"All the fun has gone out of sport because it is too competitive," Luca Gibbs believes.

And that's a big statement coming from a boy who excels at cricket and all forms of football.

"On Saturday I went to the under 16s rugby league final . . . with my older brothers and cousins. I couldn't believe it when a fight broke out only a couple of feet in front of us. I know you're thinking that this happens in rugby games all the time but this was not on the field but in the crowd and between a mother and a teenage girl."

Luca was so bothered by the incident he used a speech at his school to get things off his chest.

"Many of the crowd were soon cheering and egging the women on and one player even jumped the fence to get involved in the fight. I don't think incidents such as these should be happening at kids' sporting events," Luca told his classmates.

"Afterwards I kept thinking that sport is too competitive and no-one there tonight was having fun. What should have been a great night of footy turned out to be pretty disappointing. It seems that sometimes parents care more about the outcome of the game than the actual players do."

Luca began to reflect on his own experiences each Saturday at sporting events.

"I don't think parents should yell instructions from the sideline. It's great when we hear parents cheering us on but only coaches should be allowed to tell the players what to do once they are on the field, not the parents screaming from the sidelines 'get in there' or 'have a go' because it is just getting out of hand."

Luca's experience is far from an isolated event and isn't restricted to rugby league matches. Just last month two Illawarra junior rugby clubs were ordered to end their simmering feud after an on-field fight in an under-11 game.

The referee in charge of the match between University and Avondale called off the game during the first-half after a spectator walked onto the field moments after two players were separated.

The pitch invader was told by other spectators to leave the field, but the referee had already abandoned the game, a decision that was later supported by Illawarra Rugby president Peter Woods.

"A fight between 10-year-olds on a football field isn't a very pleasant thing to see and it should not happen, but it's a different issue entirely when people think they can come on the field to take matters into their own hands."

"I've told the presidents of both clubs that they need to get all the parents together to get the message out there, very loudly and clearly, that there will be repercussions for teams and clubs if spectators break the rules," Mr Woods said. "Referees should be able to feel safe when they're trying to do their jobs."

A basketball coach also felt the full force of aggressive intervention during a training session.

An onlooker marched onto the court, "shaped up" and berated the coach in front of his team of players no older than 12.

On another occasion parents were waiting for him in the car park, demanding answers about why their children weren't given more "court time".

An Oztag player has seen some questionable behaviour from adults who he believes should be better role models.

"During one game there was a mother who was just rude and showing bad sportsmanship, by arguing with the referee and also swearing at our players," the player said. "Myself and others simply asked her to relax ... then she started swearing at one of our girls.

"Getting a little feisty I simply expressed to her that she wasn't setting a very good example for the kids. She went off at me and in the heat of the moment I said 'you know what you really are, that Oz Tag mum from hell'.

"She picked the ball up, threw it at me in front of the kids then ran at me swearing, trying to push me. People wonder why children these days have such poor and disrespectful attitudes towards referees or opposition."

The experienced player said good sportsmanship was taking a back seat to winning at all costs.

Psychologists have long studied the phenomenon of the "ugly parent" that isn't restricted to the sidelines of football and basketball matches.

Dance troupes, tennis, netball and athletics clubs all have their share of vocal, over-eager parents.

A Flinders University study last year found the "ugly parent syndrome" may help explain why more and more children were turning their backs on organised sport.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data reveals only 14.7 per cent of South Australian children participated in organised footy in 2012, down from 16.2 per cent at the previous count in 2009.

Flinders University researcher Sam Elliott said parents' behaviour had a profound impact on their child's participation in junior sport - good and bad.

"Parents' verbal behaviour towards children, umpires and coaches - yelling, bagging and disagreeing with positioning - can be problematic and there is a clear emphasis on performance, playing well and, for some parents, winning," he said. "For some parents, it's much more serious than having fun or participating. They almost lose sight that it's 12 and 13-year-olds."

The research found that children did not prosper under these conditions and lost motivation, which resulted in immediate or future disengagement from sport.

"Poor parent behaviour impacts on children's confidence, motivation and continuation, not just from game to game but from season to season," Mr Elliott said. "They may not want to play again the next year and may drop out of the sport all together."

The research also revealed parents could have a strong positive influence on their child's participation.

"In the first place most of the children involve themselves in local football after simply having a kick-to-kick with their parents that introduces them to the sport," he said.

"In the pre-game preparation, they are instrumental in encouraging involvement, showing sport is something to be enjoyed and is social.

"Post-game, if children experience a win or loss, played well or not well, parents are instrumental for support - they can talk them through that and it's the advice children crave."

Luca, a year 5 student, may not have a psychology degree but he has some suggestions for how parents can bring the fun back into the mix.

"Have you heard of the concept of 'silent Saturdays'?" he asks. "As many people feel parents on the sidelines are getting too vocal and at times abusive, there is a concept that promotes silence on the sidelines," he said.

"The aim is to put the focus back on the game and the players and away from the parents.

"In my opinion 'Silent Saturdays' is probably going too far - every player likes to be cheered on and encouraged. However, the concept is a good public awareness campaign and may get parents to think twice about what they yell out on the sideline."

Wise for his age, Luca says sport isn't all about playing for Australia and doesn't expect to make millions in the sporting arena.

"Personally I play sport for the enjoyment of running, passing and kicking. I like spending time with my friends and it keeps me fit and healthy. Sport does develop good character. You learn about teamwork and you learn to deal with disappointments when you lose or you don't get picked in a side," he said.

"There's no shame in losing or not making a team when you have tried your hardest. What's important is how you respond to it that builds character.

"In sport you learn to rely on your teammates and they on you. Let's face it, it is a great feeling when you win that hard game and you have played by the rules and you have played fairly.

"That's when competitive sport is fun . . . you always want to be remembered as an Adam Gilchrist who walked and not a Stuart Broad who didn't."

Are you an ugly parent?

• Do you applaud when the opposing team scores a goal? 

• Do you applaud the good play by both teams? 

• Do you support your child in an encouraging way? 

• Do you support the decisions of the coach, umpire or the team manager? 

OR 

• Do you let your frustrations show during your child’s sport? 

• Do you question the decisions of the umpire/referee publicly? 

• Do you belittle your child or any of the other participants during the game? 

If you answered ‘‘yes’’ to the first set of questions then you are the sort of parent or guardian that provides positive reinforcement to all the players inclusive of your own, according to Play By the Rules - a collaboration between the Australian Sports Commission, Australian Human Rights Commission, state and territory departments of sport and recreation and other agencies.

If you found yourself admitting to answering ‘‘yes’’ to the second set of questions then you could be labelled one of the growing breed of “ugly parents”.