Parents on the sidelines at junior sporting events are now speaking up to make sure anyone making inappropriate remarks is warned.
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Sporting groups across Orange are participating in the Shoosh for Kids awareness event running this week and weekend.
The campaign aims to promote positive behaviour to sporting clubs and associations.
Its key rule is, ‘if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all’.
The campaign aims to stop abuse to officials which can reduce volunteer numbers and abuse to players which can result in children stopping playing sport due to them having poor experiences and feeling their sport is too competitive for them.
City of Orange Touch Association administrator Tracee Livingstone said she believed the campaign was working.
“I think it’s definitely made an impact,” she said.
“Other people seem to turn around and tell people ‘you can’t do that, it is inappropriate.”
Mrs Livingstone said sideline comments had been upsetting to participants.
“The misconduct is coming from the parents to their own children, other children and referees.
“I think [the campaign] is really important.
“It brings awareness of behaviour on the sidelines of junior sport.”
Orange Softball Association president Geoff Kelly said some players had participated in a state government promotion for Shoosh for Kids.
“We’re normally pretty good with parents,” he said.
“Every now and again you will get some parents [calling out] but it’s nothing big and scary that we have had to suspend anyone.”
He said the most common concerns were from parents seeking to promote their children.
“[It’s mainly] ‘my son’s better than your son and he should be playing more than your son.”
Orange District Junior Cricket Association president David Cumming said cricket parents were usually well behaved.
“You get the occasional parents who think their son or daughter is getting hard done by, but that is rare,” he said.
“I have only ever seen one or two incidents.
“I think it is a good initiative. It is reiterating what the parents are already doing.
“Some sports may require more telling than others.”
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David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
