Be careful, parents it's not the World Cup

College Sport has sent a memo to schools urging them to remind parents about their behaviour. Photo / Thinkstock

Parents misbehaving on the sidelines have been warned to behave better and reminded that school-aged sport is "not the World Cup".

College Sport, which co-ordinates sport and works with the sports departments at 107 secondary schools in Auckland, has sent a memo to schools urging them to remind parents about their behaviour.

The message from Dave Currie, the sporting body's chief executive and the former New Zealand Olympic Committee chef de mission, stated schools should reinforce with parents that college sport was "not the World Cup".

"As we commence the third term, it would be helpful if you could remind parents in your school of the need to provide positive support when they are watching their children playing sport," he wrote. "Please remember: These are kids, this is a game, the coaches are volunteers, the referees are human."

Currie's memo was sent in the week a 15-year-old boy was referred to youth aid after a brawl at a high school match between Otahuhu and Tangaroa colleges last month.

Police believe the boy, who was a spectator, was responsible for a punch that knocked out a member of Otahuhu College's under-15 team.

The ugly incident sparked a brawl that involved up to 40 parents and teen players.

To date, no adults have been charged over the brawl.

The Auckland Rugby Union's judicial committee last week ruled the match referee was justified in calling off the match and that neither teams would receive competition points. A fine was also imposed on both teams, which is refundable if specific conditions are met.

The union's chief executive Andy Dalton described the college sport clash as "an unsavoury incident and one we hope not to see again.

"We are trialling initiatives to improve sideline behaviour that complement New Zealand Rugby's Applaud campaign. We are also working with Aktive Auckland to make sure all sporting environments are positive."