Respect

The FA ‘s Respect Campaign was launched in the 2008/9 season after a build-up of behavioural problems in the National Game. Respect codes of conduct for players, parents or spectators, officials and coaches have been implemented by LUFC and you will see these in the clubhouse and on our social media pages. To adhere to these codes of conduct, the club has clear sanctions to deal with any misconduct at club level and acknowledges the possibility of potential sanctions which may be implemented by the Hampshire FA in more serious circumstances.

The FA's Respect programme provides a series of tools for leagues, clubs, coaches, referees, players and parents from grassroots to elite football to ensure a safe, positive environment in which to enjoy the game.

We only do positive!

On average, 7,000 referees quit football every year at because of the abuse they receive from players and from the side lines. Lots of children also pack it in because of the attitude and actions of over-enthusiastic and pushy parents. This is not just something that happens at other clubs. It happens at all clubs!

Regrettably, we’ve all seen or experienced it. The spectators and players shouting abuse at the referee. The parent shouting angrily at their player what to do. Kids standing on the side line taunting players. Parents abusing the coach. Even spectators unwittingly shouting nonsensical instructions to their team and in the process confusing them.

Find out how to respect the ref here:
https://www.englandfootball.com/participate/explore/inclusive-football/Respect/Respect-the-Referee

Respect includes four practical steps to improve behaviour – on the pitch and on the side lines – in and at matches throughout the country:

Step 1 Codes of Conduct

Step 2 Designated Spectators’ Area

Step 3 The captain takes responsibility

Step 4 The referee manages the game.

Codes of Conduct
Codes of Conduct aren’t new, but often they are forgotten and not acted upon. Respect brings them to life by supporting and strengthening the Codes of Conduct with possible consequences. There is little point in having a set of rules if no action is taken if and when they’re broken. Respect works on placing responsibility for their actions on individuals: break the Code, and bear the consequences.

Respect Codes of conduct can be found here:
https://www.englandfootball.com/participate/explore/inclusive-football/Respect

Each Code explains what actions may be taken if the Code is broken. Although the Hampshire FA or The FA will deal with cases of reported misconduct, clubs and leagues also have a role to play in dealing with poor behaviour from players, officials or spectators.

Designated Spectators’ Areas
One of the key elements of Respect in youth football is the creation of designated areas for spectators. This area can be marked by an additional line, the use of cones, a roped-off area or use of a temporary spectator’s barrier.

It is normal practice at Liphook United FC to have an additional line marked approximately 1 metre from the pitch side line, behind which spectators are requested to stand.

The captain takes responsibility
Problems at matches often start when individual players are abusive towards the referee, which escalates in to several players confronting the referee at the same time – then it’s anarchy.

Respect aims to stop this cycle before it starts. Only the captain can challenge decisions made by the referee and the captain needs to manage his/her team to ensure this is always observed. A Respect captain’s armband will be provided to the captain for ease of identification.

In some cases a youth team may not have an individual that is mature enough to take on this enhanced captaincy role. In such cases, a common sense approach should be taken which may involve the referee working with a team manager rather than an on-field captain.

The referee manages the game
The referee will be expected to work with the team captains to manage the players and the game effectively. They must apply the Laws of the Game and deal firmly with any open show of dissent by players, eg not move away from the incident but stay and deal with it.

While recognising that players may on occasions appeal for a decision, eg a throw-in, corner or goal-kick, it is important to distinguish these from the act of dissent which should be punished with a caution.

Find out more here:
Respect - Hampshire FA
https://www.hampshirefa.com/about/respect

Or by contacting: Charlotte Langley-Brown (Clubs & Leagues Development Officer) using: Charlotte.Langley-Brown@HampshireFA.com.
For the national FA please contact Respect@thefa.com