It's a new priority in public schools that you probably haven't heard much about -- a campaign to improve sportsmanship in high school athletics.

But adminstrators say they're finding much of the problem isn't with the players.

News Specialist Nadine Wimmer explains the problem.

This is where sports officials, coaches and refs agree much of the problem starts-- in the stands. We've all gotten emotional about a game, but some school administrators say it's time to blow the whistle on the real poor sports.

"Would you ask 206 if he might have a couple of units that can come through the parking lot... it's going to be rough."

On this night, Hillcrest High wasn't just the site of a basketball game, it became a crime scene.

"209 requesting assistance in the parking lot of Hillcrest. They're going to be letting out shortly."

"Get those units over here."

"Help! Copy? Fist fight... we need medical!"

"We need some more units inside...upper bleachers...that can assist."

Before it was over police from four different cities responded to what was described as a near-riot, when parents in the stands went face to face with a belligerent student.

"Very volatile," is how Detective Rob Radley of Midvale police describes it. "Even our attempts to have the officers there, officers present, didn't work, still failed, with having the parents confront the students."

Such outbursts not only pose safety concerns at high school games. This year, for the first time, athletic organizers couldn't find enough people who were willing to referee games.... willing to put up with the yelling.

It's not players, organizers say, but fans, who create most of the problems. And it starts long before high school.

"Hey, they can't do that." "Double teaming."

Peewee leagues. Some so young, officials don't keep score.

But the camera-carrying crowds do.

Listen to one father's complaint, as told by Farmington Recreation's Jeremy Hart. "My t-ball coach didn't play my son at second base the whole game. I think it ruined his chances at playing college ball." And this is in t-ball? "At t-ball."

In Indianapolis, a pee wee player's father actually punched the ref and landed in jail.

That's an extreme, but refs and sports administrators fear the win-at-all-costs attitude coming from the bleachers could jeopardize the future of youth sporting programs.

Detective Radley says, "You have to support your team and it's great, but at what point do you cross the line."

Next month, all high school athletic directors will start getting trained to become more sophisticated at game management. The training includes how to deal with people in the stands.