Respect Campaign

Respect CampaignRespect Campaign


RespectRespect is aimed at helping us all, is aimed at helping us all, players, coaches, referees, spectators, players, coaches, referees, spectators, to work together to change the negative to work together to change the negative attitudes and abusive behaviour on the attitudes and abusive behaviour on the side-lines and on the field of playside-lines and on the field of play

It is not just about football at your level. It is not just about football at your level. It’s about football at It’s about football at everyevery level, Juniors, level, Juniors, Youth, Seniors Men's & Women’s Youth, Seniors Men's & Women’s

Why football needsWhy football needs RespectRespect

What isWhat is RespectRespect

How willHow will RespectRespect work in practicework in practice

The 4 steps toThe 4 steps to RespectRespect


Why football needs Why football needs RespectRespect::

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


What is What is RespectRespect::

RespectRespect is a continuous Football West campaign is a continuous Football West campaign aimed at creating an enjoyable playing aimed at creating an enjoyable playing environment that allows people to play, officiate, environment that allows people to play, officiate, and watch football without being abused, and watch football without being abused, mocked, insulted, jeered, physically assaulted, & mocked, insulted, jeered, physically assaulted, & unnecessarily criticised. unnecessarily criticised.

Sound fair enough?Sound fair enough?


What is What is RespectRespect::

So why does it happen week-in, week-out at So why does it happen week-in, week-out at games all over the state? For lots of reasons - games all over the state? For lots of reasons - people get caught up in the emotion of the people get caught up in the emotion of the match and forget:match and forget: People react better to encouragement than criticismPeople react better to encouragement than criticism

Everyone's doing their best - whether a referee, coach, Everyone's doing their best - whether a referee, coach, player or spectatorplayer or spectator

What is needed is for everyone to take responsibility for What is needed is for everyone to take responsibility for their their individual actions - verbal or physical and individual actions - verbal or physical and

abide by abide by Football’s Code of ConductFootball’s Code of Conduct


How will How will Respect Respect work in practice:work in practice:

The The RespectRespect campaign includes 4 practical steps to campaign includes 4 practical steps to improve behaviour on the field and on the side linesimprove behaviour on the field and on the side lines

These practical steps will help tackle different These practical steps will help tackle different behavioural issues in both youth football and adult behavioural issues in both youth football and adult footballfootball

Each level of the game has it’s own Code of Conduct Each level of the game has it’s own Code of Conduct which explains what actions can be taken if the code which explains what actions can be taken if the code is brokenis broken

Clearly, the professional game has a big role to play in Clearly, the professional game has a big role to play in demonstrating demonstrating RespectRespect towards match officials and towards match officials and the game in generalthe game in general


How will How will Respect Respect work in practice …work in practice …

Pre matchPre match::Referees are expected to conduct a pre match briefing with Referees are expected to conduct a pre match briefing with both team captains and managers to inform them on what both team captains and managers to inform them on what he expects in terms of game management.he expects in terms of game management.

Prior to the KO, match officials will lead both teams onto the Prior to the KO, match officials will lead both teams onto the FOP, they will then line up and then undertake the team FOP, they will then line up and then undertake the team handshake processhandshake process


The 4 steps to The 4 steps to RespectRespect::

1.1. Referee managing the gameReferee managing the game

2.2. Captain taking responsibilityCaptain taking responsibility

3.3. Designated Spectators area ( Don’t X the Designated Spectators area ( Don’t X the line)line)

4.4. Managing behaviour in the technical areaManaging behaviour in the technical area


Referee managing the game:Referee managing the game:

As the referee, you are expected to work with the team As the referee, you are expected to work with the team captain to manage the players and the game effectively. You captain to manage the players and the game effectively. You must control the game by applying the LOTG and deal firmly must control the game by applying the LOTG and deal firmly with any open show of dissent by players. (e.g. Do not move with any open show of dissent by players. (e.g. Do not move away from the incident , but stay and deal with it).away from the incident , but stay and deal with it).

While recognising that players may on occasions make an While recognising that players may on occasions make an appeal for a decision (e.g. FK, COK, TI, or a GK) it is important 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 you distinguish these appeals from an act of dissent which should be punished with a yellow cardshould be punished with a yellow card


Referee managing the game:Referee managing the game:

You should use the stepped approach where appropriate (Road Block You should use the stepped approach where appropriate (Road Block method) to managing playersmethod) to managing players

Free KickFree Kick Free Kick with a quiet wordFree Kick with a quiet word Free Kick with a Public admonishment (good time for the Free Kick with a Public admonishment (good time for the referee to referee to consider using the captain to more visibly get consider using the captain to more visibly get the message across)the message across) Issue a Yellow CardIssue a Yellow Card Issue a Red CardIssue a Red Card


Referee managing the game:Referee managing the game:The stepped approach does not negate the fact that as The stepped approach does not negate the fact that as the referee, you have the authority within the LOTG to the referee, you have the authority within the LOTG to issue disciplinary sanctions without recourse to the issue disciplinary sanctions without recourse to the captain(s), including issuing a Yellow or Red card where captain(s), including issuing a Yellow or Red card where the laws require it.the laws require it.

Even if the captain is some distance from the incident, but Even if the captain is some distance from the incident, but you feel you need him/her in a discussion with the player, you feel you need him/her in a discussion with the player, you should call the captain over. This will ensure the you should call the captain over. This will ensure the captain remains your point of contact during the game.captain remains your point of contact during the game.

These guidelines should be seen as an additional These guidelines should be seen as an additional preventative/supportive tool for referees to manage preventative/supportive tool for referees to manage games effectively. The key is to use the captains in a games effectively. The key is to use the captains in a more visible way where appropriate.more visible way where appropriate.


Captain Taking Responsibility:Captain Taking Responsibility:

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


Captain Taking Responsibility:Captain Taking Responsibility:

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


Designated Spectator's Area:Designated Spectator's Area:

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


Managing the technical area:Managing the technical area:

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


Your Role in Your Role in RespectRespect … …

Captains:Captains:

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


Your Role in Your Role in Respect Respect ……

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

Here’s some examples of each:Here’s some examples of each:


Harassment:Harassment:

Running towards the referee in an Running towards the referee in an aggressive manneraggressive manner

Players surrounding the referee to Players surrounding the referee to protest a decisionprotest a decision

Repeatedly moaning to the referees Repeatedly moaning to the referees about decisionsabout decisions


Challenging: Challenging:

Passing comment to other players about the Passing comment to other players about the referee’s decision makingreferee’s decision making

Making gestures that obviously are made in a Making gestures that obviously are made in a derogatory manner, such as a shaking of the head derogatory manner, such as a shaking of the head or waving the hand etcor waving the hand etc

Repeatedly asking questions about decisions in an Repeatedly asking questions about decisions in an attempt to influence the referee or undermine attempt to influence the referee or undermine his/her responsibilitieshis/her responsibilities



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


Your Role in Your Role in RespectRespect … …

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



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



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



Referees:Referees:

Are also reminded thatAre also reminded that RespectRespect is a two way is a two way street, whereby as match officials we need street, whereby as match officials we need toto RespectRespect the roles of Players, Coaches & the roles of Players, Coaches & Club Officials and treat them the same way Club Officials and treat them the same way as you would liked to be treated.as you would liked to be treated.


Documents

Respect Campaign