Sport Northland

In alignment with Balance is Better, Good Sports is a culture change initiative developed by Aktive Auckland, which focuses on improving sideline behaviours and recognising the impact that parents, caregivers, coaches, teachers and sport leaders have on tamariki and rangatahi sporting experiences. With participation in youth sports declining, initiatives such as Good Sports and Balance is Better have been implemented to put the youth's perspective at the forefront of youth sports.

The aim is to create positive experiences for children in sport, so they are more likely to stay involved and develop a love of physical activity for life. Negative reinforcement only reduces the chance that children will want to continue to participate in sport and recreation, and most often adults are the facilitators of these attitudes, putting too much pressure on rangatahi to be the best at a young age. Basing conversations around development rather than performance allows children to develop a growth mindset, focusing on small wins such as learning a new skill or improving their movement abilities. As a result, rangatahi are less likely to experience an overuse injury, burnout or disaffection with sport.

As a parent/caregiver

As a parent, it’s important to recognise that ‘fun’ in sport is different for every child. There are many aspects to play, active recreation and sport which tamariki and rangatahi enjoy – whether this involves seeing improvement, socialising, being a good sport, positive coaching, running, playing, laughing, being a leader, team rituals, trying hard, etc. Observing their behaviour and learning what is most important to them will help you understand their motivation to participate, and how you can best support them to do so.

In turn, you will feel equipped to support your child through the emotional learnings which occur in sport. Processing emotions like jubilation, disappointment, anger and stress are difficult at a young age, so it’s helpful having parents there to guide them through learning to respond constructively. Most importantly, teaching your child not only to celebrate outcomes and placing more emphasis on attitude and effort. Encourage reflection; what they improved, what they learnt, how it felt, etc. Listen to what they have to say! Youth prefer support without pressure, which means parents should avoid providing technical or tactical advice. Think about focussing on the ‘Climate of Development’ in the Good Sports Spine, and veering away from the ‘Climate of Performance’.

"I saw how hard you worked out there!"

Be a role model!

One of the most important factors is sideline behaviour – the way parents act on the sideline of a game has a huge impact on tamariki and rangatahi, on and off the field. Becoming too emotionally invested in your child winning creates the same standard for them, and parents who yell from the sidelines distract the players from enjoying themselves and trying their best. It increases the pressure on players to never make mistakes, causing them to feel like giving up when they do. Youth sport is about learning from mistakes, using small failures as an opportunity to assess and improve for next time – in turn, the joy they receive from developing these skills and becoming a better player will also develop their love for sport.

Remember: “I’m proud of you, and I love watching you play”. No matter the outcome.

GOOD SPORTS

What is Good Sports?

What is the purpose of Good Sports?

What can you do to help?

As a parent/caregiver

Be a role model!

As a sports club/organisation

GOOD SPORTS​​​​​​​

What is Good Sports?

What is the purpose of Good Sports?

What can you do to help?

As a parent/caregiver

Be a role model!

As a sports club/organisation

GOOD SPORTS