Play By the Rules - Stamp Out Ugly Behaviour
A new education campaign targeting bad behaviour and ugly parent syndrome in grassroots sport will be rolled out shortly to Victoria’s 16,000 grassroots sporting clubs and associations.
Sports Minister James Merlino and Minister for the Respect Agenda Justin Madden today joined a team of high-profile Ambassadors to launch the latest component of the Brumby Labor Government’s Victorian Code of Conduct for Community Sport.
“Victorians love their sport and our local sports clubs are the heart and soul of our communities, ensuring families are strong, happy, healthy and active,” Mr Merlino said.
“The overwhelming majority of Victorian clubs do the right thing, but this new Code of Conduct reinforces the message to a minority of players, spectators, coaches or club officials that their bad behaviour, abuse and ugly parent syndrome has no place in sport.”
Mr Merlino joined ambassadors – Garry Lyon, Lenny Hayes, Sam Mitchell, John Aloisi, Nicole Livingstone, Louise Dobson, Brad Hodge, Bianca Chatfield, Danny Frawley, Andrew Gaze, Tim Watson and Luke Darcy – to launch Stamp Out Ugly Behaviour or Your Game Is History.
“Everyone involved in community sport needs to know and understand their rights and responsibilities under the Code,” he said.
“As part of the new campaign Victoria’s 16,000 clubs will each receive educational kits containing a DVD, posters and other resources.”
Mr Madden said the Code of Conduct Ambassadors, appointed as part of the Respect strategy, would be great role models for sporting participants and their families.
“These are people who have excelled in their chosen sport and are leaders on and off the field –we are delighted to have them as our Ambassadors as they naturally engender respect for their achievements and the way they conduct themselves,” Mr Madden said.
Code of Conduct Ambassador Garry Lyon said the Code was a great opportunity for sporting clubs to take a stronger stance against poor behaviour at community sport.
“Having been involved in all levels of football from the elite level to local junior competition, I’ve not only seen the great enjoyment and experiences people get from sport, but also the lasting negative effects that poor behaviour on the sidelines can have on everyone involved, from kids playing on weekends, to adults coaching and on our all important officials,” Mr Lyon said.
“It only takes the actions of one person off the field to ruin the experience for everyone else, and in some cases turn them away from sport forever.
“I encourage clubs to get behind the code, help remove the negative elements and help make our kids and community sport the positive and enjoyable experience that it should be.”
Basketball Victoria has worked closely with the state government on this project and fully supports this initiative.
