Playing It Safe And Producing Good Sports
Newcastle Herald
Saturday June 28, 2008
AT the Knights All-Schools Knockout competition this week, every teacher in charge of a team was delivered a code of conduct leaflet.
"I lost count of the number of teachers who came up to me and said that they had sat down with parents and kids and gone through the leaflet," ARL national development officer Helene O'Neill said.The dissemination of the code throughout all junior ranks has been just one component of league's offensive on violent conduct and incitement from the sidelines."In addition to the code of conduct, a big step forward in junior league has been the roping off of the field of play and appointing ground managers who are identified by a green vest," O'Neill explained. "They make sure the only people who go inside the rope are accredited LeagueSafe officials."LeagueSafe is an approved ARL course available to people aged 14 and over. It prepares applicants to recognise injury and assist an accredited first-aid officer where necessary. O'Neill: "Unauthorised people no longer have access. It means you don't have the wrong people running on the field inciting players."The ARL development officer, who spends much of her working week visiting schools and conducting coaching clinics, is optimistic with what she is encountering at the grassroots level."I'm very happy with the way the program is going," she said. "We expect discipline, we don't take any nonsense but, above all, we promote the fun aspect. It's important that the kids feel special."If you make kids feel special about themselves they have a chance of growing into good sports and good citizens."
© 2008 Newcastle Herald