Sporting heroes urge spectators to Shoosh for Kids at summer sport

Australian sporting heroes, including Olympic and Paralympic athletes have issued a call to parents and spectators to ‘Shoosh for Kids’ at junior sport this summer.

The call was made to launch of the NSW Government’s Shoosh for Kids Program Summer Campaign which promotes positive spectator behaviour at junior sport.

The Program involves NSW sporting clubs, their members, associations and State Sporting Organisations promoting the Shoosh for Kids message at community sport and on social media through a range of resources, including posters, signage and social media content.

Sports can sign up to the summer campaign on the NSW Office of Sport website: https://sport.nsw.gov.au/shooshforkids

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said: “With junior summer sport underway, we’re reminding parents and spectators to ‘Shoosh for Kids’ so that we keep kid’s sport fun.

“Negative sideline behaviour can have an effect on everyone involved in community sport, however, not just kids.

“Sadly, there’s too many examples of referees, coaches, volunteers and officials being on the receiving end of negative sideline behaviour.

“So, when sport gets heated this summer, Shoosh for Kids and let’s keep them playing the game.”

Pictured from left to right: Sam Fricker, Australian Olympic diving representative/NSWIS, Scholarship athlete; Genevieve Longman, Australian Stingers water polo representative and Olympic Silver Medallist/NSWIS; Tim Hodge, Paris 2024 Paralympics swimming gold medallist/NSWIS; Lauren Kua, Sydney Sixers WBBL player; Sienna Hearn, Australian Stingers Water Polo representative and Olympic Silver Medallis/NSWIS, and Hayden Kerr, Sydney Sixers BBL player.

Australian Stingers Water Polo representative and Olympic Silver Medallist, Sienna Hearn, a NSWIS Scholarship athlete said:

“Junior sport has given me some of my best memories.

“I wouldn’t be representing Australia if it wasn’t for the experiences I had as child.

“But I’ve also seen firsthand the impact negative sideline behaviour can have on players and volunteers.

“So, sign your club up to the Shoosh for Kids summer campaign today and let’s keep sport fun for kids.”

Office of Sport NSW