Leeds Rhinos launch campaign to cut abuse at junior matches
Leeds Rhinos are launching a campaign urging parents and supporters not to shout or swear at young players - warning it could put them off for life.
Abuse on the touch line at children's matches has no place in rugby league.
That's the message from Leeds Rhinos, who are launching a campaign urging parents and supporters not to shout or swear at young players.
It comes ahead of the start of the 2016 Junior Rugby League on Saturday.
Halfback Jordan Lilley says he experienced the issue firsthand growing up, and it's putting some children off the game: "You don't know where you're going to go with rugby league.
"Like I didn't know as a five or six-year-old where rugby was going to go for me. You're just playing it for fun with your mates and you just want to go into the field and have fun, score tries and tackle.
"So to be shouted out by other fans and stuff like that - it's not a nice place to be.
"We're trying to grow the game and get it bigger in England. And it's not the way to go because a lot of kids fall out the game because of the abuse. It's just not enjoyable."
Head coach Brian McDermott has been involved in amateur coaching across the UK and has two boys who play the sport.
He says most amateur games in Leeds are played in a disciplined, healthy environment, but there have been a couple of occasions where things have got out of hand:
"The environment that kids play in, it's too intense. It's almost bordering on abusive.
"It's probably just overzealous coaching and parents. We just want to educate people about what is true support and what is nearly abuse.
"I've got a wealth of experience of watching coaches and mums and dads making game day far too intense for kids, where they just don't enjoy it. I think mums and dads - and coaches especially - need to understand at times that kids don't come to win, they come to enjoy themselves."