Keep it Positive: A community-wide sideline behaviour campaign

Sport is more than just competition - it’s about connection, growth and community. Whether you're a player, coach, supporter or volunteer, your presence on the sideline shapes the experience for everyone involved.

The Keep it Positive campaign is a united, region-wide initiative to promote respectful, supportive sideline behaviour across all sporting codes. This campaign is taking place across the wider Waitaha Canterbury region and Te Tai Poutini West Coast, bringing together communities from across the motu.

Keep It Positive is about creating safe, welcoming environments where everyone feels valued. It’s a shared commitment to showing respect to officials, teammates, opponents, and staying composed under pressure.

From grassroots to elite levels, we all have a role to play in uplifting our sporting culture.

You’ll see our messaging on sideline boards and around your local fields, but this is more than just signage. It’s a movement to build better experiences for our tamariki and rangatahi, support our volunteers and officials, and ensure sport remains a positive force in our communities.

Together, we’re setting clear and consistent expectations for sideline behaviour; no matter the sport, no matter the setting. By encouraging effort, applauding good play from both teams and letting coaches coach, we’re fostering a culture of respect, encouragement, and pride.

Let’s stand side by side and Keep it Positive - for stronger connections, better game days and a more united sporting community.

Why Keep it Positive Matters

Sideline behaviour can have a powerful impact on how players, especially tamariki and rangatahi, experience sport.

It's not just background noise, it's a part of the game. By Keeping it Positive, we help ensure sport remains a place of connection, growth and joy.

Influencing enjoyment and motivation

  • Positive encouragement helps players feel supported, confident and proud of their efforts
  • Negative behaviour, such as yelling, criticism or sideline coaching, can create pressure, anxiety and even embarrassment.

Shapes mindset and development

  • Respectful sideline behaviour fosters a growth mindset, where players focus on learning and improving rather than just winning
  • It helps build resilience and emotional regulation, especially when players see adults model calm and respectful reactions.

Builds a safe and inclusive environment

  • When everyone on the sideline shows kindness and respect, it creates a space where players feel safe to express themselves and take risks
  • This is especially important for tamariki and rangatahi, who are still developing their confidence and identity in sport.

Player retention

  • Players who feel judged or pressured are more likely to drop out of sport
  • Those who feel encouraged and valued are more likely to stay involved, build friendships, and grow a lifelong love of sport.

Keep it Positive starts with YOU

Creating a better sideline experience is a team effort and you are a key part of it.

Whether you're a parent, coach, player, official or supporter, your actions help shape the culture of sport in our region. ​​​​​​​

Together, we can build a sporting environment where respect, encouragement and connection are at the heart of every game.

✅ Model positive behaviour: Show respect, stay calm and encourage fair play every game, every time

🗣️ Spread the word: Share the campaign with your club, team and community. Use our resources to promote positive sideline behaviour

📥 Download the assets: Save the social media graphics above to spread awareness. If you’d like side-line signage or posters to help bring the campaign to life at your local games, contact us.

🤝 Support volunteers and officials: A kind word or a thank you goes a long way. Let’s uplift those who make sport possible​​​​​​​

📸 Share your story: Tag us in your photos and videos using #KeepItPositive and #SportCanterbury to show how your team is making a difference.