I think we need a new war cry.

Just a little shout. A few words and a fair call.

Because I’ve decided the “rah rah rah” at the end of a game isn’t enough.

Let me explain… To do so I need you to come with me to kids’ weekend sport.

You get up and go to Saturday morning games for fun right?

But when my son’s under 12 soccer game finished a few weeks ago something was off.

The referee’s whistle blew and the boys huddled in the centre of the field. Sweaty and happy, or so I thought.

As the two teams formed lines to shake hands, one kid on the opposing team said “F*ck you” to every player on my son’s team. Every handshake, a curse.

It wasn’t a particularly important game. They’re in a low division. They’re 11 years old.

“F*ck you.”

And the opposing team was from a suburb in Brisbane that would be considered “privileged”.

I swear. I’m not a prude. But the lack of good sportsmanship that’s creeping in has me wondering what we can do to prioritise “play” in games.

Every so often you hear of a disgusting spillover at a junior rugby league game. Last month at a match between the Redcliffe Dolphins and Norths Devils there was an altercation between a linesman and a parent.

It was an under 11s game. Yes, as in primary school aged children kicking and passing an egg shaped ball around for what should be 80 minutes of fun. Queensland Rugby League is investigating. Let’s see what kind of an example gets set at the State of Origin.

Anecdotally, I’ve heard from parents across a range of junior sports where attitudes aren’t exactly man-of-the-match worthy. Basketball, netball, tennis tantrums. Not sure if there’s any sandpaper at junior cricket. Wickedness in water polo. Rough tactics that tip over into foul play.

So weekend sport results in frustrated parents, confused kids, umpires under attack. Sometimes it’s physical. Then rightly, it’s criminal.

It got me thinking about how to set a standard that says we all agree to be part of the same team. Regardless of code or club. When you play sport – as the kid, the parent, the coach or in the canteen, can we agree, we’re all part of the community that wants to be fit, happy and safe?

What about a new shout out… before the game begins?

Something that acknowledges a code of conduct where good players don’t just score goals, they show respect for opponents. They don’t laugh when someone gets hurt or misses. I’ve seen that happen. Coaches yelling for physical revenge in a non-contact sport. How appalling. How pathetic. It’s dangerous.

We all contribute to the environment at kids sports. So can we get back to the catchphrase… it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.

I reckon we can. And maybe it’ll take a small change at the beginning of every game.

Walk onto the field and yell a message to each other and to those on the sidelines that the game is exactly that. A game.

Choose your own war cry – whatever works for your sport.

There’s a website www.playbytherules.net.au that has a range of posters for clubs.

Essentially the message is…

This is a game.
The players are children.
The match officials are human.
The coaches are volunteers.

Maybe that’s what should be shouted at the start of every game.