About Positive or it's pointless

When was the Positive or it's pointless campaign introduced?

The Positive or it's Pointless campaign is an initiative originally developed by the Australian Football League (AFL) under the banner "Positive or Pointless".

The four Brisbane based junior football codes (AFL Brisbane, Brisbane Junior Rugby Union, Football Brisbane and Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League) got together in 2008 to address shared problems and adapted the campaign for a wider audience.

The Department of Communities funded the extended Positive or it's pointless campaign, which was rolled out in 2009.

What are the aims of the campaign?

The campaign aims to reduce poor and unacceptable player, spectator and parent behaviour. The basic principles reinforced through Positive or it's pointless are:
- Sport for children is a vital part of their growing up
- Children like to win, but more importantly, they want to have fun
- Parents need to set the right example at the sports ground, not just at home
- Parents should be proud of their child's effort, irrespective of the result
- Sport is important to children's self esteem

What are the plans for the future?

The Queensland Government is committed to encouraging positive behaviour in all junior sporting environments.

The Positive or it's pointless campaign has been so successful amongst the Brisbane football clubs over the past few years, that the Queensland Government has introduced a phased rollout to all sports in Queensland.

Through Phase Two of the campaign, the Department of Communities, Sport and Recreation Services, is working with the state sporting organisations of a number of team sports (football, rugby league, rugby union, Australian football, cricket, netball, basketball, softball, baseball and hockey) to determine appropriate engagement strategies for junior clubs and associations state-wide.

What about the True Sport Lives Here initiative?

The Queensland Government will continue to build upon the tools and templates available through the Positive or it's pointless campaign.

As a means to do this, the department will be encouraging the sport and recreation industry's involvement in an evaluation of the department's previously delivered positive behaviour in sport initiative, True Sport Lives Here.

Information obtained from this evaluation will be used to inform the future development of resources and training provided by the department.

Need more information?

If you have any questions about Positive or it's pointless, contact us by email at Positiveoritspointless@communities.qld.gov.au