It’s a while since I put a blog together, so much to do helping our community game means my attention is often very focussed on the challenges our game faces, but felt compelled to put pen to paper having watched the excellent Warrington Wolves Community Foundation piece on the inspiring litter-picking collaboration between our disability teams and the Winwick Litter Pickers.
I must admit, seeing litter strewn across our public open spaces really impacts on my mental health. I find it difficult to see why people drop litter, or do similar antisocial things like leaving dog poo, or like in my locality, leaving dog poo bags in the verges and trees. I find this behaviour futile and good indicator, like those who don’t return their supermarket shopping trolleys after they’ve packed their cars, or park in parents and toddler spaces because its closest to the door, or in some cases to protect their precious cars; completely selfish and indicative of people with poor values.
What’s this got to do with Rugby League I hear you asking? My experience in playing the game, and working with our Community Clubs, has reinforced in my mind that Rugby League is a real force for good, developing excellent behaviours in the young people that play. Its not just our dedicated disability teams that do great things, so many of our teams and young people also contribute to making our town a great place to live.
Community Clubs players and members regularly support community activities such as litter picks, collecting for food banks and supporting the older communities locally, by organising special events for them. Every week I see evidence of some great good deeds and acts of kindness organised by our Community Clubs which makes me proud.
The game teaches respect and this filters through to positive personal behaviours. The All Blacks have a mantra called ‘Clean the Sheds’ where no one player is too important not to clean out the changing rooms after a game, and the same strong positive values conscientiousness, empathy and civic pride exist through our great game.
Worried your children may not have these positive values, then take them down one of our Community Rugby League Clubs. This won’t only be good for their health and wellbeing; it may help create that wonderful person who makes a positive difference in our society.
So, to conclude, rather than getting angry about seeing litter strewn about, I’m going to continue to encourage more people into our great game, do more litter picking and join one of our dedicated groups like Winwick Litter Pickers.
