Another season is now upon us and all players, volunteers, coaches and parents are anxiously looking forward to kicking the dew off the grass on a glorious Queensland winter morning’s across the sunshine state.
The players who are pulling on their club guernsey for the first time will have the butterfly’s in the bellies. As they run out of the change room to the applause of their proud parents who are eagerly awaiting the first bounce with the smell of sausages and onions sizzling away on the barbie filling the air.
Generous applause is evident for both teams as they go goal for goal in the first half. The players are thankful for the oranges at half time with many of the fierce combatants wearing the skins as mouthguards for the start of the second half! The message from the coach at the long break is for the players rotate positions and to try to get little Johnny, the first gamer, a goal!
What a fantastic start to the weekend! Families spending time together, meeting new people while participating in our great game.
As the three quarter siren approaches, one of the parents yells out to the 13 year old umpire “C’mon mate, open your eyes up!” a minute later, the same parent along with two other parents shout out comments directed at young inexperienced official, then encouraging their child to smash the other team.
At three quarter time, Bill the coach, notices a difference in his happy, boisterous team from 15 minutes earlier. His team are whinging about the umpiring and there is talk of ‘going to smash the opposition’. Bill noticed the inappropriate actions of a few of his parents and decided to take action before things got worse. He approached the three dads who had been yelling abuse and asked one question.
“Do you think that the way you are behaving is making the day a better experience for everyone?”
The three dads, with a bewildered look on their faces, answered the question after a few seconds of silence. . .”No, probably not” and “No”.
Bill resettled his team, emphasising the importance of good sportsmanship, respecting the umpire and then sent his team a goal of getting everybody in the team a kick in the last quarter.
The players accepted the coach’s challenge and although they did not score in the last quarter, every player got a kick so the players walked off extremely happy.
Players and Parents converge as the coach gives the final wrap up. The awards are given and the parents are still analysing the team’s performance they are quickly interrupted by a pull of the shirt from their wounded warriors, “Can I have some money for a drink Dad?” or “Can we stop at Macca’s on the way home? pleeease Mum . . . pleeeeeaaase?”
The AFL Kids First Policy is designed to help improve match day environments for all participants and to eliminate situations like the story above. The junior players will often learn behaviours from their adult counterparts so the Kids First Policy is directed at parents to act appropriately on all occasions as they are setting the example for their children.
Next weekend, Round 1, will be Kids First weekend which will set the standards for the entire season, please take time to understand the requirements and lead by example.
AFL Darling Downs Juniors
ROUND 1
SATURDAY MARCH 26th
Last Modified on 07/04/2011 11:07
