Keep it fun!
A parent's behaviour on the sporting sideline can determine whether their child has a good time playing sport.
A parent’s behaviour on the sporting sideline can determine whether
their child has a good time playing sport. Helping parents to be better
role models and supporters means we can build nurturing environments
for our kids to play sport and encourage their life-long participation.
Some parents take all the fun out of sport by the way they behave while watching their kids.
We have all seen the parent who:
- Puts too much emphasis on winning rather than the fun of competing.
- Forces their child into a sport they don’t want to play.
- Enrols their child at a highly competitive level, rather than a level they are comfortable with.
- Criticises their child’s mistakes during a game.
- Yells abuse at players, officials or the coach.
- Tries to coach and/or referee from the sideline.
- Constantly focuses on negative rather than positive play.
The Department of Sport and Recreation has developed The Clubs Guide to Encouraging Positive Parent Behaviour to help your organisation to promote good behaviour among parents so that they can learn to be a positive influence on their child’s sporting experience.
The information sheets in this kit can be copied and used by your organisation to help guide parents to be great sports.
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