Children absorb behaviors from their environment like sponges. New research examining junior rugby league sideline conduct suggests that addressing broader sporting culture proves more effective than targeting individual parents and coaches.

The study, led by Liverpool John Moores University and Flinders University’s Associate Professor Sam Elliott, analyzed 14 junior rugby league games through Social Learning Theory. Researchers conducted interviews and focus groups spanning under-7 through under-16 competitions at two English clubs.

A striking finding emerged: younger age groups displayed family-oriented, encouraging interactions, while older groups increasingly featured swearing, criticism, and aggressive coaching. The researchers attribute this shift not to age itself, but to evolving competitive expectations within the sporting environment.

“When enough people behave in a particular way, then influential adults model it, and when nobody meaningfully challenges it, behavior that once looked unacceptable can start to look normal,” Elliott explains.

The research challenges conventional approaches. Rather than removing individual offenders or implementing codes of conduct alone, governing bodies should establish positive behavioral norms early. Elliott notes that “education can tell people what good behavior looks like. Culture determines whether that message survives on Saturday morning.”

The researchers acknowledge that bans, penalties, and awareness campaigns serve important functions, but emphasize that environmental change must accompany individual accountability.

Journal: Managing Sport and Leisure
DOI: 10.1080/23750472.2026.2711227
Article Title: Understanding the culture of adult sideline behaviour in youth rugby league from a Social Learning Theory perspective
Publication Date: August 12, 2026

Source: Flinders University