Parents and carers are being reminded to keep things positive at kids’ sports games as the Office of Sport relaunches its successful Shoosh for Kids campaign in time for the winter sports season.
Recruiting sporting legends to promote the message, the Office released a short video featuring Olympian, Casey Dellaqua; Co-Captain of the Sydney Swans, Dane Rampe; Co-Captain of the NSW Swifts, Paige Hadley; Captain of Western Sydney Wanderers, Rhys Williams; and Captain of Sydney FC, Alex Wilkinson.
The Office said Shoosh for Kids encouraged positive spectator behaviour at junior sport.
“Shoosh for Kids isn’t about staying completely silent, it’s just about making sure we’re all positive,” the Office said.
“Sport should be fun for kids and we all have a role to play in ensuring it is a positive experience,” it said.
“One of the best ways to do this is to keep comments positive so that kids want to keep playing and enjoying the benefits that sport offers.”
The Office said campaign messages focussed on five key themes, including encouraging parents to think before they speak and to keep things positive and fun.
It said spectators needed to let coaches do the coaching and show respect to referees.
The Office also encouraged parents to show appreciation for sports volunteers.
“Remember, volunteers run kids sport.”
It said the 2022 the winter campaign of Shoosh for Kids would run throughout May and urged clubs across NSW to sign up to access the free weekly resources to help keep sport fun for junior players.
“The Office of Sport has developed a suite of digital resources for organisations, clubs and associations to access, use and share so as to amplify the Shoosh for Kids campaign,” the Office said.
“Signing up to support the Shoosh for Kids campaign is the perfect way to let your communities and stakeholders know where you stand on poor spectator behaviour.”
The Offices’ 40-second 2022 winter campaign video can be accessed on its Facebook page at this PS News link.
