POLICE have urged parents to "set an example" for their children after a series of ugly on-field altercations in community sport prompted rugby league's governing body to threaten "life bans" for anyone found guilty.
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Three incidents on NSW rugby league fields in the past week ended in arrests, as did one on a soccer pitch.
At a junior rugby league match on the Central Coast on Saturday, a 39-year-old man allegedly went onto the field and assaulted a 12-year-old boy after a fight broke out between Terrigal Sharks and Ourimbah Magpies players.
Officers from Brisbane Water Police were called to the playing fields at Narara about 11am.
The man, a coach of the Sharks, had left the scene but was later arrested at Bateau Bay and charged with common assault to appear in Gosford Local Court in November.
The boy was taken to Gosford Hospital with facial injuries. Brisbane Water Detective Inspector John Zdrilic said it was "unclear" when the boy's injuries were sustained.
"They could have been during the game, during the fight or indeed when he was [allegedly] assaulted," he said.
The alleged assault occurred same day as alleged assaults by a rugby league player on a referee at Menindee and a soccer player on his coach in Sydney.
A match official was also threatened and grabbed by a player at a Penrith Junior League match on Thursday.
The NSW Rugby League said anyone found guilty of assault faced expulsion from the game.
"The NSWRL has a zero tolerance for any behaviour which threatens the safety of participants, officials and spectators and those found guilty face life bans," it said.
The latest incidents follow a league player allegedly stabbing an opponent and two spectators in North Parramatta earlier this month.
The rugby league teams involved in the altercations have been stood down pending NSWRL investigations.
NSWRL chief executive officer David Trodden said it would be inappropriate to comment about the incidents due to the ongoing police investigations.
"However, I can say that we are appalled that incidents like this have taken place," he said.
"We have a zero tolerance policy for abuse of our match officials who have every right to expect to feel safe while performing their duties.
"Similarly, we have zero tolerance for behaviour that threatens the safety of participants and spectators involved in junior sport who should be able to expect to play and/or attend and enjoy community sport without any concerns or fears.
"[These] incidents are completely contrary to the standards of any community sport and we have a duty to eradicate them from our game."
Detective Inspector Zdrilic described on-field altercations as "unacceptable behaviour" and said "people shouldn't come on the field" when one occurred. He said police would "certainly take action" after such incidents.
"Set an example for your children," he urged parents.
"Don't expect your children to behave any differently than how you behave."
Detective Inspector Zdrilic said the man charged for the Narara incident had allegedly grabbed the boy and thrown him to the ground.
"Assault is a criminal offence ... so we take these matters seriously," he said.
Central Coast Junior Rugby League director Ben Spackman said the incident would be investigated.
"We don't condone anything like this happening," he said on Sunday. "We'll be investigating it thoroughly and we'll give it time.
"There is a lot of emotion going on, but once we get everything in from the clubs and witnesses we'll act on it."
The Central Coast Rugby League Referees Association did not want to comment.
Sports organisations and the state government have in recent years worked to crack down on poor behaviour at community competitions.
The NSW Office of Sport expanded the Shoosh for Kids Week campaign to six sports in 2016 to promote positive behaviour at junior sport. The annual awareness event aims to address issues which arise from poor sideline behaviour including abuse of officials and reduced participation rates.
In 2018, the Newcastle and Hunter Rugby League, which has endorsed Shoosh for Kids Week, issued season-long bans to three people after two incidents.
Two men involved in a physical altercation at New Lambton's Kentish Oval were barred for the year.
A spectator was also issued with an 18-month ban following a separate incident at Lenaghan Oval.
