Parents and carers are being told to behave at winter sport matches, with the Office of Sport launching its annual campaign reminding spectators that if they don’t have anything nice to say, they shouldn’t say anything at all.
Launching the Shoosh for Kids campaign, Minister for Sport, Steve Kamper said the campaign would see sports clubs, their members and sporting associations promoting positive spectator behaviour so that kids wanted to keep playing sport.
Mr Kemper said the campaign was all about ensuring a positive sports environment and encouraging junior sport participation.
“We need to ensure that our grassroots sporting communities are places where everyone feels welcome,” Mr Kemper said.
“This campaign is about keeping sideline commentary fun and positive so that kids and families feel encouraged to keep coming back to play each week,” he said.
“The message is simple, if you don’t have anything positive to say, then shoosh.
“We want to drive abusive or violent people out of sport, they have no place on our sidelines.”
Mr Kemper said more than 500 clubs had signed up to the Shoosh for Kids campaign, with sporting clubs across NSW gaining access to the Office’s free resources to let communities know exactly where they stand on poor spectator behaviour.
Further information on the campaign can be accessed at this PS News link.
