Rugby bosses tackle parents

Photo / Greg Bowker

Auckland rugby bosses have compiled Ten Commandments for schoolboy rugby matches in a bid to stop unruly parents and others ranting from the sidelines.

The campaign follows last year's drive to end the abuse of referees by players' supporters watching from the touch line.

Club rugby manager Matt McHardy said that while that drive targeted junior club rugby - age 13 and under - this year's included secondary school rugby.

The campaign - which begins this weekend - comes after "a couple of high-profile incidents", notably the ugly brawl between the 1st XVs of Auckland Grammar and Kelston Boys High School that also involved parents.

"We've twisted the campaign around to look through the eyes of those playing the game," Mr McHardy said.

"We're targeting parents who are perhaps living their past sporting lives through their kids, the ones who are abusing the people getting in the way of theirgoals."

Mr McHardy said the sort of on-field violence that marred secondary school rugby usually stemmed from the sideline.

"Someone on the sideline will make a comment another parent takes exception to. That [escalates], and as the parents get more fired up, that transfers on to the kids on the field."

Mr McHardy said two questions were asked: How do the kids on the field feel when this kind of behaviour is going on? What do they want from their supporters?

Rugby chiefs had looked at campaigns in Britain and the US before settling on the "rules", which are based on the research of clinical and sports psychologist Dr Darrell Burnett, author of It's Just a Game! - Youth, Sports & Self Esteem: A Guide for Parents.

"Out of 10 [commandments], parents and supporters might find three or four that relate to themselves," Mr McHardy said.

The problem of sideline abuse had not reached breaking point, but there were enough incidents for it to become a concern.

"I'd receive emails on a Monday as part of my club rugby role about incidents over the weekend.

"A lot of it was about abuse from the sidelines. I wouldn't say it was out of control, but every couple of weeks we were getting something through."

IT'S JUST A GAME

The Ten Commandments for sideline supporters:

Thou shalt not ...

* Yell out instructions.
* Yell at me in public.
* Yell at the coach.
* Put down my teammates.
* Put down the other team.
* Put down the officials.
* Lose your cool.
* Lecture me about my mistakes after the game.
* Forget how to laugh and have fun.
* Forget that it is just a game.