Mo tatou te Poitarawhiti Toitu – Netball Belongs to Everyone 

This powerful message, emphasizing that everyone should feel valued and connected through netball, guided the efforts of Netball Waitakere and Sport Waitakere to make the atmosphere at the Upper North Island Secondary Schools (UNISS) tournament more than just a competition—it became a celebration of community. 

Sport Waitākere’s Rangatahi Sports Advisor, Jemma Palmer, explains the vision behind the Sideline Campaign. “UNISS is an annual tournament where schools come together to showcase their netball teams across four grades—A, B, C, and D. It’s an action-packed week that celebrates young athletic talent and the incredible team spirit that makes this event so special. But we wanted to ensure that the tournament wasn't just about the game; it was about creating an inclusive, positive environment for everyone involved.”       

Understanding the critical role rangatahi would play in shaping the tournament’s atmosphere, Palmer encouraged participants to share their experiences and guide the tone of the competition through social media. This led to the creation of The Sideline Campaign, a youth-led initiative aimed at promoting positive sideline behaviour and inclusivity during the week-long event. 

The campaign was a community-driven approach that placed rangatahi at the centre. By connecting it to platforms that youth already engage with, like TikTok, the Sideline Campaign ensured that the voices of young people would drive the behaviour and expectations at the tournament. Jemma Palmer reflects, “Murray Gardiner, General Manager of Netball Waitakere, reached out to discuss how we could collaborate on promoting positive sideline behaviour. We recognized the opportunity to use rangatahi voices to make a big impact, and from there, the campaign took off.” 

The Sideline Campaign leveraged social media to engage a wider audience, with TikTok challenges and posts from schools like Rutherford High, which received over a thousand views. One player shared, “Doing the TikTok challenge was so funny, but we were able to share the message while having fun,” emphasizing how the campaign blended joy and purpose. In addition, testimonials shared on Facebook and Instagram helped reinforce the message of respect and inclusivity, keeping it at the forefront of everyone’s mind throughout the event. 

The impact of the Sideline Campaign on sideline behaviour was significant. Spectators, players, and referees all noticed a natural shift in how people interacted on the sidelines. “It felt like an unspoken rule, like when you go to someone’s home and you automatically take your shoes off,” said one observer, capturing the subtle yet powerful change in the atmosphere. Murray Gardiner, General Manager of Netball Waitakere, saw firsthand how the campaign helped improve sideline behaviour. "It became clear that the campaign empowered everyone to champion the right way to behave on the sideline," he said. "We saw a shift where players, coaches, and fans felt more connected to the wider netball community, creating an environment of inclusivity that will continue to shape future events." 

Under Jemma Palmer’s leadership, the Sideline Campaign demonstrated how a rangatahi-centered approach can have a lasting impact. By giving youth, a voice and encouraging everyone to embrace the values of respect and inclusivity, the campaign not only changed the way the tournament was experienced but also set a powerful example for future netball events. 

Article added: Thursday 12 December 2024