Positive parents please staff
While the behaviour of spectators at junior rugby matches has come under the national spotlight this year, Manawatu Rugby has lauded the actions of those who have been attending games within the province.
Manawatu community rugby manager Ben Koch said he was impressed with what he has seen from junior rugby supporters this season.
‘‘This year... in terms of sideline behaviour from our junior rugby parents, it has been one of the best if not the best,’’ he said. ’’We do not believe that we have an abuse from the sideline issue here.’’
And he put a lot that down to projects put in place by the Manawatu Junior Rugby Board.
The board has implemented a series of strategies to serve as a reminder for supporters to be positive.
‘‘Our focus is around having something in front of the parents week in, week out to remind them, when you come to junior rugby, it is all about being positive for the kids.’’ Koch said.
He believed the most successful initiative was the hi-vis bibs all junior referees wear which have ’’Volunteering for rugby’’ printed on them.
‘‘If you are refereeing a rugby game from under eight and up, you wear that bib,’’ Koch said.
‘‘It was not overly well received at the start and people felt a bit silly wearing them. But coaches, managers and associate referees are now realising the value in that it is a constant reminder to parents that these guys are volunteering for the game of rugby and they are there for the experience of the children, not the parents.’’
But to go with that, each club has signs that they must have out for junior rugby matches.
One side of the signs has the New Zealand Rugby message ‘‘APPLAUD’’ while the other side carries the junior rugby board’s message ‘‘positive comments create positive play’’.
Koch said that parents were made sign a contract when their children register to play rugby.
‘‘When everyone registers to play rugby there is a parent sideline behaviour agreement,’’ he said. ‘‘It is something that goes into the registration form which is a reminder to all parents that when they are signing their children up for rugby, not only are they responsible for their own actions, but also the actions of other family members as well.’’
And this year they have enforced that junior rugby coaches must stand behind the dead ball line.
‘‘Generally if parents are going to make a comment, it is generally on the back of what a coach says,’’ he said.
‘‘The coaches being behind the in-goal area gives them a good view of the game, but it also gives them a chance to watch in piece and quiet and the parents have their own area.’’