Loudmouth parents ordered to be quiet on the sidelines to keep abusive parents under control

Pushy parents are being told to stop “screaming and shouting” from the sidelines at children’s matches. Almost 800 clubs and associations across all codes have agreed to a new crackdown to keep parents under control. FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE.

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Exclusive: Pushy parents are being told to stop “screaming and shouting” from the sidelines at children’s matches as part of a push to encourage good sports.

In a bid to clamp down on hysterical and often hurtful mums and dads, the guidelines remind the adults to “keep it fun” and not to take winning “too seriously”.

“Let coaches do the coaching” and “think before you speak: your words may harm” are part of the code that almost 800 clubs and associations across all codes have already signed up to.

The new rules have been introduced in a bid to clampdown on bad behaviour from parents.

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The rules also tell parents to accept officials’ decisions as “they’re human — they make mistakes” amid concerns over abuse of referees.

“We really want to raise awareness right across the community,” Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres said.

“If you’re standing on your sidelines — cheer your kids absolutely. But if the instinct kicks in to yell at the referee or have a crack at someone … the ‘shoosh for kids’ will make that person stop.”

Some tips parents can follow.

Before games, children and officials will “shoosh” the crowd to remind spectators to keep comments positive.

The guidelines state “if inappropriate behaviour is being displayed after this, the participants and officials stop, turn to the audience and ‘shoosh’ them”.

Audio clips will play at sports grounds featuring children telling parents to “reward a good effort with applause” or to keep quiet.

Mr Ayres said the guidelines had been brought in to address a worrying increase in parental bad behaviour.

Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres hopes the guidelines stops umpires and coaches from quitting sports due to abuse from parents. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

“There is no doubt we had seen a trend … on the side of community sporting grounds that we didn’t like. There was far too much hostility, far too much abuse of officials.”

Mr Ayres said he hoped the guidelines would stop officials, coaches and umpires — without whom no sports could survive — quitting because of abuse from parents.

“No one wants to rock up to work in any form and get abused by people,” he said.

Cricket NSW signed up to the guidelines last week.

“It’s important for kids to enjoy their sport without feeling harassed,” chief executive Andrew Jones said.

“No one starts out at as Ellyse Perry or Lionel Messi, they need to learn the game, make mistakes and just do their best.”