By Edmond Otis

Edmond is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Health Science at the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT), in Hawke's Bay. You can email him at eotis@eit.ac.nz

To be honest, problem sideline behaviour is usually addressed in one of two, less then effective, ways. In the first - when ugly, un-sportsmanlike, and occasionally violent incidents happen at practice or during games, we talk about them on the way home, or over a beer, and occasionally at board meetings. We agree that somebody should do something about it, but nobody does - and the next time it happens we shake our heads and repeat the pattern.

In the second way - parents, coaches, officials, teams, sponsors, codes, decide to take action. However, because there is no consistent voice or standard, and lots of opinions, these efforts don't really work that well. People end up feeling scapegoated or frustrated. We may end-up with fairly arbitrary, hard to enforce "rules", many of which are contrary to a "normal" sporting environment. Often, we decide to leave it 'til later - hoping it won't happen again.

There is, however, a third way that I've started to call "The Simple Solution". It's being successfully implemented in a variety of forms, by more and more codes and sports.

My name for it is a bit dishonest. Because, as we all know from sporting success - "simple" is almost never the same thing as "easy". And, as in sport, success takes teamwork, clarity, consistency, and the understanding that the beginning stages of making a change - are often the most difficult.

Also, as a lot of the research shows, the Simple Solution doesn't always work, either. But that's understandable from what we also learn from sports. Think of it this way, most athletes and teams, in any given sport, train with a fairly similar "method". This makes the success of that method hard to quantify because if you only consider the losers - that method never works. On the other hand, if you only consider the winners - the method works 100% of the time. The truth is, how we use the method - is as important - as the method we use.

OK, so what are some of the factors that need to come together in order to change our spectator's sideline behaviour?

1. Buy-in and direction

The code, as an entity, needs to decide that it is embracing a "sideline behaviour culture shift". Simply, the regional code needs to buy-in. Generally, this decision is motivated by external pressure from the community, press, participants, players, parents, officials, sponsors, and, of course, the desire to do the right thing.

If all the participating teams and coaches don't buy-in within a region's code, we see very little chance of lasting change or any real success.

2. The concept

Make no mistake - this is a team effort. Everyone on the team contributes to the desired outcome of positive, supportive, and sportsman-like sideline behaviour, and everyone has a role. The key is that, if you are a stakeholder - in any aspect of the code - you are part of the team. You are supporting the "Sideline Behaviour Cultural Shift" through actions and teamwork.

The graphic you see represents how the team looks.

3. Endorsement and blessing

In this model, as with any team, the head coach is at the heart of identifying a team's goal and is "the point man", who galvanizes the effort. The coach needs to give a public endorsement and blessing regarding his view of, "How our sideline participants need to behave - to help the team the most". Fundamentally, this is no different than what most coaches do at the beginning of any season. The power of the coach, stating clearly, "I support this", "Here's the plan", "This is important to our team", is critical.

Note: Coaches are busy. If training sessions are held around this topic, or talks given, the coach doesn't necessarily need to do them, it's the endorsement that is important.

4. Define the community

A mandatory preseason meeting needs to be held with the team, coaches, parents, sponsors, volunteers, AND OFFICIALS, all in attendance. This is where we publically lay out the plan and identify the mission statement. The tone should be more like a pep rally and less like a funeral. It should be fun and give everyone an opportunity to see that everyone else involved. This event can be powerful and sets the tone for what follows.

5. Logistics and the plan

A campaign is laid out where all the members of the team; from coaches, to athletes, to parents, to supporters, to officials, etc., have a role and a responsibility, and understand how important that contribution is. There are numerous ways teams can go on this.

6. Follow through

The team and code follow through on the logistics and the plan.

General considerations

Within this general outline a lot of options are available; from strict rules and penalties, to education and branding, to mentoring and "cheer teams". The decisions and course of action that is taken is based on the code, the problem, and the goals.

As an example, one of my favorite logistic concepts that groups are embracing, could be described as "police your own". The reasoning is simple. If you bring friends or family to a birthday party, or a wedding, or another social gathering - you are responsible for their behaviour. Well, a game is a social gathering. When people come to watch your kid play - tell them how you want them to act before there is a problem, "Mate, this is great! We cheer, we never boo. We leave the referee alone. Wow! The kids play better that way!"

Another concept that seems to have an effect, especially when presented by the coach, is helping people understand a simple reality. Often, intense, negative, sideline behaviors, destroy the desire and joy of young players to play the sport they love. It has a significant negative effect on our young athletes performance, and in many cases kills promising careers before they have a chance to bloom.

The Simple Solution movement is on the upswing. Currently Sport Hawke's Bay is rolling out "Are You Part of The Team?" a sideline behaviour culture shift program, for 2014, where they are offering to partner with all codes who are serious about addressing this issue for their community.

Are you part of the team?