Latest fromSideline Champs

Hannah Spyksma's open letter: To the men who told me at Eden Park last Saturday evening: "If you don't like us using the word 'faggot' then don't come to the footy..."

A young woman who asked three All Blacks fans at Eden Park not to use homophobic slurs was told by the men that "it's just part of the game".

Abusive spectators in New Zealand are following the example of hostile crowds in other parts of the world, says Olympic hockey star Shea McAleese.

The Race Relations Commissioner has condemned racism at junior sports events, as a new survey reveals high levels of racial abuse on the sidelines.

The mum of Brayden Challis, 18, may not have to go to every game he referees if a new sideline supporter programme launched by New Zealand Rugby yesterday is successful.

The best and worst of behaviour was demonstrated yesterday on the sidelines of school sport.

A father who ordered his son to punch another boy in the face during an under-9s rugby league game has admitted he lost his temper in a "stupid call" that he deeply regrets.

A junior rugby coach has been banned from his club after allegedly head-butting a stand-in referee at an under-7s match.

Mums, dads and other fans reported a mix of behaviour, good and bad, on the sidelines of grassroots sports around New Zealand last week.

If you're wondering how one of this country's most famous basketball players got started in the sport, look no further than his mother.

As an Auckland police officer, Glen Green felt he was wasting his time arresting wayward youngsters, already on a depressing merry-go-round of crime and punishment.

A Kelston Boys' High School parent who punched softball great Eddie Kohlhase on the sidelines of a rugby match will miss seeing his son play this season.

A junior rugby coach has been banned from his club after allegedly headbutting a stand-in referee at an early morning under-7s match last weekend.

All Blacks legend Grant Fox believes Kiwi fans booing kicks at international matches could be shooting themselves in the foot.

The first thing that struck me as being wildly different from my youth playing days was the pre-match team talk.

Sideline Champs ambassadors like Richard Kahui, Casey Kopua and Ivan Vicelich are an inspiration to young Kiwis on the sports fields and courts each week.

When a ref gives a player the red card, he doesn't expect a cheery thank you. But when Len Gattsche red-carded Manukau City footballer Tama Fasavalu for persistent heavy tackling last year, he received a punch to the head that broke his jaw in three place

Softball great Eddie Kohlhase was punched on the sideline of an Auckland schools rugby match last weekend, the latest in a line of shameful incidents officials are trying to stamp out.