“To create a safe, supportive, and positive sporting environment where every participant thrives and every spectator contributes to the enjoyment of the game.”

Introduced in June 2026, the POSITIVE SIDELINE BEHAVIOUR campaign is a long-term community initiative spear-headed by NC Sports and supported by Bayleys North Canterbury. The aim of the campaign is to support the North Canterbury sporting community in promoting and encouraging positive sideline behaviour, which includes spectators, coaches, managers and players.

What Is Positive Sideline Behaviour?
Positive sideline behaviour means:
• Encouraging effort, enjoyment and learning
• Showing respect for players, officials, coaches and volunteers
• Supporting fair play and ethical conduct
• Creating a safe and inclusive environment for all participants
 

Sidelines should enhance the sporting experience, not detract from it.

This campaign has been designed in alignment with:
• Sport New Zealand values and frameworks
• National Sporting Organisation (NSO) codes of conduct
• Child safeguarding and member protection expectations
• Best practice in ethical and sportsmanlike behaviour

How IS NC Sports working with clubs?
NC Sports is committed to support North Canterbury clubs and associations to foster a culture of encouragement, respect and good sportsmanship within their organisations. 
By promoting positive sideline behaviours across all sporting codes, we aim to create welcoming environments where participants, coaches, officials, volunteers and supporters all play a part in making sport enjoyable, inclusive and rewarding for everyone.  Together, we can help more people build confidence, stay involved and develop a lifelong love of sport and recreation.

More than just messaging
NC Sports value the important role that referees and officials play in our sporting community. In addition to providing branded merchandise and resourcing, NC Sports believe that giving officials a voice will create opportunities to recognise and celebrate success stories as well as identify opportunities for ongoing support and education.

Key Messages 
• Respect the game, the officials and each other
• Focus on effort, enjoyment and development—not outcomes
• Let coaches coach and officials officiate
• Be positive, calm and supportive from the sideline
• Remember: behaviour sets the example for young people

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Goals & Objectives
Cultural Change - create a region-wide culture shift in sideline behaviour, focusing on positivity, respect, and encouragement.
Education & Awareness - develop and deliver educational resources (workshops, digital campaigns, signage, videos).
Policy Development - collaborate with clubs and associations to establish codes of conduct, enforcement frameworks, and consistent messaging.
Capacity Building - The Positive Sports Advisor will coordinate and implement initiatives alongside the club’s and association management.
Enhance Partnerships - strengthen collaboration between clubs, schools, and national bodies to ensure alignment with best practice.
Monitoring & Evaluation - Establish KPIs to measure programme impact over time.

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