Heygarth United Football Club

Heygarth United Football Club

RESPECT

Background

Season 2009/10 sees many leagues adopting the FA’s RESPECT Campaign. The campaign is aimed at all levels of football from the professional to grass roots football.

Around 7,000 referees drop out of football each season due to the abuse and intimidation they receive. 98% of referees have been verbally abused and 27% have suffered physical abuse. As a result around 1/3^rd of all grassroots matches are played without a qualified referee.

The FA carried out a survey of over 37,000 football participants the result of which was that behaviour was –and is- the biggest concern, both abuse and intimidation towards referees, and behaviour by over competitive parents and aggressive spectators on the sidelines.

RESPECT

The FA’s respect programme includes four practical steps to improve the behaviour on the pitch and on the sidelines:

• Codes of Conduct-for players, refs, coaches and spectators
• Designated Spectator Areas-along the sidelines, behind which all spectators should stay
• Captain taking responsibility-responsibility for behaviour of their players actions and behaviour, lead the right way
• Referee managing the game-applying the laws of the game fairly

There are 5 codes of conduct aimed at

• Young players
• Adult players
• Spectators and parents/carers
• Coaches, team managers and club officials
• Match officials

Respect works on placing responsibility for their actions on individuals: BREAK YOUR CODE AND SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES

Club Responsibility

Our club has 3 main responsibilities around the code;

1. to ensure everyone within the club whatever their role has read, agreed and signed up to their code
2. to collect and retain the signed agreement forms at the foot of each code
3. to deal fairly and consistently with anyone who breaks their code. 

Links/information:

TheFA.com/respect

June 2009