"From what I can see, the short-term gain and value for the coach and parents seem far more important than the long-term and intrinsic value of the player."
Melville United is just one of the academies team looking to build a pathway for youth in football, however it is not just club players who are subject to overbearing parents.
That incident followed an altercation at a youth rugby game, where a father had headbutted his son's rugby coach because he disliked the decision to play his son in a different position.
The father has since been sentenced in the Hamilton District Court to 80 hours community work, nine months' intensive supervision and ordered to pay $500 in reparation to the victim.
High school footballers have also seen parents get too involved from the sidelines.
Brad Beuker, 17, who has played football since intermediate school and now plays at Hamilton Boys' High wants supporters at high school games to enjoy their kids getting involved.
"If they constantly pester us about what we do wrong, our minds are going to be set on that one thing and that will put our whole game off," Beuker said.
"I think that when parents yell it scares kids who are just getting into the game and might change their views on the game. Football is a fun sport, not a yelling match from the parents."
Youth referees are also a target for the abuse says Yannic Bakx.
Former WAIBOP youth referee Bakx, 16, had been on an upward trend with his referee development, attending the Australian Kanga Cup and many football tournaments around New Zealand.
However in 2017, Bakx decided to take a break from the game.
"At the start it was bearable, but the higher the games were the worse it got. And eventually it just got to a point where it just got too much, and started affecting my performance," Bakx said.
"It would be abuse like, "you're a joke" or "you're s___."
Paul Nimmo, a parent, a cricket coach of 30 years and now leader of his own scouting group in Rototuna, believes love for their children can at times blind parents to the team's goal as a whole.
"Over the years I've encountered some parents who can't see past their own child.
"In fact they state categorically that they don't give a crap about any other member of the team and they want what is right for their son or daughter. What's best for the team, plays no part in their evaluation, even if they sometimes use this as an excuse for their actions," Nimmo said.
"As a volunteer or coach, how do you deal with this? My advice is never alone. Always have another coach or official with you when you are dealing with parents of this nature and forget about what you think they may do to get what they feel is right for their child. You have no idea what a parent will do for a child they love."
Michael just wants to see parents on the sidelines understand what youth football should be about, developing players for the future.
"Watch, encourage, and enjoy the game.
"That should be enough for all spectators of youth football. A win or a loss at this level is irrelevant, its should be about learning for the players," Mayne said.
