A 2011 United Kingdom study found 75 per cent of children up to 16, who participated in organised sport, had been emotionally abused - criticised for their performance, shouted at, sworn at or had been embarrassed/humiliated.

Anecdotes around Canberra sporting codes seem to paint a similar picture and that is why the ACT government has partnered with major codes to deliver two Let Kids Be Kids rounds to draw attention to the need for improved sideline behaviour by parents and spectators.

One of the leading NPL soccer referees, Delfina Dimoski, has seen the impact sideline behaviour can have on young referees, especially at the Kanga Cup.

"We tend to see the worst in humanity at the Kanga Cup, I've seen young referees in tears after games, I've seen young referees not want to come back. Because they're too scared to keep refereeing, or just leave all together because it's not fun anymore.

"Some of the examples are parents yelling and telling the referees to get glasses, that they are useless, or it's a bad call. For a young person, who's already in a formative part of their lives, hearing that repetitively is detrimental," she said.

"When we have events like the Olympics, World Cups and things like that, where winning is seen as such a pinnacle, the pressure put on officials to get every single decision right goes through the roof. What people don't understand is when younger referees, I'm talking 13, 14, 15, they've just started, they're going to make mistakes and that's how they learn."

MORE IN SPORT

Campaigns such as Capital Football's Reduce the Abuse campaign and other individual clubs implementing their own, such as spectator silence rounds, is helping to draw attention to poor sideline behaviour.

Dimoski said poor sideline behaviour affected more than the person on the end of the abuse, it showed children it was acceptable behaviour.

"I think parents tend to get white line fever sometimes when watching their child participating in sport," she said.

"It goes two ways, one the kids either gets really embarrassed by mum or dad going crazy and they will hide. Or two, it shows that child that's an acceptable form of behaviour."

The Let Kids Be Kids began back in 2017 as a way to prioritise all children's health and wellbeing in sport by encouraging them to get involved and stay involved through a positive experience.

Sport and Recreation Minister Yvette Berry said the two rounds aimed to send a message to allow children to enjoy sport without pressure from the sidelines.

"It's easy to get caught up in the thrill of the competition but it's important that parents and spectators understand that their words can have an impact," she said.

"We know bad behaviour on the sidelines can make kids embarrassed, lose confidence and motivation, feel threatened, and even drop out of playing sport altogether.

"Positive encouragement builds self-esteem, and motivates kids to have fun, try their best, and helps them to develop a lifelong enthusiasm for being social, active and healthy."