Strong action against spectators who abuse referees, parents or other spectators is expected to be introduced in Otago for the next junior rugby season.
The plans are contained in a draft code of conduct that has been approved by a sub-committee of the Otago Rugby Football Union's Metropolitan Advisory Board.
It was prepared by rugby clubs and the union's schools liaison officer, Brett Compton.
"It is quite hard hitting but needs to be, given the prevalence of issues dogging our sidelines," Mr Compton said in a covering note.
The code, once adopted, would apply to junior and secondary school rugby throughout Otago.
"The code of conduct will apply across the province to all parents, spectators and coaches affiliated to our junior game.
There will be no exceptions," the draft stated.
"Verbal and physical abuse is increasing on our rugby sidelines at junior games across the province, to a point that it is now time for all levels of rugby administration to denounce it outright."
The report calls for the game to be played and enjoyed by all its participants - players, coaches, parents and volunteers.
The union's junior advisory group is expected to approve the draft at its next meeting, in February.
The draft emphasised the game was for children, not adults. If adults could not behave on the sidelines, they should stay away from games.
The draft also said "all players must be given game time".
"They are to be encouraged and not chastised. The rules allow for games to be managed if there is a large inequality between the two teams."
The referee was sacrosanct and determined the rulings on the field, not the so-called jury on the sideline. Abuse of referees was on the verge of being out of control and such behaviour would not be tolerated any further.
"We have had physical altercations occurring between adults with 50 kids watching.
"We need order - that's the bottom line, and current steps haven't worked to address the problem."
The provisions, expected to be in place next year involved co-operation between clubs, the union and police.
The duties of the clubs were to identify and deal with offenders and to let parents know their membership was conditional upon appropriate behaviour on and off the field.
A club official should be given the role of crowd control for home games to keep boisterous people in check.
If there was repeat behaviour from the same spectator parent, the club should invite the parent to a meeting to discuss the issues.
The union would encourage clubs to refer complaints about abuse of referees to the the union if the matter was too serious for their own systems.
A judicial panel would convene and use the powers provided by the national union and Black Book regulations to address the situation.
The person alleged to have committed acts of misconduct must attend a hearing with the union to address the complaint, and could be stood down from any involvement in rugby.
Victims of any assault on the sideline would be encouraged by the union to lay a complaint with the police immediately.
Do's and Don'ts
Do's:
The game must be enjoyed by players, coaches, parents and volunteers.
All players must be given game time.
Players must be encouraged, not chastised.
The game is for the children, not parents.
The referee is sacrosanct and determines rulings on the field, not the jury on the sideline.
Don'ts:
No verbal or physical abuse of referees.
No chastisement of players.
No physical altercations between adult spectators or parents.
