Every weekend across New Zealand, thousands of parents, coaches and supporters line up on sports fields and courts wanting to do one thing: encourage the girls they love.
New research by 2degrees surveyed girls 11 to 16 across New Zealand about sideline support.
It revealed that while the intention is almost always positive, the words girls hear from the sidelines can shape how they experience sport, and with girls leaving organised sport at around twice the rate of boys, getting that encouragement right matters.
While more than half of girls surveyed said that they feel more pressure when supporters are watching, nearly all believe the right kind of sideline support can help girls stay in sport for longer.
Encouragement matters most when the pressure is on: nearly two-thirds (63 percent) value sideline support most during big games, closely followed by when they’re underperforming (58 percent).
Support when losing (42 percent) was considered almost twice as important as support when winning (23 percent). Perhaps most revealing wasn’t just when girls wanted support – but what they wanted to hear.
The girls’ words help them on the sidelines and motivate them:
- “Good job, keep going”
- “I’m proud of you”
- “We’ve got this, girls”
- “I believe in you”
- “It’s okay, next time”
- “Great pass/tackle/run”
- “You’re getting better every day”
- “Keep your head up”
The unhelpful words they don’t want to hear:
- Constant instructions from the sideline
- Criticism after mistakes
- Comparisons with other players
- Pressure to win
- Arguments with referees or coaches
These words, which matter most to the girls, inspired The Line, the latest from the 2degrees SupportHER Club. The girls’ own words have been turned into a distinctive blue boundary line for sports fields and courts across the country.
Before the next game, 2degrees has encouraged supporters to explore The Line resources designed to help supporters create a positive sporting environment for girls.
