Respect Code of Conduct for Adult Players

We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour in the game.

Players tell us they want a referee for every match, yet thousands of match officials drop out each season because of the abuse and intimidation they receive on and off the pitch. Respect your referee today and you may just get one for every match this season. Play your part and observe The FA’s Respect Code of Conduct for players at all times.

On and off the field, I will:

• Adhere to the Laws of The Game

• Display and promote high standards of behaviour

• Promote Fair Play

• Always respect the match officials’ decisions

• Never engage in public criticism of the match officials

• Never engage in offensive, insulting or abusive language or behaviour

• Never engage in bullying, intimidation or harassment

• Speak to my team-mates, the opposition and my coach/manager with respect

• Remember we all make mistakes

• Win or lose with dignity. Shake hands with the opposing team and the  referee at the end of every game.

I understand that if I do not follow the Code, any/all of the following actions may be taken by my club, the league, County FA or The FA. I may:

• Be required to apologise to team-mates, the other team, referee or team manager

• Receive a warning from the coach

• Receive a written warning from the club or league committee

• Be required to attend an FA education course

• Be dropped or substituted

• Be suspended from training

• Not be selected for the team

• Be required to serve a suspension

• Be fined

• Be required to leave the club or league.

In addition:

• The FA/County FA could impose a fine and/or suspension on the player or club.

The Respect programme also introduces a pre-match handshake protocol, which referees have been asked to apply where possible before kick-off:

1. The starting 11 from both teams together with the match official should take part in the handshake.

2. Each team should line up on the same side of the pitch.

3. The home team, led by their captain, then walks to shake hands with the match officials, and then the away team’s players. Once each home team player has finished shaking hands with the last away team player they disperse to their favoured end to kick-off.

4. Once the last home team player has completed the handshake, the away team then follow their captain passing in front of the match official to shake hands before dispersing to the opposite end of the pitch from the home team.

5. Once the handshakes have been completed the match officials then proceed to the centre circle for the coin toss.

Whilst we understand that it may be difficult to implement this protocol in every case, we would ask that referees do what they reasonably can to ensure its implementation.

The Captain takes responsibility

Often problems start at matches when individual players are abusive towards the referee, which escalates into 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. However, this does not mean the referee will only speak to the captain. Referees remain free to talk to any player if this means they can manage the game better.

The advice to captains is:

As a captain, you have no special status or privileges under the Laws of the Game, but you do have a degree of responsibility for the behaviour of your team.

To promote Respect the referee will work with you, as the team captain, to manage the players and the game effectively.

Even if you are some way away from an incident when the referee feels he/ she needs you involved in a discussion with a player, the referee will call you over. This will ensure that, as the team captain, you remain the point of contact for the referee.

In some cases a referee will proceed directly to a caution if he deems an offence to be serious tnough, and is not obliged to call a captain forward for every incident – only those that will assist him/her in the management of the game.

The type of behaviour that often gives rise to problems in matches, and where captains and referees need to work together, can be described as ‘harassment and challenging behaviour’ towards the referee’.

Referees will also make use of captains to deal with persistent offence from a team-mate where there is a real possibility of further offending resulting in a caution or a dismissal.

Captains will also be called forward where additional support is required to calm a player down who is likely to immediately re-offend.

Here are some examples of each of these types of behaviour;

Harassment:

• Running towards the referee in an aggressive manner.

• Players surrounding the referee to protest a decision.

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

Challenging:

• Passing comment to other players about a referee’s decision-making.

• Repeatedly moaning at the referee about decisions.

• Gestures that obviously are made in a derogatory manner, such as a shaking of the head or waving of the hand.

Captains have been asked to:

• Ensure they wear a Respect captain’s armband. These will be provided by your league to your club.

• Together with the opposition captain, make themselves known to the referee before the game. He/she will ask if the captains if they are clear about your responsibilities.

• Ensure all 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 the specific match and football as a whole.

• Ensure the vice-captain (who should be appointed if there isn’t one) is aware of these rules, in case the captain is unavailable for a game or has to leave the pitch.

• Ensure every player in the team is aware of the Respect Code of Conduct.

• Visit www.TheFA.com/Respect for further updates and tips.

Respect Code of Conduct for Coaches, Team Managers and Club Officials

We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour in the game.

In The FA’s survey of 37,000 grassroots participants, behaviour was the biggest concern in the game. This included the abuse of match officials and the unacceptable behaviour of over competitive parents, spectators and coaches on the sideline.

Play your part and observe The FA’s Respect Code of Conduct in everything you do.

On and off the field, I will:

• Show respect to others involved in the game including match officials, opposition players, coaches, managers, officials and spectators

• Adhere to the laws and spirit of the game

• Promote Fair Play and high standards of behaviour

• Always respect the match official’s decision

• Never enter the field of play without the referee’s permission

• Never engage in public criticism of the match officials

• Never engage in, or tolerate, offensive, insulting or abusive language or behaviour.

On and off the field, I will:

• Place the well-being, safety and enjoyment of each player above everything, including winning

• Explain exactly what I expect of players and what they can expect from me

• Ensure all parents/carers of all players under the age of 18 understand these expectations

• Never engage in or tolerate any form of bullying

• Develop mutual trust and respect with every player to build their self-esteem

• Encourage each player to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance

• Ensure all activities I organise are appropriate for the players’ ability level, age and maturity

• Co-operate fully with others in football (e.g. officials, doctors, physiotherapists, welfare officers) for each player’s best interests.

I understand that if I do not follow the Code, any/all of the following actions may be taken by my club, League, County FA or The FA.

I may be:

• Required to meet with the club, league or County Welfare Officer

• Required to meet with the club or league committee

• Monitored by another club coach

• Required to attend a FA education course

• Suspended by the club or League from attending matches

• Suspended or fined by the County FA

• Required to leave or be sacked by the club or League.

In addition:

• My FACA (FA Coaches Association) membership may be withdrawn.

Respect Code of Conduct for Match Officials

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 FA’s Respect Code of Conduct for match officials at all times.

• Be honest and completely impartial at all times

• 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

• Never 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 in which I officiate.

I understand that if I do not follow the Code, any/all of the following actions may be taken by my club, County FA or The FA. I may be:

• Required to meet with The FA/County FA Refereeing Official

• Required to meet with The FA/County FA Refereeing Committee.

The referee manages the game

Clearly, this step already applies, but it is included in the Respect programme as a timely reminder to emphasise the role and powers of the referee.

The instructions given to referees are:

You are expected to work with the team captains to manage the players and the game effectively.

You must control the game by applying the Laws of the Game and deal firmly with any open show of dissent by players. (e.g. 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. a throw-in, corner or goal-kick), it is important you distinguish these from an act of dissent which should be punished with a caution.

You should use a stepped approach, where appropriate, to managing players:

1. Quiet word.

2. Free-kick with quiet word.

3. Free-kick with public admonishment (this is the time referees should consider using the captain to emphasise the message).

4. Yellow card.

5. Red card

The stepped approach does not negate the fact that as the referee, you have the authority within the Laws of the Game 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 an incident, but you feel you need him/her involved in a discussion with a player, you should call the captain over. This will ensure the captain remains your point of contact during the game. These guidelines are an additional preventative / supportive tool for referees to manage games effectively. The key is for referees to use captains in a more visible way.

Respect Code of Conduct for Spectators

We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour in the game.

This League is supporting The FA’s Respect programme to ensure football can be enjoyed in a safe, positive environment. Remember winning isn’t everything.

Play your part and observe The FA’s Respect Code of Conduct for players at all times.

I will:

• Remember that people play for FUN

• Applaud effort and good play as well as success

• Always respect the match officials’ decisions

• Remain outside the field of play and within the Designated Spectators’ Area (where provided)

• Let the coach do their job and not confuse the players by telling them what to do

• Encourage the players to respect the opposition, referee and match officials

• Avoid criticising a player for making a mistake – mistakes are part of learning

• Never engage in, or tolerate, offensive, insulting, or abusive language or behaviour.

I understand that if I do not follow the Code, any/all of the following actions may be taken by my club, league, County FA or The FA.

I may:

• Be issued with a verbal warning from a club or league official

• Be required to meet with the club, league or CFA Welfare Officer

• Be required to meet with the club or league committee

• Be obliged to undertake an FA education course

• Be obliged to leave the match venue by the club or league

• Be requested by the club or league not to attend future games

• Be suspended or have my club or league membership removed

• Be required to leave the club or league.

In addition:

• The FA/County FA could impose a fine and/or suspension on the club.

Awards | News | Clubs | History | Sponsors | Management

Email : sssl