Ensuring all our players feel safe on and off the field is a high priority for the PANSW Board. This includes ensuring the support coming from the sidelines, in particular for our youth, is positive and supportive. 

Play By The Rules, a collaboration between Sport Integrity Australia, Sport Australia, the Australian Human Rights Commission, have some excellent resources that we are looking to share with the wider polocrosse community over the next few months.  

This month's helpful tips are for parents to ensure they bring their best self to the sideline! 

These tips include: 

• Be a good role model – children watch and learn from you, so make sure you set a good example. 
• Avoid a ‘win at all costs’ attitude – although you may think winning is important, so make sure you set a good example. 
• Be aware that your abusive behaviour may be against the law – ask yourself, “would my mother be upset or offended by what I am saying or doing?”. If the answer is yes, then it’s best to sit down and be quiet.  
• Try not to be critical of coaches, referees or umpires – many are volunteers who give their time to make sport possible for all our children, and some are just learning. If you have some constructive advice for them, leave it until after the game or have a chat with the head coach or referee. 

Members are also reminded that they are expected to abide by the Code of Conduct as printed in the Polocrosse Australia Rulebook. In the rulebook there are Codes of Behaviour for coachers, players, umpires, spectators and clubs. The PANSW Board would like to draw particular attention to the Code of Conduct for clubs which advises that clubs are responsible for ensuring it's members abide by the relevant code of conducts in the rulebook.