Respect Workshop
Tuesday 3rd December 2013
‘Let the Players’ Play’
• Welcome & Introductions
• Purpose of Workshop
• Agenda
Respect is the collective responsibility of everyone involved in
football, at all levels, to create a fair, safe and enjoyable
environment in which the game can take place. It is the
behavioural code for football.
Respect is a continuous FA programme, not a one-off initiative.
Let the Players’ Play
• Aims of the FA Respect Programme
There will be a base of registered referees in England sufficient for
the demands of the game at every level.
There will be zero tolerance for assaults on referees.
There will be an improvement in on-field player discipline, particularly
in the area of dissent to referees and in competitions that have an
established record of poor discipline.
There will be a ‘step change‘ in youth football on what is acceptable
and unacceptable behaviour from parents and spectators.
We will work with coaches to create an enjoyable learning
environment for children’s football.
• As a FA Charter Standard League – we are fully committed to
the FA Respect Programme
Respect in Football
September 2013
Marion Hayton
Senior Football Development Manager (Youth)
RESPECT in Grassroots Football
• In 2008 the FA put out a grassroots survey to its stakeholders and the top 3 priorities were ‐
‐ Invest to improve and protect facilities (84%)
‐ Provide a referee for every youth and adult game (83%) ‐ FA Respect Programme (66%)
Spare a thought ‐
• What do you know about the FA Respect Programme? • How do issues differ across football – From the Premier League or Championship to parks football (grassroots)? • Reflect on your own experience of behaviour in football
RESPECT in Football
In response to widespread concern (survey) as to some of the behaviour that was being witnessed at all levels of football the Respect Programme was launched at the start of season 2008/09.
Much of the concern focused on high profile incidents but there were other important issues that needed addressing nationally.
Questions for you to think about!!!!!!
1. How do we express support or disapproval?
2. Viewing the game through the experience of others.
3. Are those that finish first always the winners?
4. What does it mean to be a leader and what qualities does it require?
5. Why do we copy the poor behaviours of others and then be sorry? Objectives for Respect
These were:
• To recruit and retain enough referees for the demands of the game at every level.
• To reduce the number of assaults on referees.
• To achieve an improvement in on‐field player discipline particularly in the area of dissent to referees.
• To manage a step change in youth football as to what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour from parents and spectators
Key FA Concern
• Touchline behaviour of managers / coaches / PARENTS/ SPECTATORS to be the greatest challenges to the continued implementation of Respect. The FA RESPECT Programme
5 years on.... Where are we with Respect?
Direct and Indirect Influencers – Support from...
Behaviour from the touchline. Has this improved?
In Leicestershire & Rutland alone dissent cautions has dropped by 13% ‐ A major result due to:
• Reporting poor practice
• Referees taking action
• Better behaviours on the touchline and on the field of play.
• Respect is visual. • Dealing with anti‐social behaviours
Resources and Actions
• Designated Spectators Area for the first
time become mandatory • Reports both positive and negative about behaviours of individuals
• More qualified referees • Retention of existing referees
• Respect Codes of Conducts
• Respect Marshals
• Clubs taking the lead in addressing Respect
• Monitoring and Observation
• Respect LCFC tickets
• Respect Awards
Reports from young referees
Matches – What are they? why do we have them?
• A show case for teams
• An extension of learning
• A chance for players to show off and copy favourite players or experiment
For adults the game is about winning. Kids play to enjoy themselves and recognise the need to get better. If they win it’s a bonus, if they don’t who dwells most on the result?
• How can players express themselves if they are being told what to do? Where to do it and pressure is being put on them by adults to win. • Let us look through the eyes of a player !!!!!
Parents’ Role in Football
You are the most important people involved in the long term development of players • Parents are key to enable coaches to run your team. • Engaging with parents and being transparent is imperative to the development of players.
• Don’t speak to the players about the result but instead focus on their collective and individual development. Speak about the topic they have been practicing in training with the coach. • After the game ask your son/daughter what they think they have done well and what they think they can do better. Focus on player development.
Young Players
Things to remember about young players:‐
• They aren’t players from the Premier League, Championship , La Liga, Bundesliga or any other Professional League. • They learn through the coach, the parent, relative, friend, brother or sister.
• They want to be respected, just like you. • This is a kids’ game and not a battle.
Parents, Relatives, Spectators
Adults be remembered for your:
• Positive support
• Praise • Positive banter
And not for your:
• Abuse • Threatening remarks
Adults needs to be open minded to accept change
Why should this young player be afraid?
• Criticised
• Pushed too hard
• Beyond his limits
• Driven to tears ...........
...... Just for trying!
Clubs and Coaches are responsible • The Junior Club adheres to the Player/ Coach/ and Parents and Spectators Codes of Conduct as set down by the Football Association
• RESPECT Barriers are used at all games
• Respect Armbands
• Supports are required to stay behind the barriers during the match and must only enter the field of play when invited to do so by the Match Official
All Youth Leagues have signed up to the FA Respect Programme.
We all need to play our part.
Useful Contacts in support of the Mutual Football League Leicestershire and Rutland County FA
www.leicestershirefa.com
The Football Association
www.thefa.com
Marion (Maz) Hayton
Respect Lead Officer
Senior Football Development Manager (Youth)
Email: [email protected]
A little take home messages....
Touchline Shouting
Touchline shouting, that's all I ever hear,
I'm so confused and filled with fear.
I'm only ten years old and football should be fun,
But with all this noise I don't know which way to run.
"Get back in defence!" my manager shouts.
Dad shouts, "Get up front and deal with these louts!"
Loud mouth supporter, who knows all the rules.
(He takes the rest of us for fools)
Shouts, "What are you doing lad? Your head's in a spin!"
Is it any surprise, with all this din?
I am only a boy, so why do you all try to destroy, what I'd love to enjoy?
FOOTBALL SHOULD BE FUN!
© Simon Icke, Aston Clinton, Bucks, UK.
Email: [email protected]
More football poetry can be found at www.footballpoets.org
Message to all involved in football
One hundred years from now
It won't matter
What kind of car I drove
What kind of house I lived in
How much money I had in the bank
Nor what my cloths looked like
BUT
The world may be a little better
Because, I was important
In the life of a child.
Respect works by making individuals responsible and accountable for their actions ‐ ‘break your Code, and bear the consequences
Leicester City and County Girls Football League
Where are we with Respect? Results Cards Problems Reported - 62 from 225 Games
Every 5 Games a Problem is Reported!!
25+ League games are played each week end
Meaning the league have a problem reported to consider every week
and possible fine to a club each week.
Can we Improve, YES!!
Club Officials Win at all cost attitude set by the manager and not for the player development
Coach using insulting language towards opposition
Manager very aggressive.
Coach blocking the line
No Respect Handshake as not league appointed ref
Management mark reduced due to continual disagreement of my decisions
Manager continuous shouting & criticism of his players', even if they made a minor mistake
Management were very rude and aggressive towards players
Re-acted to decision by the linesman, manager reaction was to shout at the ref and linesman.
Management constantly questioning the referee
It was a brand new ref's first game so I think we can forgive them not doing the respect
handshake
Coach making negative comments about our non-scoring
Manager encouraging overly physical play
Manager disrespectful to our parents
Disrespect towards a referee and individual players
Run at her and take her out
Questioned a lot of decisions
Manager telling his players to 'Just take her out'
Management were constantly screaming for decisions
Players are encouraged to commit fouls
Arranging & Playing the Game to Completing Match Cards Parent was a ref as didn’t have one appointed
Asked if any of our parents would ref on the day.
Referee: None (on match card)
AN Other as referee name
Sorry not sure of refs name! Had a good game however!
No player cards at the game
Lines man swore at coach.
Refereed by 2 people
Didn't have a proper referee
Late notice of game to opposition
Filling in the match cards correctly
Late Match Cards as I a club meeting
No Respect cones or markers line not used
No Respect handshake before the start of the game
Facilities Game kicked off late due to pitch set up
Pitch not marked out very well
The pitch was still being set-up and the game kicked-off late.
No toilet facilities available school locked till 5 minutes before kick off
Goals, nets and respect barrier not being set up, 25min delay in kick off
Toilets unlocked approx. 10.35am and game KO 30 mins late
The schools toilets are a health hazard
Late match details due to injury late afternoon and club football meeting
No corner flags, next time they play at home they must have corner flags.
Took 25 minutes for the buildings to open on arrival girls needing toilet
Parents
Parents were abusive towards players and then parents.
Abusive parents towards referee and players.
Opposition supporters continually commented on the lineman decisions.
Supporters were very rude and aggressive towards players
The home supporters were not the most pleasant of people
and did not watch the game in the true spirit of football.
Away supporters were constantly questioning the referee’s decisions
throughout the game
Supporter shouted this is a joke.
When I politely asked them to stop shouting at the referee I was abused back
Supporters constantly questioning the referee
Supporters having a go at the lines person, shouting abuse across the pitch
Disrespect towards a referee and individual players
Players
Players reported they had been subject to some unpleasant verbal's from players.
Subs comments on the side line, (get her, and kick her).
Opposition players laughing at an injured player
Subs saying that they need to get double figures
Players constantly swearing at the opposition
Opposing player’s language
Player’s comments made during the game
League Respect Program
-
The league club respect table is on the league web site
for all to see, updated each month.
-
We have seen an improvement since this was displayed
-
We can improve on what we have for the members of
this league at every age group.
The league does not want your members money by fines,
keep it for development of your club just improve on RESPECT
FA Respect Codes – Young Players
I understand that if I do not follow the
When playing football, I will:
Code,
• Always play to the best of my ability
any/all of the following actions may be
• Play fairly – I won’t cheat, complain
taken by my club, County FA or The FA:
or waste time
• Respect my team-mates, the other team, I may:
• Be required to apologise to my teamthe referee or my coach/manager
mates,
• Play by the rules, as directed by
the other team, referee or team manager
the referee
• Receive a formal warning from the coach
• Shake hands with the other team and
or
referee at the end of the game
the club committee
• Listen and respond to what my coach/
• Be dropped or substituted
team manager tells me
• Talk to someone I trust or the club welfare • Be suspended from training
• Be required to leave the club.
officer if I’m unhappy about anything at
my club.
FA Respect Codes – Parents/Carers
I will:
• Remember that children play for FUN
• Applaud effort and good play as well as
success
• Always respect the match officials’
decisions
• Remain outside the field of play and
within
the Designated Spectators’ Area (where
provided)
• Let the coach do their job and not
confuse
the players by telling them what to do
• Encourage the players to respect the
opposition, referee and match officials
• Avoid criticising a player for making a
mistake – mistakes are part of learning
• Never engage in, or tolerate, offensive,
insulting, or abusive language or
behaviour.
FA Respect Codes – Parents/Carers
I understand that if I do not follow the
Code, any/all of the following actions may
be taken by my club, County FA, league or
The FA:
I may be:
• Issued with a verbal warning from a club or league official
• Required to meet with the club, league or County FA Welfare Officer
• Required to meet with the club committee
• Obliged to undertake an FA education course
• Obliged to leave the match venue by the club
• Requested by the club not to attend future games
• Suspended or have my club membership removed
• Required to leave the club along with any dependents.
FA Respect Codes – Managers/Coaches
On and off the field, I will:
• Show respect to others involved in the game including match officials,
opposition players, coaches, managers, officials and spectators
• Adhere to the laws and spirit of the game
• Promote Fair Play and high standards of behaviour
• Always respect the match official’s decision
• Never enter the field of play without the referee’s permission
• Never engage in public criticism of the match officials
• Never engage in, or tolerate, offensive, insulting or abusive language or
behaviour.
FA Respect Codes – Managers/Coaches
Ensure all parents/carers of all players under the age of 18
understand these expectations
• Never engage in or tolerate any form of bullying
• Develop mutual trust and respect with every player to build their selfesteem
• Encourage each player to accept responsibility for their own behaviour
and performance
• Ensure all activities I organise are appropriate for the players’ ability
level, age and maturity
• Co-operate fully with others in football (e.g. officials, doctors,
physiotherapists, welfare officers) for each player’s best interests.
FA Respect Codes – Managers/Coaches
I understand that if I do not follow the Code,
any/all of the following actions may be taken
by my club, County FA, league or The FA:
• Required to meet with the club, league or County Welfare Officer
• Required to meet with the club committee
• Monitored by another club coach
• Required to attend an FA education course
• Suspended by the club from attending matches
• Suspended or fined by the County FA
• Required to leave or be sacked by the club.
Respect – The referees perspective
Question.
When a referee arrives at a game how should they expect to be treated
Answer.
With respect AT ALL TIMES. From the minute they arrive up until they leave the ground
Comments made during a game
Your team are absolutely rubbish.
You call that a throw in. It’s embarrassing
That shot was awful
Coach. That substitution was ridiculous
Do you actually know what you are doing
Next time your daughter makes a tackle, tell her to do it harder and hurt her
Your Goalie cost you the game with some shocking decisions
Your not fit to be a manager. You are a joke !
Would you ever hear a referee make these comments during a game ?
No you wouldn’t so why do referees have to put up with the following:
. Ref, you are a joke.
. You don’t know what you are doing.
. Are you blind or stupid ?
. That was an appalling decision
. What was that for, Why give that, why didn’t you give that ?
. Referee ! (Accompanied by a questioning stare)
. Ref ! Ref ! Ref ! Ref ! Ref ! Ref ! Ref ! Ref ! Ref ! etc etc.
. Thanks ref. Some awful decisions cost us the game. Thanks again
. Ignore the ref, he’s an idiot
. Go away ref. I don’t want to talk to you
. Well done ref ( followed by sarcastic applause)
Which of these are acceptable ?
At half time the manager approaches you and asks you to explain some decisions
Whilst walking back to their car, the referee is approached by a parent and is asked their opinion of a tackle on their daughter
During the game a player (not the captain) asks the referee “ how many more fouls are you going to ignore before you give us a free kick ?”
On the final whistle, the referee offers their hand to a player who refuses to shake it and says “no thanks, you’re a cheat “
During a stoppage in play the captain of one side approaches you and voices their concern about the tackles being made by the opposition
Whilst sat in the club house after the game the referee is approached by a parent who says “ you were awful ref. Don’t come back here again”
A goal is scored but the assistant puts the flag up for offside. The referee consults the assistant and disallows the goal. The opposing manager shouts at you and says the linesman is a blatant cheat”
At half time the manager approaches you and asks you to explain some decisions
No rule broken under Laws of the game but referees are advised not to discuss decisions with the manager. Some referees will discuss decisions but should never get into arguments.
If you don’t want to discuss, then ask them to go away
Whilst walking back to their car, the referee is approached by a parent and is asked their opinion of a tackle on their daughter.
Again no law broken but referees should never get into discussions with parents about decisions. You are not accountable to them.
Explain this politely to them and walk away
During the game a player (not the captain) asks the referee “ how many more fouls are you going to ignore before you give us a free kick ?”
This is dissent and the player could be shown a yellow card
On the final whistle, the referee offers their hand to a player who refuses to shake it and says “no thanks, you’re a cheat”
This again is dissent and although the final whistle has gone, the referee could still show a red or yellow card for this
During a stoppage in play the captain of one side approaches you and voices their concern about the tackles being made by the opposition
This is perfectly acceptable. The captain is the only person allowed to approach the referee during the game if they have concerns
Whilst sat in the club house after the game the referee is approached by a parent who says “ you were awful ref. Don’t come back here again”
This is completely against the respect code and as such the referee has the power to enter a misconduct report to County FA reporting the parents behaviour.
A goal is scored but the assistant puts the flag up for offside. The referee consults the assistant and disallows the goal. The opposing manager shouts at you and says the linesman is a blatant cheat”
This is dissent. The linesman is acting under your authority and as such is part of your team.
The manager should be warned or sent from the pitch area and again a misconduct report could be submitted
Final question
Can the referee send a parent or coach from the pitch area.
Answer.
Yes they can. If they refuse to go then the referee is within their rights to abandon the game and cite the reason why to County FA
Football is all about opinions but only the person in the middle wearing the black kit is authorised to enforce the laws of the game. Because of this, their opinion is often questioned more than others
At the end of the day what a referee sees in a split second may be different to what you as a manager or a parent see.
Example:
Strikers FC winger is running down the wing with the ball when the opposition player makes a clumsy mistimed tackle bringing her down.
The referee sees this as nothing more than a mistimed tackle with no intent. A quite word with the player and a free kick will suffice
The manager sees it as a blatant foul and starts jumping up and down demanding a yellow card
The girls parent sees this as a deliberate attempt to harm their daughter and demand a red card
Its all about opinions
Please remember that all referees are different but irrespective of gender, race or age, they all deserve respect.
Constantly shouting and questioning a referees decision can lead to different consequences.
The referee might feel upset, bullied, scared, intimidated, angry or just down right fed up with your voice.
Strong experienced referees will deal with it and tackle it head on which could resort in the club being hit with a hefty fine.
Other referees could be in tears and may consider quitting all together.
The game needs referees and either way it is unacceptable
Respect Code ‐Match Officials
We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour in the game.
The behaviour of the match officials has an impact, directly and indirectly, on the conduct of everyone involved in the game – both on the pitch and on the sidelines.
Play your part and observe The FA’s Respect Code of Conduct for match officials at all time.
I will:
• Be honest and completely impartial at all times
• Apply the Laws of the Game and competition rules fairly and consistently • Manage the game in a positive, calm and confident manner
• Deal with all instances of violence, aggression, unsporting behaviour, foul play and other misconduct
• Never tolerate offensive, insulting or abusive language or behaviour from players and officials
• Support my match official colleagues at all times
• Set a positive personal example by promoting good behaviour and showing respect to everyone involved in the game
• Communicate with the players and encourage fair play
• Respond in a clear, calm and confident manner to any appropriate request for clarification by the team captains • Prepare physically and mentally for every match
• Complete and submit, accurate and concise reports within the time limit required for games in which I officiate.
I understand that if I do not follow the Code, any/all of the following actions may be taken by my club, County FA or The FA.
I may be:
• Required to meet with The FA/County FA Refereeing Official • Required to meet with The FA/County FA Refereeing Committee. Examples of unwanted behaviour:
Harassment:
• Running towards the referee in an aggressive manner. • Players surrounding the referee to protest a decision. • Repeatedly asking questions about decisions in an attempt to influence the referee or undermine his/her responsibilities. Challenging:
• Passing comment to other players about a referee’s decision‐making. • Repeatedly moaning at the referee about decisions. • Gestures that obviously are made in a derogatory manner, such as a shaking of the head or waving of the hand. Statement from the respect code:
As now, the referee must control the game by applying the Laws of the Game, and deal firmly with any open show of dissent by players (e.g. not move away from the incident, but stay and deal with it).
While recognising that players may on occasions make an appeal for a decision (e.g. a throw‐in, corner or goal‐kick), it is important you distinguish these from an act of dissent which should be punished with a caution (yellow card).
Finally please remember.
Referees are only human and from mini football to the Premier League we make mistakes. As previously stated, it is all about opinions and interpretation.
One thing for sure is that you will never please everyone all of the time. But also remember, no referee would or should change their mind on a decision because they are being harassed or yelled at. If you as a manager feel the referee has had a poor game then you have the right to say so using the official correct channels. The online match report card enables you to mark the referee accordingly and make comments about their performance