Welcome to Respect

Respect is a key programme for the FA and contributes towards Goal 2 (Raising Standards) within the FA National Game Strategy. The National Game Strategy involved the single biggest review ever undertaken of grassroots football involving 16,000 stakeholders from all aspects of the game. This was followed up in North Riding CFA through online questionnaires and interactive consultation workshops and the top priority both nationally and locally is to tackle abusive touchline behavior and abuse towards referees.

The North Riding County FA will support Clubs to integrate the four key messages of the Respect Programme. These are:

Step 1: Codes of conduct for players, referees, coaches and spectators which sets down basic principles that everyone must sign and adhere to.

Step 2: Designated Spectators’ Areas defined by touchline barriers to keep spectators back from the pitch.

Step 3: Captains taking responsibility for their players and becoming the main point of contact for the referee.

Step 4: Referees managing the game and dealing with any open show of dissent

Frequently Asked Questions

To help you, we have placed a series of Frequently Asked Questions Below:

What is the Respect programme?

• Respect is a cross-game programme dedicated to improving standards of behaviour at all levels of football
  
• The programme will be implemented in professional and grassroots football, and encompasses not only respect towards match officials, but also the conduct of overly-competitive coaches and parents on the sidelines at grassroots youth games.
  
• It represents a shared commitment between The FA, Premier League, Football League, PFA, LMA, referees, County FAs and regional and local leagues.
• Ultimately Respect is about creating positive football environments, making poor and abusive behaviour unacceptable in football, and retaining more referees.

Why it is being introduced?

• The message that behaviour is the No.1 concern in the grassroots game came through loud and clear in the massive research campaign The FA undertook before publishing its National Game Strategy earlier this year.
  
• The research compiled the views of over 37,000 participants, including players, coaches, referees, volunteers and fans. The feedback confirmed that parental pressure is one of the main reasons why young players drop out of the game, while poor behaviour by coaches, players and parents towards referees sees around 7,000 referees quit the game every year.

OK fine, but how do you know the Respect programme is going to work when it is rolled out?

• During the second half of last season, The FA conducted a week 10-week pilot scheme in 15 adult and youth leagues across the country, which was monitored on a weekly basis.
  
• The pilot comprised a combination of three measures: allowing only the captain to speak to the referee, erecting barriers along the touchlines to keep spectators back, and codes of conduct with related sanctions for everyone involved in the participating clubs. Over 300 teams, 166 referees and 4,500 players were involved.
  
• The overwhelming positive feedback from referees, players, coaches and parents, revealed that the measures had a tangible impact on behaviour on the pitch and sidelines, and informed The FA’s plans for the 2008-09 season
  
• Full details of the pilot will be released ahead of the grassroots launch for Respect

How have players, clubs, managers, etc. been informed about the new measures?

• There have been meetings held with leagues, clubs, managers, referees at the Professional Game level, and meetings with County FAs at National Game Level. Guidance notes have also been distributed to specific groups.
  
• FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick is also writing to 1,300 leagues asking them to join Respect.
  
• We are also making a “toolkit” available to leagues, clubs, captains, referees and County FAs
  
• There is a real support across the game for what we are trying to achieve with Respect.
  
• There is also downloadable information on TheFA.com/Respect

Why is Respect starting at the bottom rather than the top of the game?

• It was important to test the measures in a properly conducted pilot scheme, which realistically can only be done at grassroots level.

• It was always the intention to engage the professional game for 2008-09 and we now have a whole-game approach, which has been largely guided by the results of the pilot.
  
• We are also responding to a clear message from the grassroots (which represents the overwhelming bulk of the game) to tackle behaviour.
  
• In our consultation for The FA National Game Strategy, the behaviour of pushy parents and coaches on the sidelines, and the abuse of referees, were highlighted as the biggest concerns (80% and 73% respectively as their No.1 concern).

Have sanctions for dissent been increased under The FA’s disciplinary system?

• No. We are confident that the combination of the new measures and the existing sanctions will be effective in tackling dissent and confrontational behaviour.

So how much is it costing?

• The FA is contributing £1m to providing support materials, training, monitoring, awareness and PR campaigns.
  
• However, much of the delivery is through existing staff and resources. This is a real priority and something we are committed to doing properly.
  
• The Football Foundation has also committed £1m towards the cost of the spectator barriers.

So how will Respect work in the Professional Game?

• The Football Association, Premier League, Football League, Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), League Managers Association (LMA) and Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) are working in partnership in the professional game, with the emphasis on the relationship between referees, and players and managers.

• The key steps being introduced to the Premier League and Football League are

1.  Referee managing the game / captain’s taking responsibility for the conduct of their team

2.  Pre-match briefing meeting with referee and managers/captains

3.  Team handshake before kick-off

4.  Behaviour in the technical area

• The Respect programme in the professional game will be seen for the first time on the weekend of 9/10 August, including The FA Community Shield between Manchester United and Portsmouth on Sunday 10 August

Why has the “captains-only” message been watered down?

• It has been adapted, rather than watered down. While the captain’s only measure reduced dissent, many referees in the pilot felt it restricted their ability to man-manage and interact with the players.
  
• In addition, many captains and their team-mates didn’t fully understand the system and wanted to be able to communicate with the match officials.
  
• The Respect programme is now concentrating on the key problem areas of harassment and challenging and asking captains to take a more proactive role
  
• This approach, which will help rather than hinder interaction between referees and captains, will be standard across all levels of the game.

Do you really think this will change behaviour in the professional game?

• There is a general agreement that these measures will improve the relationship between match officials and players and coaches and improve behaviour as a result.
  
• Everyone has bought into this, including the PFA and the LMA
  
• Referees are also being instructed to take a firm line on applying the Laws of the Game, especially in the areas of dissent and abusive behaviour. 
  
• There will always be controversial incidents but we are aiming for long-term improvement.

And how will Respect work in the grassroots game?

The programme at a local level will focus on four practical steps to improve behaviour, both on the pitch and on the sidelines:

1. Codes of Conduct

2. Designated Spectators’ Areas

3. Captain taking responsibility

4. Referee managing the game


I play in a local FA registered league – how can my team sign up for Respect?

• The FA is making Respect available to all grassroots leagues, with an easy-to-use “toolkit” comprising guidance notes, codes of conduct, Captain’s guidance leaflets and Respect armbands, and advice on purchasing the barriers.
  
• County FA Referee Development Officers and Welfare Officers will help with the Respect implementation and offer guidance and support to referees, leagues and clubs
  
• We want to see Respect in operation around the country and we are working with the County FAs to involve as many leagues as possible
  
• We are now in the process of inviting leagues to get involved in Respect, but we won’t have the final numbers until the end of August/start of September
  
• The initial response has been very positive: there is a general understanding of the benefits involved in being part of Respect

Is Respect obligatory at grassroots level?

• It will be mandatory in Charter Standard Leagues only (49 taking part in the pilot).
  
• We hope that the accessible nature of the programme will encourage clubs and leagues to get involved, and to this point The FA is working with all the County FAs to maximise participation.
  
• This is a long-term programme and we will look at the impact of the 2008-09 measures before deciding how to take it forward for the following season.
  
• We are looking into how it could become mandatory for 2009-10.

How can referees get involved?

• Referees operating in the leagues that have adopted Respect can receive special training from the County Referee Development Officers on the new measures.
  
• This is in addition to the on-going mentoring and support network. We have also produced a guide for referees explaining the new measures. The programme will be embedded in future referee training.
  
• Referees wishing to get involved in a “Respect league” should contact their local RDO.

Why don’t you make the Respect measures obligatory?

• This is a long-term approach, and we are going step-by-step
  
• The response from County FAs, leagues and individual clubs has been outstanding so far
  
• There may well be mandatory aspects to Respect further down the line, but first we will assess the impact of this coming season

What are the penalties for breaching the codes of conduct?

• The codes of conduct also carry related actions
  
• There can be action from the relevant County FA and/or The FA. We are trying to instill respect as a general climate in which people can enjoy the game.

How does Respect link into The FA National Game Strategy?

• The issue of Respect and improving behaviour is a central theme of the NGS.
  
• It also links in with some of The Football Association’s other priorities, such as boosting participation, raising standards, developing better players, and increasing referee recruitment and retention.
  
• We are trying to improve the general culture of the game to make it more accessible and enjoyable for everyone, be it the players, coaches, referees or fans/parents

How much do the barriers cost? Do clubs have to use them?

• The FA has arranged a preferential rate for leagues operating within the Respect programme (£65 per kit)
  
• They are not obligatory. Clubs can use alternatives if they wish, but the barriers have had a marked effect when employed.

Have you obtained a grant from the Football Foundation?

• The Foundation have committed £1m towards funding the touchline barriers for participating leagues.

What is the role of the Welfare Officer in Respect?

• All Welfare Officers will promote the Respect programme as part of the measures to create positive football experiences
  
• County FA Welfare Officers will provide support and guidance to league and club welfare officers, and assist in dealing with incidents of poor behaviour.
  
• Youth League Welfare Officers are asked to promote the Respect education programme and assist County Welfare Officers with monitoring and dealing with poor behaviour.
  
• Club Welfare Officers will help coaches, players and parents understand the Respect measures, ensure that codes are distributed and signed up to, provide guidance on action of the codes are broken, and report any concerns about the welfare of children.

So overall, how much is really changing?

• This is a long-term commitment to change a culture within football at all levels. It was important to find consensus across the game on the measures to be adopted.
  
• We have made meaningful changes which we are confident will have a tangible impact. We won’t allow isolated incidents to blow this off-track.

For further information on how to deal with the media on Respect issues or to advise The FA of any potential negative stories or incidents, please call The FA press office on 020 7745 4720.