Co-curricular

The Love of Sport

What is important in sport? Is it always about winning? My daughters have just taken up AFL at their school. Both have never played. As parents, my wife and I just want them to be active. They have played three games each and both have lost all their games by more than 50 points. While they may not be winning, they are having fun with their friends. Do not get me wrong, teaching our children to be competitive and winning games is important. However, teaching them to be good sports and playing the game in the spirit that it was intended is more important.

Over the last few weeks as I have taken on the role of Acting Director of Co-Curricular, I have seen sport played at its best, however, I have also seen occasions where we, as a College have not done ourselves proud.

When things do not go our way, it is important as parents/carers that we always role model our own behaviour. I have seen a distinct difference in the way parents act at girls’ schools as opposed to boys. At my daughter’s school, I have not seen parents call out from the sideline unless it is encouraging. Here at St Patrick’s over the last few weeks, unfortunately there have been occasions where parents have been disparaging of our opposition.

This type of behaviour is unacceptable here at the College. We expect so much from our students; we also expect our parents to model behaviour for their sons. Calling out to referees is never acceptable; calling out to the opposition players is totally unacceptable. 

I have noticed a difference between sporting codes when we talk about the way we treat our referees. This comes from, I believe, competitive sport at the highest level. You do not see our test cricketers question umpires; therefore, you do not see our cricket students question the umpires. On the other hand, we do see NBA players and EPL players question referees, so once again, this behaviour then flows down to our youngest players. What we need though is for parents/carers to call out the unacceptable behaviour of NBA and EPL players when they question the referees. We need you as parents to reinforce that this kind of behaviour of our so-called superstars is unacceptable.

Often our referees are young students, so calling out to referees creates Child Safeguarding issues for us here at the College. Even if they are adults, they are just doing their job. I cannot imagine our parents/carers putting up with someone walking into their workplace and abusing them and thinking that was okay.

I remind all parents/carers of our Parent Code Of Conduct and the ISA Code of Conduct.

Together we can do better. Together we must do better to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students, of your sons.

Remember that these are school children and this is school sport.

Adrian Byrne

Deputy Principal | Acting Director of Co-curricular