Respect Campaign

Respect Campaign

Respect Campaign Respectis aimed at helping us all, players, coaches, referees, spectators, to work together to change the negative attitudes and abusive behaviour on the side-lines and on the field of play It is not just about football at your level. It’s about football at every level, Juniors, Youth, Seniors Men's & Women’s

Why football needsRespect What isRespect How willRespectwork in practice The 4 steps toRespect Respect Campaign

Why football needs Respect: Football Federation Australia & Football West is responding to the growing concern from all levels of football to tackle the unacceptable behaviour in today's game. Respect also aims to tackle the growing shortage of referees from football due to abuse. Respect Campaign

What is Respect: Respectis a continuous Football West campaign aimed at creating an enjoyable playing environment that allows people to play, officiate, and watch football without being abused, mocked, insulted, jeered, physically assaulted, & unnecessarily criticised. Sound fair enough? Respect Campaign

What is Respect: So why does it happen week-in, week-out at games all over the state? For lots of reasons - people get caught up in the emotion of the match and forget: People react better to encouragement than criticism Everyone's doing their best - whether a referee, coach, player or spectator What is needed is for everyone to take responsibility for their individual actions - verbal or physical and abide by Football’s Code of Conduct Respect Campaign

How will Respect work in practice: The Respect campaign includes 4 practical steps to improve behaviour on the field and on the side lines These practical steps will help tackle different behavioural issues in both youth football and adult football Each level of the game has it’s own Code of Conduct which explains what actions can be taken if the code is broken Clearly, the professional game has a big role to play in demonstrating Respect towards match officials and the game in general Respect Campaign

How will Respect work in practice … Pre match: Referees are expected to conduct a pre match briefing with both team captains and managers to inform them on what he expects in terms of game management. Prior to the KO, match officials will lead both teams onto the FOP, they will then line up and then undertake the team handshake process Respect Campaign

The 4 steps to Respect: Referee managing the game Captain taking responsibility Designated Spectators area ( Don’t X the line) Managing behaviour in the technical area Respect Campaign

Referee managing the game: As the referee, you are expected to work with the team captain to manage the players and the game effectively. You must control the game by applying the LOTG and deal firmly with any open show of dissent by players. (e.g. Do 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. FK, COK, TI, or a GK) it is important you distinguish these appeals from an act of dissent which should be punished with a yellow card Respect Campaign

Referee managing the game: You should use the stepped approach where appropriate (Road Block method) to managing players Free Kick Free Kick with a quiet word Free Kick with a Public admonishment (good time for the referee to consider using the captain to more visibly get the message across) Issue a Yellow Card Issue a Red Card Respect Campaign

Referee managing the game: The stepped approach does not negate the fact that as the referee, you have the authority within the LOTG to issue disciplinary sanctions without recourse to the captain(s), including issuing a Yellow or Red card where the laws require it. Even if the captain is some distance from the incident, but you feel you need him/her in a discussion with the player, you should call the captain over. This will ensure the captain remains your point of contact during the game. These guidelines should be seen as an additional preventative/supportive tool for referees to manage games effectively. The key is to use the captains in a more visible way where appropriate. Respect Campaign

Captain Taking Responsibility: Often problems start at games when individual players are abusive towards referees, which then often escalates into several players confronting the referee at the same time. Respect aims to stop this cycle before it starts. Only the captain may approach the referee to clarify the decision, and it is then he that needs to manage his/her players in order for them not to confront the referee. Respect Campaign

Captain Taking Responsibility: Captain’s should be informed before the start of the game, that as captain of his/her team they have no special status or privileges under the LOTG, but they do have a degree of responsibility for the behaviour of their team. To promote Respect I as the referee will work with you, as the team captain, to manage the players and the game effectively. Respect Campaign

Designated Spectator's Area: Don’t X the Line initiative is a program that will be run out to all junior clubs, one of the key elements of the Respect campaign is the creation of a designated area for spectators. This area will be a physical barrier which will start 2 metres from the touchline and run the length of the touchline on one side of the field, this means that no one should be watching from behind the goals. The other side of the field is for both team coaches to stand and give instruction. Respect Campaign

Managing the technical area: Occupants of the technical area must behave in a reasonable manner. If the coach or any other person in the TA is negative or abusive towards you, then this will have the same effect on players behaviour towards you, this is unacceptable and should be dealt with. All team officials are reminded of their role in promotion Respect towards the referee and their code of conduct. Respect Campaign

Your Role in Respect … Captains: An important part of Respect is the need for captains like you to work alongside referees to ensure a better playing atmosphere between players and officials. Given you as captain, are the main point of contact for the referee under Respect campaign, it’s important you understand what the referees have been asked to do: Respect Campaign

Your Role in Respect … Captains: The referee has been asked to work with you to manage the players and the game effectively. However the referee must control the game by applying the LOTG. This includes dealing firmly with any open show of dissent. The type of behaviour which often gives rise to problems and where captains and referees need to work together, can be described as “harassment” and “challenging behaviour” towards the referee. Here’s some examples of each: Respect Campaign

Harassment: Running towards the referee in an aggressive manner Players surrounding the referee to protest a decision Repeatedly moaning to the referees about decisions Respect Campaign

Challenging: Passing comment to other players about the referee’s decision making Making gestures that obviously are made in a derogatory manner, such as a shaking of the head or waving the hand etc Repeatedly asking questions about decisions in an attempt to influence the referee or undermine his/her responsibilities Respect Campaign

Your Role in Respect … Players: Whether you’re in the starting eleven or on the bench, your role as a player is crucial to the success of Respect. On match day, you’ll be expected to work with your coach and your captain to allow the referee to manage the game without being the subject of abuse by you. Remember you have singed a code of conduct at your club a “promise” to abide by the rules Respect Campaign

Your Role in Respect … Coaches: Coaches have a hugely important role to play in Respect, as they are not only responsible for their own behaviour , but they can also influence that of their players and spectators too. On match days, you’ll be expected to work with your players, parents and other spectators to allow the referee to manage the game without being the subject of abuse Respect Campaign

Your Role in Respect … Parents & Spectators: Parents have a big responsibility as part of theRespectcampaign.Respectis working to eradicate touchline abuse in football. And parents can play their part by agreeing to, and signing, their club’s Code of Conduct and abiding by them throughout the season. Parents also have the responsibility for their children’s behaviour. Players will also be asked to sign the Code of Conduct, and parents can encourage their children to adhere to the players code. Respect Campaign

Your Role in Respect … Referees: The Respectcampaign aims to allow referees to officiate matches without being subjected to abuse by players, coaches or spectators. The referees themselves have a key part to play in the process. Working in partnership with Football West, referees can provide post match feedback regarding the positive and negative behaviour of the players, parents, coaches and other spectators of the clubs that they officiate at, this will help not only Football West but also the Club enforce the appropriate Codes of Conduct Respect Campaign

Your Role in Respect … Referees: Are also reminded thatRespectis a two way street, whereby as match officials we need toRespectthe roles of Players, Coaches & Club Officials and treat them the same way as you would liked to be treated. Respect Campaign

Respect Campaign