A campaign designed to stamp out sideline referee abuse on community rugby fields throughout the country was launched last weekend.
Developed in response to a need identified by rugby referees associations around the country, it is aptly titled ''Let's kick referee abuse for touch'' and aims to incite peer pressure among
spectators through on-field signage with the line, ''Scream for your team, not at the ref''.
Supporting the campaign is AMI Insurance, which combined with the Auckland union in a similar initiative last year that saw a dramatic decrease in reported referee abuse
''Volunteer referees are the unsung heroes of grass-roots rugby, without them there would not be a game and yet they are often the target of spectators' misguided passion,'' said James Munro of AMI Insurance who, after five years as a volunteer referee, is now blowing the whistle at senior level in Christchurch.
These sentiments are supported by the secretary of the Wairarapa-Bush RRA, Peter Debney, who believes referee abuse has not only become a problem in rugby, but other sports as well.
''As a referee you always know everything you do won't be popular with those watching, but it's gone from the days of what could be called friendly banter to where it is often beyond the pale,'' he said.
''Now the comments tend to be directed at match officials on a very personal basis and in a much more abusive tone.''
The five key issues facing referee associations nationwide have been listed as: _
Referees at junior level are unpaid volunteers and are often inexperienced, untrained and unprepared for abuse from the sidelines.
Junior clubs often recruit former players as referees but many of these are choosing coaching roles instead, as they are less likely to be abused by spectators.
High ''drop out'' rate after first season abuse experiences.
Spectators don't feel empowered to shut down inappropriate abuse from their fellow spectators.
Spectator abuse is difficult to deal with, as there is a fine line between banter and abuse and clubs have limited resources to deal with non-violent incidents by non club-affiliated spectators.
