Zespri AIMS Games

This year, the Zespri AIMS Games is partnering with Sport Bay of Plenty and Sport Waikato to promote Positive Vibes Only throughout the event.

So, what is Positive Vibes Only?

The highly successful Positive Vibes Only campaign was originally piloted by Sport Waikato and Hamilton City Netball at the Upper North Island Secondary School (UNISS) Netball tournament in August 2023. Since then, a number of Regional Sport Organisations have started to roll out the campaign across their competitions and tournaments in a partnered effort to address negative sideline behaviour and raise the standards of positive sideline support.

The campaign really drills down to the ‘why’– why are some supporters negative, do they know they’re being negative or affecting the players, and how can we help them to understand the implications of their actions? With a focus on positivity and helping people to change their language and behaviour rather than highlighting the negativity, the campaign is about creating environments for all participants to enjoy whether you are a player, coach, supporter, parent, official or administrator. At the end of the day, we want everyone to continue to enjoy sport and be involved for life.

The Zespri AIMS Games isn’t just about winning, it’s about participating and giving it your best. We want everyone at the event to have an incredible tournament experience, whether their role is on or off the field.

Look out for the Positive Vibes Only ambassadors at the 2025 Zespri AIMS Games, bringing the vibe to the sidelines!

What can you do to show your support?

Accessorize in pink! Hair ribbons, t-shirts, tutus or even face paint!
Make sure that you, your team and their supporters are familiar with the Zespri AIMS Games Fairplay Oath. It is a core focus of the event and what we expect from our participants.
Talk to your team about the Zespri AIMS Games Sportsmanship Medals and the attributes that are looked for when awarding these.
Encourage your sideline supporters by reminding them it’s ‘positive vibes only!’

POSITIVE SPORTING EXPERIENCE

COACH APPRECIATION

PARENT SUPPORT

KEEPING SPORT FUN

MEASURING SUCCESS

WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM

THE CAR RIDE HOME

The game went pretty well, they didn’t win but the kids seemed to be enjoying themselves. Your child made some errors, missed a goal but also made some good saves, great passes and tried really hard.

They came off the field smiling, chatting with their friends and you head to the car.

As you head home, you start to analyse the game, giving your child instruction on what to do better next time to avoid the errors that happened today. You’re not being negative, it’s just critique and help so they can do better next time right?

They came off buzzing but now they are just staring out the window. Their mood has changed. And you were just trying to help.

Whilst the tendency may be to unpack every moment of the match or competition, and evaluate every aspect, this process is best led by your child.

Being able to reflect critically, but positively, on a performance is a really valuable tool to learn and improve for next time. It is also a valuable life skill that can be applied in other areas of a young person’s life.

We also want that reflection to be a positive experience that your tamariki and rangatahi find valuable so it can become habitual. Here are a few reflection tips to make that car ride home a positive one for all:

Give them space and time to reflect internally before all the questions. Read the room (or car) – you’ll quickly know if your child is keen to talk about anything – or not!
Your child may prefer to journal, or write things down in a notebook. This is a valuable reflection tool and may lead to them having further conversations with you – or not!
If you are lucky enough for your child to start talking about the match or competition – be a great listener. You can also use guided questioning such as “What were your goals for the game?”, “Is there anything you wish you had tried or done differently?”, “What could you focus on next time?”, “Is there any help or support you need from me?”

If the end goal is learning and improvement for next time, ensure that your child’s car ride home looks like care, feels like love, and sounds like happiness (and maybe includes a pie on the way home!).