Calls for investigation into abuse at school basketball match

The coach allegedly continued to abuse the referee until the game was called off. Photo / Thinkstock

Basketball leaders are waiting for College Sport to start an investigation into a school match where a coach hurled abuse at a referee, causing the game to be canned.

The courtside incident occurred at a premier match between Auckland Girls Grammar School and Westlake Girls High School on Friday.

A spectator, who asked not to be named, said the Auckland Girls coach started yelling abuse at the referee about a decision he had made just after halftime.

The players stood stunned as the volunteer coach's tirade went on so long he received two technical fouls and was evicted from the stadium - but allegedly continued to abuse the referee until the game was called off.

"In 20-odd years of watching basketball I've never seen anything like it," the spectator said.

"It's a basketball game, it's middle of the season, there's nothing on it. It was quite bizarre. Some people just need to chill out."

Basketball New Zealand chief executive Iain Potter said it was up to College Sport, the organisation that runs the secondary school competition, to investigate the incident.

College Sport had its own disciplinary process to follow but if the coach was censured or suspended, Basketball New Zealand would expect to be told, Mr Potter said.

"Of course we have a concern in local issues which bring disrepute to the game but the first step, things happen in the sport, and the first thing is for this to be addressed locally.

"Really it's out of respect for the kids. It's disappointing when we get these instances but, it's a competitive sport, and some times there's going to be flash points," he said.

Mr Potter said Basketball New Zealand looked to coaches and parents to "play their part" in creating a positive environment for school games.

While competition often brings out a passion that could manifest itself negatively, Basketball New Zealand discouraged bad behaviour in its coach and referee training programmes.

"In this case we're talking about a coach but in other cases there's parents, like the rugby issue [last weekend], just because you're a parent doesn't make you a rational human being.

"I'm sure 99.9 per cent of the time the individuals concerned are very remorseful.

"They're not common [in basketball] but we need an environment where referees and players...are entitled to be doing what they're doing in a safe and positive environment."

Auckland Basketball Services general manager Dave Mackay said the organisation was aware of the incident.

The referee involved in the incident was hired by Auckland Basketball and the organisation was waiting to hear from College Sport about their next step, he said.

It was "extremely disappointing" the actions of the coach and referee had ruined the opportunity for the girls to play, Mr Mackay said.

Westlake Girls principal Roz Mexted said the school was aware of the incident.

She said it sounded like the Auckland Girls team were playing very well before the incident and Westlake was putting up a good fight.

"It's a bit disappointing what happened because it does sound as though the girls from both schools were all behaving really well. It's just a real shame," she said.

"It would have been nice for the game to be concluded...the referee obviously took the action that he felt was necessary but it's just really disappointing what happened."

Auckland Girls Grammar principal Liz Thomson said the school was aware of the incident but was waiting on a report to confirm the details before commenting further.

She had heard "anecdotal" stories about the incident but could not comment on them.

The coach was a volunteer at the school, she said.

College Sport said yesterday it was waiting on more information about the incident and could not respond.

Multiple attempts to contact the organisation before deadline today went unanswered.