As part of the FDBA Junior Competition Committee, we want to remind everyone of our expectations around parent and spectator behaviour at games.
As a club, we want to ensure a positive environment where our kids can enjoy basketball, develop their skills and feel supported.
This is a reminder that it is the responsibility of our coaches to help keep their team’s spectators accountable to these expectations.
Team Managers can also play an important role in reinforcing this message with parents.
We understand that games can get heated and that emotions run high at times – that is part of sport. However, it is never an excuse for behaviour that is inappropriate, intimidating or disrespectful.
Poor behaviour includes, but is not limited to:
- Yelling at or abusing referees or players
- Yelling at the score bench
- Overzealous or inappropriate coaching from the sidelines
- Swearing of any description
- Aggressive or intimidating body language
- Any behaviour that negatively impacts the experience or safety of players, officials or other spectators
Please remember that referees are not able to issue a technical foul against a team for poor spectator behaviour. However, Court Supervisors have the authority to ask spectators to leave and can report serious or ongoing incidents to the tribunal.
We want to encourage a culture where we can respectfully remind each other of our club values during games. If you see behaviour that isn’t appropriate, it is okay to calmly remind the person of the expectations – we are all responsible for creating the environment we want our kids to experience.
We also need to remember that our kids are watching us. Coaches, parents and spectators are role models, and the way we respond to referees, opposition players and each other is one of the most important things we teach them through sport.
We have below an Anonymous Reporting Form
For anyone who witnesses poor behaviour and doesn’t feel comfortable or safe raising it during a game. This form will allow the committee to be made aware of concerns and follow them up appropriately.
Thank you for helping us build a club culture that we can all be proud of.