Spectating children’s sport

As parents and carers, you always want the best for your child. This can often mean wanting them to win their local weekend sporting match. 

  • You and your child have likely invested some time and effort into your child being a part of a team, and you want to see them rewarded for that.
  • As mentioned in life skills, things don’t always go the way someone anticipates.
  • Understanding that sporting and community clubs often do their best to get your children active, involved, and having fun allows you to understand your role as a parent when on the sidelines.
  • Below are some tips for you as a parent on the sidelines of sport and how inappropriate behaviour can affect your child’s development. 

Tips for parent’s sideline behaviour

Understand it is your child’s game and not yours

You are unlikely to contribute to the outcome by displaying inappropriate behaviour on the sideline. 

Let kids be kids! They are learning and developing in a sport that may be new to them and other children alongside them.

Avoid the win at all costs mentality

Winning isn’t the most important thing in children’s sport. When parents or carers put too much pressure on their child to win every game, it can create unnecessary stress and take away from the enjoyment of the sport. This kind of pressure can even discourage children from continuing to play. 

It is important to ensure that children are having fun, developing new skills and getting active in a safe environment with friends. This will allow them to learn and grow in a safe environment. 

Be a good role model

No matter how involved you are with a sporting club, your actions and behaviour play an important role in shaping the culture and environment your child is a part of. Children are always watching and learning from others. By being a good role model, you can teach your child what appropriate behaviour around the sporting field looks like.

Be considerate of your language

Be aware of the language you use when supporting your child. You can foster a positive sporting environment by being respectful towards parents, coaches, officials and players from the sideline. Swearing, abusive or negative language is never OK, even if you aren't necessarily talking to anyone in particular.

Similarly, when discussing the game with your child or others, keep feedback as positive as possible. Focus on the effort rather than the result.

Be aware of your behaviour toward referees, coaches and officials

Referees, coaches and officials are also just humans doing their best. They often give up their own time, sometimes unpaid, to allow sporting matches to take place. It is never OK to abuse or yell at referees or coaching staff. 

Organised sport also relies on retaining officials. So, it is important to treat them with respect, appreciation and kindness to allow your child to continue playing their chosen sport.

Understand abusive behaviour may be against the law

Codes of conduct are often displayed by entering public venues and sporting fields. By entering, spectating or playing at these venues, you agree with the terms and conditions of the governing body. Spectators or players may be ejected or even face criminal charges if there is violence or any property damage.

Clubs have a legal responsibility to address behaviour that offends community standards or is against the law, for example, racial vilification, sexual harassment or common assault. 

If you witness behaviour that you think may be illegal, you should report it to the police. Similarly, if a bad situation escalates and becomes dangerous, play should be suspended and the police may be required to intervene. 

For more information, see Play by the Rules.

How yelling at officials can harm your child

Even though children may not react or respond in certain scenarios, they are always listening and learning from their adult role models. Showing inappropriate behaviour towards sporting officials can be hurtful to children. Children may:

  • think that mistakes are not okay when parents negatively react or respond to officials
  • learn to disrespect authority which may carry over to police, other parents and teachers
  • learn to be rude and selfish when parents or carers interrupt games and ruin the experience for others
  • develop bad behaviour as they have negative role models to learn from
  • learn to make excuses that separate them from responsibility
  • not become resilient and give up easily in the face of adversity.

For more information, visit the Play by the Rules resource.