A ban on courtside spectators at Tauranga junior netball games has left parents frustrated, disappointed and asking how the decision was made.

Tauranga Netball Centre has decided to restrict spectators from the court enclosure during games for the next two Saturdays, the final two rounds of the junior season, citing incidents and complaints about sideline behaviour.

One parent said the decision has come as a “surprise” and the general reaction is one of “dissatisfaction” and “disappointment”.

But Tauranga Netball Centre said the decision was not made lightly and its message has been misunderstood.

The centre emailed its database on Monday, advising parents, caregivers, whānau, friends and supporters of Year 6, 7 and 8 teams that spectators would be required to watch games from outside the court enclosure.

That would apply for the remaining two weeks of competition at Mount Maunganui’s Blake Park on August 8 and August 15.

Coaches and managers would be permitted inside the court enclosure.

This decision followed a “significant number” of incidents and complaints about sideline behaviour at junior games.

The email said umpires had been subjected to abuse, intimidation and criticism from spectators, and there were reports of adults directly targeting players from the sideline.

“Adult agendas, egos and frustrations have no place on the sideline,” the email read.

It said restricting spectator access was the most effective way to curb the behaviour, ensuring a safe environment for players, officials and volunteers for the remainder of the season.

A second email on Tuesday acknowledged feedback about the decision.

“To be clear, this decision is not the result of one isolated incident, nor is it simply about coaches requesting additional support for umpires,” the email read.

“The concerns are much broader and have been building throughout the season.”

The centre said players, umpires, staff and volunteers had faced increasing pressure throughout the season, with volunteers “exhausted” after spending months responding to complaints and providing support to umpires.

“This decision was not made lightly. It is a necessary statement about the standards of behaviour expected within our netball community, and it will not be reversed.”

The centre provided the Bay of Plenty Times with copies of both emails.

A parent who received the emails and wished to remain anonymous said they had no idea the decision was being considered or that there had been concerns of this nature.

“The decision came as a surprise.”

They said they had not personally witnessed the abuse, intimidation, or behaviour described in the email.

“I have heard parents provide feedback from the sideline when they felt young umpires had missed what they considered to be crucial calls.”

They said this had “generally” been in the context of frustration with decisions rather than abusive or intimidating behaviour described in the original email.

“Parents are disappointed that everyone is being treated the same way when the concerns appear to relate to the behaviour of a small number of individuals.”

They said if specific individuals were behaving inappropriately, they should be held accountable rather than imposing restrictions on every spectator.

“The majority of families are there to encourage their children and support them positively.”

The parent said there should have been more communication and an opportunity for feedback before a “significant” decision was made.

Tauranga Netball Centre has restricted spectators from the court enclosure during games at Blake Park. Photo / Talia Parker

“I do not support a blanket restriction on all spectators for both remaining weeks.”

They said the general reaction from parents was one of “dissatisfaction” and “disappointment”.

“Parents are being asked to accept the decision, yet many feel they haven’t been given an opportunity to contribute to the discussion.”

In response to the concerns, Tauranga Netball Centre manager Tracy Walters told the Bay of Plenty Times the message conveyed in the emails had been misunderstood.

“It is probably seen to some people as an inconvenience, but we’re trying to combat and have some consequence around the sideline behaviours that are impacting these kids.

“We’ve made a decision; people just need to accept it.”

Walters said it was often difficult to identify who was responsible because many complaints were only reported “after the fact”.

“Then you have a he-said-she-said scenario, and I tell you we have many of those, so it’s just human beings, one thinks one way, one thinks the other.”

She said it was “not so easy” as identifying individual “culprits” and imposing consequences on them.

“We’re not doing it for our own gain, there’s definite thinking behind it, and we’re trying to look after these young umpires, ... the players, that’s the intention.”

She said the restriction was imposed to “minimise risk” and get through the rest of the season on a higher note as the league was “tracking downwards”.

“We want it to track back upwards in terms of the enjoyment that these kids get out of the rest of their season.”

Kaitlyn Morrell is a journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.