How to encourage sportsmanship and respect

[eefc supporter]

I think out of a number of topics coming out this weekend a number of us are becoming more concerned about the atmospheres of respect and sportsmanship many of our games are being conducted in . Whether it be supporters ,players or managers we probably all have a responsibility to try and improve things and maybe it's worth having a thread to bat some ideas about .

 

From my point of view the FA respect campaign was a good thing in highlighting the issues, but seems to have died the death . It certainly made me consider some of my own past conduct and look at it differently. However it seems as soon as one of the big teams or England get a high profile decision go against them all the respect agenda just flies out of the window . Our league had a campaign against swearing a couple of years ago following complaints from near a ground and that's gone too.

 

It is my perception that things are starting to deteriorate again... Is there anything that can be done ?

 

A couple I'll throw into the mix are :-

 

1. Some way of making the issue owned by the whole club. I know entry to the UEFA Cup on fair play grounds was widely derided but if matchday assessors were also giving a mark for respect / sportsmanship and atmosphere could the byes for the first round of the league cup be awarded on this basis rather than randomly .

 

2. Similar to this could there be some kind of sponsorship deal where a place would do the winning club on fair plays end of year awards do saving the club money and getting good publicity for the club, the idea of fair play and a seasons worth of advertising in programmes.

 

Any other ideas chaps ?

[Footy Mad]

How about managers having a chat with officials over a drink (doesn't have to be alcohol!!!) after the game.

Understand each other's point of view and all of us be big enough to hold our hands up when we have got things wrong.

 

Players tend to follow the example of the manager and if they know that the manager will sit and talk calmly ... but not necessarily agree ... then they might follow that example in the course of the game

 

Managers and officials knowing each other can only help anyway I think

[VPCTFC]

The FA appear to have given up on the Respect campaign. They may still give lip-service to it at a national level but the counties don't seem to be interested if Essex FA are anything to go by.

FA Youth Cup Preliminary Round this season. Codicote v Grays Athletic. Match was abandoned after 82 minutes due to the alleged foul and abusive language emanating from the Grays bench. The ref sent off all the offenders until there was no-one left leaving him no option but to abandon it. Codicote were winning 3-1.

At the Essex FA hearing Grays were found not guilty of any wrong-doing so the FA have ordered the game to be replayed. In the meantime the rest of the competition has advanced three rounds.

I bet the ref who abandoned the game is delighted that he wasn't backed up by the county. He's probably wondering why he bothers.

Edited October 11, 2010 by VPCTFC

[Footy Mad]

I have to say that I am really disappointed not to see ideas and resolutions on this subject.

We may not be able to change things at the top level of our game but we are all involved in some capacity at the local level.

 

Are we happy with how things are or would we like to see things change???

 

Is it within your capablities to change things one little bit .... if so, then why not try?

 

 

[Smudge]

Our involvement as supporters are minimal,yes we could think a little more before we berate an Official,but I am a person who praises Officials also, as my posts show.Fast Tracking is out of our hands,and in my opinion ruining the game,but making a fortune for the F.A. So why would they want to stop it,when it earns them £200 a game.Sutton ended up with 7 Players on pitch last night,3 reds,then an injury,a young fast tracked Ref in charge.So for now expect more of the same,Football is no longer a contact game,but saying that if the Rules were applied to the letter of the Law every game,their would be no Players,Managers on the Pitch at the end of the game.Wembley has to be paid for somehow.

[Footy Mad]

Our involvement as supporters are minimal,yes we could think a little more before we berate an Official,but I am a person who praises Officials also, as my posts show.Fast Tracking is out of our hands,and in my opinion ruining the game,but making a fortune for the F.A. So why would they want to stop it,when it earns them £200 a game.Sutton ended up with 7 Players on pitch last night,3 reds,then an injury,a young fast tracked Ref in charge.So for now expect more of the same,Football is no longer a contact game,but saying that if the Rules were applied to the letter of the Law every game,their would be no Players,Managers on the Pitch at the end of the game.Wembley has to be paid for somehow.

 

 

Smudge I have no issue with you having a go at an official when you disgree with him (or her). All I would ask is that spectators are aware of the people around them and the environment that the ground is set in. There are often young children around and sometimes houses in the near vicinity and I may be old fashioned but I do not believe that foul language has to be shouted at the top of somebodies voice in order to get a point across. Not saying that you would do this but this is often the case

 

If you have an issue with the way that young referees are being pushed too quickly then why not write to Surrey/Hampshire/Kent/Middlesex/Berkshire FA or even the FA. Let them know your thoughts.

Personally I do not understand why young referees have to be promoted too quickly and feel that many would benefit by waiting a year or two and gaining more experience.

There is more of a case for pushing a newer referee that has played the game and who has the potential, but not as many years left to progress in refereeing

[Weeble]

Our involvement as supporters are minimal,yes we could think a little more before we berate an Official,but I am a person who praises Officials also, as my posts show.Fast Tracking is out of our hands,and in my opinion ruining the game,but making a fortune for the F.A. So why would they want to stop it,when it earns them £200 a game.Sutton ended up with 7 Players on pitch last night,3 reds,then an injury,a young fast tracked Ref in charge.So for now expect more of the same,Football is no longer a contact game,but saying that if the Rules were applied to the letter of the Law every game,their would be no Players,Managers on the Pitch at the end of the game.Wembley has to be paid for somehow.

 

 

Smudge I have no issue with you having a go at an official when you disgree with him (or her). All I would ask is that spectators are aware of the people around them and the environment that the ground is set in. There are often young children around and sometimes houses in the near vicinity and I may be old fashioned but I do not believe that foul language has to be shouted at the top of somebodies voice in order to get a point across. Not saying that you would do this but this is often the case

 

If you have an issue with the way that young referees are being pushed too quickly then why not write to Surrey/Hampshire/Kent/Middlesex/Berkshire FA or even the FA. Let them know your thoughts.

Personally I do not understand why young referees have to be promoted too quickly and feel that many would benefit by waiting a year or two and gaining more experience.

There is more of a case for pushing a newer referee that has played the game and who has the potential, but not as many years left to progress in refereeing

Who decides which referee has fast track and what is the process for it....maybe we should look at that.

[Footy Mad]

Our involvement as supporters are minimal,yes we could think a little more before we berate an Official,but I am a person who praises Officials also, as my posts show.Fast Tracking is out of our hands,and in my opinion ruining the game,but making a fortune for the F.A. So why would they want to stop it,when it earns them £200 a game.Sutton ended up with 7 Players on pitch last night,3 reds,then an injury,a young fast tracked Ref in charge.So for now expect more of the same,Football is no longer a contact game,but saying that if the Rules were applied to the letter of the Law every game,their would be no Players,Managers on the Pitch at the end of the game.Wembley has to be paid for somehow.

 

 

Smudge I have no issue with you having a go at an official when you disgree with him (or her). All I would ask is that spectators are aware of the people around them and the environment that the ground is set in. There are often young children around and sometimes houses in the near vicinity and I may be old fashioned but I do not believe that foul language has to be shouted at the top of somebodies voice in order to get a point across. Not saying that you would do this but this is often the case

 

If you have an issue with the way that young referees are being pushed too quickly then why not write to Surrey/Hampshire/Kent/Middlesex/Berkshire FA or even the FA. Let them know your thoughts.

Personally I do not understand why young referees have to be promoted too quickly and feel that many would benefit by waiting a year or two and gaining more experience.

There is more of a case for pushing a newer referee that has played the game and who has the potential, but not as many years left to progress in refereeing

Who decides which referee has fast track and what is the process for it....maybe we should look at that.

 

 

Weeble, I am not certain but I would think that County FAs recommend individuals to the FA. Whitelaw or Catweazle (amongst others) would be able to give an accurate answer.

I have no axe to grind with this but if those involved in the game genuinely think it is a problem then they should get together and make their point to the appropriate authorities.

[eefc supporter]

Our involvement as supporters are minimal,yes we could think a little more before we berate an Official,but I am a person who praises Officials also, as my posts show.Fast Tracking is out of our hands,and in my opinion ruining the game,but making a fortune for the F.A. So why would they want to stop it,when it earns them £200 a game.Sutton ended up with 7 Players on pitch last night,3 reds,then an injury,a young fast tracked Ref in charge.So for now expect more of the same,Football is no longer a contact game,but saying that if the Rules were applied to the letter of the Law every game,their would be no Players,Managers on the Pitch at the end of the game.Wembley has to be paid for somehow.

 

 

Smudge I have no issue with you having a go at an official when you disgree with him (or her). All I would ask is that spectators are aware of the people around them and the environment that the ground is set in. There are often young children around and sometimes houses in the near vicinity and I may be old fashioned but I do not believe that foul language has to be shouted at the top of somebodies voice in order to get a point across. Not saying that you would do this but this is often the case

 

If you have an issue with the way that young referees are being pushed too quickly then why not write to Surrey/Hampshire/Kent/Middlesex/Berkshire FA or even the FA. Let them know your thoughts.

Personally I do not understand why young referees have to be promoted too quickly and feel that many would benefit by waiting a year or two and gaining more experience.

There is more of a case for pushing a newer referee that has played the game and who has the potential, but not as many years left to progress in refereeing

Who decides which referee has fast track and what is the process for it....maybe we should look at that.

 

 

Weeble, I am not certain but I would think that County FAs recommend individuals to the FA. Whitelaw or Catweazle (amongst others) would be able to give an accurate answer.

I have no axe to grind with this but if those involved in the game genuinely think it is a problem then they should get together and make their point to the appropriate authorities.

 

To be fair to Smudge he praises and criticises refs and in my experience does so in a reasonable manner. Re ideas in practice this forum acts as a bit of a check and balance on this stuff. The I went here and people were screaming their heads off at the ref all game long etc etc and I think some of the issues highlighted makes us all think about these things a bit more .

 

We could also offer credit as well as criticism i.e x had a really poor decision given against him and knuckled down and got on with the game... I know a s a fan I get frustrated at times by poor performances etc and you can't totally regulate free speech but we should comment on excessive swearing and abusive attitudes from the sidelines as that may be something that puts people off coming to games.

 

Also if one league was prepared to start something on these issues it would help raise its profile in the wider game e.g something like a good sportsman of the month award would cost no more than a certificate and would generate good publicity for the indiviual and club concerned and our league which could raise our profile . I'm sure there's a lot of good ideas out there that take us beyond wheer did they get that ref from.