What is Good Sports?

The Good Sports program is a national initiative of the Australian Drug Foundation (ADF) to develop safer
and healthier communities. It is a free program which helps clubs change their culture to become more
focused on young people and families and less on the consumption of alcohol at high risk levels.

Good Sports works to create sustainable change by enabling sporting clubs to change their systems and practices around the responsible serving of alcohol. It has been developed to:

• Change the behaviour of players, supporters and members of community sporting clubs;
• Increase the viability and impact of sporting clubs in their communities;
• Reduce alcohol related problems such as drink driving, violence and assault.

Displaying the Good Sports logo sends an important message to club members and the community. It confirms that the club promotes a responsible attitude towards alcohol and that it provides a safe environment for players, members, families and supporters.

Benefits to Clubs

• ‘New’ club culture welcoming to families and juniors
• More attractive to sponsors
• New and diverse revenues streams
• Increase in membership, volunteers and teams
• Improved relationships with community organizations (local govt., police)
• Improved public image
• Reduced risk of liability
• Reduced alcohol-related problems (eg. Binge and underage drinking, violence, etc.)
• Applications for funding and grants strengthened.

Benefits to Communities

• Residents more connected and satisfied with their community
• Reduced violence, noise, injury and damage to facilities
• Reduced road trauma and drink driving incidents
• More young people protected from the misuse of legal and illegal drugs
• Improved health and fitness of community members
• More viable and family focused sporting clubs

How does the program work?

The key strategy of Good Sports is the accreditation program. The three level accreditation criteria consist of a set of alcohol management standards for clubs that serve and consume alcohol. Clubs are required to move through the levels in a set amount of time (maximum 5 years), maintaining all the criteria from previous levels as they do so. A Good Sports Project Officer assists the club through the entire process.

Level 1:

• Comply with liquor license laws
• Bar management (RSA training)
• Smoke-free

Level 2:

• Maintenance of Level 1 criteria
• Enhanced bar management (RSA training, etc.)
• Food and drink (low and non alcoholic) options
• Safe transport policy
• Diverse revenue generation

Level 3:

• Maintenance of Level 1 & 2 criteria
• Alcohol management policy

At each level, the club must promote their involvement in the program to their members.

Clubs that do not serve or consume alcohol may apply for Level 0:

Level 0:

• Alcohol-free facilities
• Smoke-free
• Diverse revenue generation
• Promotion (Good Sports program)
• Safe transport policy
• Alcohol management policy

Good Sports has been adopted by a diverse range of community sports clubs. It is currently operating in a number of states across Australia with over 3500 clubs involved

Further information:

Visit the Good Sports website on www.goodsports.com.au or contact the National Office (goodsports@adf.org.au or (03) 9278 8135) for more information or to register your club.