Respect Campaign

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Granville District Referees Association
RESPECT CAMPAIGN
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Respect Campaign

• Respect is 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. Its
  about football at every level, Juniors, Youth,
  Seniors Men's Womens

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Respect Campaign

• Why football needs Respect?
• What is Respect?
• How will Respect work in practice?
• The 4 steps to Respect

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Respect Campaign

• Why football needs Respect
• Football Federation Australia, Football NSW,
  GDSFA GDSRA 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.
• Sound fair enough?

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Respect Campaign

• What is Respect
• Respect is a continuous GDSRA GDSFA 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.

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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, manager, player or spectator
• What is needed is for everyone to take
  responsibility for their individual actions -
  verbal or physical and abide by Footballs Code
  of Conduct

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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 its 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

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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

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Respect Campaign
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Respect Campaign
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Respect Campaign
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Respect Campaign

• The 4 steps to Respect
• Referee managing the game
• Captain taking responsibility
• Designated Spectators area (Dont X the line)
• Managing behaviour in the technical area

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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, CK, TI,
  or a GK) it is important you distinguish these
  appeals from an act of dissent which should be
  punished with a yellow card

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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

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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.

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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.

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Respect Campaign

• Captain Taking Responsibility
• Captains 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.

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Respect Campaign

• Designated Spectator's Area
• Dont 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.

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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 the
  promotion of Respect towards the referee and
  their code of conduct.

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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
  the Respect campaign, its important you
  understand what the referees have been asked to
  do

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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.
• Heres some examples of each

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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

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Respect Campaign

• Challenging
• Passing comment to other players about the
  referees 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

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Respect Campaign

• Your Role in Respect
• Players
• Whether youre in the starting eleven or on the
  bench, your role as a player is crucial to the
  success of the Respect campaign. On match day,
  youll 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 signed a code of conduct at
  your club a promise to abide by the rules

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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, youll 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

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Respect Campaign

• Your Role in Respect
• Parents Spectators
• Parents have a big responsibility as part of the
  Respect campaign. Respect is working to
  eradicate touchline abuse in football. And
  parents can play their part by agreeing to, and
  signing, their clubs Code of Conduct and abiding
  by them throughout the season. Parents also have
  the responsibility for their childrens
  behaviour. Players will also be asked to sign
  the Code of Conduct, and parents can encourage
  their children to adhere to the players code.

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Respect Campaign

• Your Role in Respect
• Referees
• The Respect campaign 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 GDSRA
  GDSFA, 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 GDSRA GDSFA but also
  the Club enforce the appropriate Codes of Conduct

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Respect Campaign

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

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Respect Campaign

• Showing proper Respect to your fellow officials
  and the participants prior to the kick off is
  essential to laying the foundation for a game to
  be played in a sporting manner.
• Arriving at the field in good time, appearing
  fit, clean and well groomed in a proper uniform,
  inspecting the field and informing the team
  officials of any deficiencies shows that you are
  on the job and care about the game Respect.
• If you have official assistants, talking to them
  and making them feel at ease can help create a
  positive environment at the benches, it also
  shows that you Respect their presence and role in
  the game.
• Introducing yourself and your team to the team
  officials in a courteous and forthright manner
  opens the lines of communication (especially if
  you have not officiated with their teams before).
• All of these points show that you have Respect
  for everyone participating in the game including
  yourself.
• How can you expect others to Respect you if by
  your appearance and actions you seem not to
  Respect yourself.

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Respect Campaign

• On average, 7,000 referees quit English football
  every year because of the abuse they receive from
  players and from the sidelines.
• Lots of children also pack it in because of the
  attitude and actions of over-enthusiastic and
  pushy parents.
• 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 following Respect
  Code of Conduct for Match Officials at all times.

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Respect CampaignOfficials Respect Code of
Conduct

• Be honest and completely impartial at all times,
  irrespective of the teams, players or team
  officials involved in the match
• 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
• Not 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 which I
  officiate

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Respect CampaignRespect affects the entire game,
and needs your help, regardless of how you are
involved in football.

• PLAYERS
• Whether you're in the starting eleven or on the
  bench, your role as a player is crucial to the
  success of the Respect Campaign
• On a match day, you'll be expected to work with
  your coaches and your captain to allow the
  referee to manage the game without being
  subjected to abuse. With the game losing many
  referees from the game every year, it's hugely
  important, because without the referees, the game
  isn't the same.
• Working together with your coach, your captain,
  and each referee that takes charge of your games
  during the season, you can play a major role in
  improving the game for everyone, through Respect
  and by promising to abide by a set of rules
  governing your behaviour as a player.
• TEAM CAPTAINS
• Together with your opposition captain, make
  yourself known to the referee before the game.
  He/she will ask if you are clear about your
  responsibilities .
• Ensure all your players understand what they
  can/cannot do in relation to the referee and what
  is meant by 'unwanted behaviour'. No-one's
  trying to curb enthusiasm - just instil more
  discipline. This can only benefit your match -
  and football as a whole.

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Respect CampaignRespect affects the entire game,
and needs your help, regardless of how you are
involved in football.

• 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 a match day, you'll be expected to work with
  your players, parents and other spectators to
  allow the referee to manage the game without
  being subjected to abuse.
• REFEREES
• The Respect program aims to allow Referees to
  officiate matches without being subjected to
  abuse by players, coaches or spectators - and the
  referees themselves have a key part to play in
  the process.
• Working in partnership with the clubs they
  officiate, referees can provide post-match
  feedback regarding the behaviour of players,
  parents, coaches and other spectators, to help
  the clubs enforce their Codes of Conduct.

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Respect CampaignRespect affects the entire game,
and needs your help, regardless of how you are
involved in football.

• PARENTS AND SPECTATORS
• Parents have a big responsibility as part of the
  Respect Campaign
• Respect is 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 a responsibility for their
  children's behaviour. The players will also be
  asked to sign a Code of Conduct, and parents can
  encourage their children to adhere to the
  players' code.
• CLUB AND FOOTBALL BODY OFFICIALS
• The Respect Campaign relies on clubs and leagues
  to take active steps to ensure high standards of
  conduct throughout their club or football body.
• Football bodies can champion the Respect
  Campaign, and communicate the importance of
  Respect to their member clubs through meetings
  and bulletins.
• Club officials can sign up to and enforce Codes
  of Conduct for their players, coaches, parents
  and spectators, which will set the standard for
  behaviour throughout their club.

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Respect CampaignRespect affects the entire game,
and needs your help, regardless of how you are
involved in football.

• EVERYBODY
• The No.1 priority for grassroots players is
  having a referee for their matches.
• You have a vital role in helping to achieve this
  and showing RESPECT.
• Clearly, the professional game also has a big
  role to play in demonstrating Respect towards
  match officials and in general.