understand that personal integrity is a quality that will last a lifetime and will reap far more benefits than winning a point—or a match—or a tournament. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “A little integrity is better than any career.”

– Nick Bollettieri