Shea McAleese says abuse he copped in Belgium just fired him up. Photo / APN
Abusive spectators in New Zealand are following the example of hostile crowds in other parts of the world, says Olympic hockey star Shea McAleese.
He doesn't think it is part of the Kiwi psyche to heckle from the sidelines, but it is something that has recently crept in from overseas.
The worst abuse he has encountered was in Europe, where he was spat on and sworn at while playing in Belgium.
He says such hostile conditions are a nightmare.
"The crowds absolutely abuse the shit out of you."
McAleese says it infuriates him but fires him up even more to win.
"I never mind getting yelled at, I can still focus," he says. "But I didn't enjoy getting spat at. I wanted to get my stick and wrap it around someone's face."
In New Zealand, 5 per cent of hockey umpires and coaches report seeing supporters spit at players or officials, according to the Herald on Sunday survey this week.
Bigger problems in hockey are supporters swearing at those on the turf (68 per cent), abuse and ridicule (49 per cent) and threats (32 per cent).
When McAleese went to watch soccer games in Europe, he would watch the opposition teams and fans being ushered into grounds under security surveillance and not leaving until the rest of the stadium was cleared.
"It was way different, it was something I was quite surprised at," he says.
After six years abroad, McAleese returned to New Zealand and was shocked to discover abuse was happening here, too.
"Coaching a club side on Sunday, people on the sideline were giving the opposition shit. I thought 'why do you do it?'
"I spoke to them afterwards and told them to cut it out. Karma is a bitch of a thing. You have to be a bit more humble in the way you do things."
He says media coverage of sport might have something to do with the change in behaviour because fans are encouraged to be fiercely loyal. "Everyone is getting told to get in behind one team, you can't be a multiple supporter.
"It is different to when I was growing up."
McAleese believes New Zealanders need to focus on celebrating what makes us a great sporting nation - an ability to play fair without the sort of anger and viciousness that plagues sports such as football elsewhere.
"Our own identity is important. I don't think we should follow other countries. At the Rugby World Cup, I sat beside Ireland and Aussie supporters, there was banter without any hostility. I don't want it to become like sports in other countries where the fans have to be segregated."
McAleese says he is happy to be an ambassador for the Herald on Sunday's Sideline Champs campaign because it is important to reinforce the message that everyone needs to be treated with respect.
However, two weekends ago that respect spectacularly broke down when violence erupted at a premier hockey competition in Canterbury.
Avon goalkeeper Peter Walker was handed a nine-week ban when he threw a series of punches aimed at his own teammates and opposition after losing a match with league leaders Carlton-Redcliffs. Walker was eventually restrained by his brother Kevin, who tackled him.
Such incidents are rare, according to Hockey NZ chief executive Hilary Poole. She puts much of this down to the game being split evenly between males and females.
"Having girls and boys playing hockey means we have a lot of parent volunteers. It makes for a very family-oriented atmosphere," she says.
"We work very hard at educating parents, volunteer coaches and umpires about the rules and this helps keep sideline friction down. Quality officiating is key to good behaviour."
Although Poole is pleased with the sport's good reputation, she says Hockey NZ is conducting a major review of its code of conduct. "We don't always get it right and we can't afford to be complacent."
Game two of the three match series begins on Saturday.