Netball abuse - children in tears

The abuse was so bad in one game that play was stopped. Photo / Thinkstock

A top netball administrator has hit back at adult spectators and parents for abusing young players and umpires at a children's netball game.

The abuse, including swearing at players and supporters of opposition teams, was so bad in one game last weekend that play was stopped.

Some children - aged five to 11 - were left in tears and had to be taken from the court.

Netball Waitakere has issued a call on its website for supporters to show better sportsmanship after the sideline behaviour during games at the Te Pai Centre in Henderson, West Auckland, last weekend.

Games convenor Sherryn Wells urged spectators to change their ways.

"I find it very sad that I have to write this to all clubs, schools, teams, parents, supporters and family members," she said in the website letter.

"Last Saturday brought out some not very nice attitudes, words, actions and really anything else you can imagine towards players and umpires on court.

"The behaviour resulted in players in tears, in one case both teams had to be removed from the court to let things calm down between the sidelines.

"The abuse that is [being] directed from sideline to opposition teams is sad and shows no sportsmanship.

"But now we have parents abusing their own players if they are not playing to their expectations."

Ms Wells did not want to speak to the Herald when contacted.

But in her website letter she said abuse towards umpires had escalated.

"As some on the sideline think they are the umpires, we welcome you to take the whistle [at] the start of the game and umpire for your own team," she wrote.

It is understood Netball Waitakere has received complaints from local clubs which play at the Te Pai courts.

One is the Shirkhan Tigers Netball Club.

Spokesman Poi Teei said the behaviour directed at players from spectators could be upsetting.

"Younger girls being intimidated by some ladies. It's the college teams. They're the ones that are always hassled."

Club manager Mona Silika said: "We've had this happen to our junior girls [and] college girls," she said.

Some days it was, "more like a game of rugby".

- additional reporting, Andrew Koubaridis