As a former NRL referee, Luke Potter is used to seeing verbal and physical aggression on the football field.
However, he was always shocked by what he would see on the sidelines in his former role as manager of Illawarra Junior Rugby League.
"Hostile is the best word to cover it," he said.
"My time as manager on weekends was spent going around the grounds and being a visual presence, but sometimes I'd be called from one ground to come across to another because we'd have two parents punching on at an under-nines match.
"By the time you arrive, you can see how upset the kids are as two fathers are being violent."
Proposal to scrap scoreboard from juniors
As a father, Mr Potter has watched sideline violence happen at his son's junior soccer matches too.
He said the kids coped with sporting losses and got over them, but a consistent theme around problems in junior sport was "the over-competitive parent".
It is why he is in favour of an NRL proposal that would see scoring removed for junior league games for 12-year-olds and under.
"Kids would go out and not be concerned about the scoreboard, but rather the development of the skills of the game without the pressure of the coach and adults making sure they get the win to go through to the grand final," Mr Potter said.
"It's been done in Queensland rugby league where they also removed tackling from under-six and seven [divisions], so there's no pressure, they just learn how to hold the ball, how to pass, step and spot a gap to run through.
"If they kick on [to older divisions], that's fine, the cream rises to the top, but we don't see NRL stars made in under-eights."
The New South Wales Rugby League said it "supports many of the recommendations" made by the NRL for the future of junior rugby league.
"We're working through these with our groups and junior rugby leagues regarding the implementation of those recommendations, which are supported and the process is ongoing," it said.
Young players choosing to give up
Corrimal Junior Rugby League Club vice-president Greg Plecas said it has got to a point where changes were urgently needed.
He said children were being put off the game by overzealous parents and coaches, meaning the code is struggling to retain players.
The emphasis on winning also means the more talented players switch to play for a select few successful clubs, leaving smaller clubs to die.
"We had an under 18s competition with three clubs because all the normal kids who were just out enjoying playing with their mates stopped because they didn't want to get beaten by so much by those elite teams.
"It weakens those other clubs and teams to the point where, as we move through age groups, we have smaller amounts of teams because the kids that feel they will make it [professionally] and their parents tell them they'll make it, want to go to that super team."
He said less emphasis on winning would allow a more even spread of ability across the teams and provides a better and more patient environment for children to develop their skills.
Sideline abuse taking a toll on young referees
As well as young players turning away from rugby league, the sideline abuse towards referees is costing officials too.
Grant Plecas said he would like to see more parents experience refereeing a game.
"These are kids reffing kids because the adults want to stand on the sideline and live their life through their kids and put pressure on the young kids having a go."
