Group targets sideline attitude

Sport Wairarapa and Violence Free Wairarapa, in association with local councils and with support from clubs and sporting organisations throughout the Wairarapa region, are promoting positive sideline behaviours with Sideline Supporters Day this Saturday.
Spokesman Doug Bracewell, from Sport Wairarapa, said the idea was borne out of the fact that children thrive on positive support and therefore one day a year was set aside where parents, grandparents, family friends etc were actively encouraged to get along to a sporting venue and cheer the kids on.
The programme is now in its fifth year in the Wairarapa and has been implemented throughout the Wellington region.
Bracewell said the challenge for adults was to appreciate and the support the reasons why children play sport.
"It provides so many benefits, like how to socially engage with other children and adults from all walks of life," Bracewell said. "But as adults we have to be aware that our reasons for wanting our children to play sport may not always match what the children themselves want from the experience."
Highlights of the campaign to date have included a Carterton District Council initiative to install Support Your Children Through Sport signs on council grounds.
Also Netball Wairarapa had led the way in promoting positive sideline support by having Codes of Conduct signs situated around their Colombo Road courts as well as providing officials with t-shirts promoting their role within the code.
Bracewell said the programme would be ongoing because those organising it saw it as vital that children were kept physically and socially active through participation in sport.
He said councillors and volunteers from community organisations would be at numerous sporting venues on Saturday morning promoting that message and handing out "Be A Sport, Show Your Support" stickers.