To date we have all 9 of the Youth Leagues and 4 Senior Leagues in Leicestershire & Rutland who signed up to the FA RESPECT Programme with another 3 Senior Leagues showing a positive move to join the programme in the coming season. This involves over 11000 players of which 9200 are youth players ranging from mini-soccer U8’s right through U18’s boys and girls.
FA RESPECT Leagues are –
• Leicester & District Mutual Football League
• Leicester City and County Girls Mini Soccer League
• Leicester City & County Girls League
• Leicestershire 9 v 9 & Mini-Soccer Youth League
• Leicestershire & Rutland Inclusive Football League
• Leicester & District U11’s and U12’s Sunday League
• Leicester & District Sunday Juniors League
• Leicestershire Youth League
• Leicestershire Midweek Floodlit Youth League
• Leicestershire Senior Football League
• North Leicestershire Football League
• Melton & District Sunday Football League
• Leicestershire Senior County Women’s League
The first ever FA RESPECT game took place between Leicester City FC vs Newcastle United FC on Saturday 30th January 2010 at Walkers Stadium to raise the RESPECT profile and to promote the excellent work undertaken by both Leagues and Clubs from around the county.
The preparation, organisation and build up to this RESPECT game were in the hands of The FA, Leicester City FC and Leicestershire & Rutland CFA.
The Family Stand was the main focal point in the build up to the RESPECT game. County FA staff and volunteers placed RESPECT posters all around the concourse and gave away RESPECT gifts to the young spectators to support with raising the awareness, prior to taken their seats and be part of the RESPECT card display in the Marks Electrical Family Stand prior to kick off. Both teams warmed up in RESPECT T-Shirts.
Supporters attending the game witnessed and were part of a historical moment when the FA RESPECT banner, held by young players, took centre stage for the first time. Whilst the RESPECT banner was paraded to the centre circle, both Leicester City and Newcastle United players lined up to do the Fair Play Handshake. We also had Representatives from all the Leagues involved in the FA RESPECT Programme being presented with the FA RESPECT League Certificate for their endless work in ensuring poor behaviour towards players and referees is not tolerated. Grassroots RESPECT Leagues will continue to enforce the following key areas –
• RESPECT Codes of Conduct are there to guide and remind all those involved in our game, being players, managers/coaches, parents/spectators and officials to behave in a manner that is not disrespectful.
• The Designated Spectator Areas which are marked by either FA RESPECT tape, stacks and rope which are safely placed around the sidelines, white lines which are sprayed or marked or even a line of cones, all of which are set 1 to 2 metres away from but parallel to the sidelines.
• Also where it was appropriate, we have seen Match Officials use team captains to manage the game.
• In the Adult game, a lot of the Leagues have embraced the handshake at the start and at the end of the game.
What do we wish to achieve with RESPECT? We have one goal and that is to create a fair, safe and enjoyable environment in which a game can take place.
• A good base of registered referees in the County for the demands of the game at every level.
• Zero tolerance for abuse and assaults on referees and players.
• An improvement in on-field player discipline particularly in the area of dissent to referees.
• A step change in youth football as to what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour from managers, parents and spectators.
• Work with grass roots coaches to create an enjoyable environment in children’s football.
• Allowing our players to play and enjoy their game without poor remarks and pressure from managers, parents and spectators.
RESPECT as a programme will not succeed without the support of everyone involved in football. Ownership of Respect needs to be taken on by all of us involved in our National Game. Respect will be most successful when it is established as a convention within football that is shared and valued by the vast majority of those involved.
Laurence Jones, Chief Executive of the Association, said “This is a fantastic example where the professional game and the County FA are working together to promote good behaviour at all levels of the game. In this day and age it is a testament to the standard being set by the management and players of Leicester City that they are giving such wonderful support to the County FA to address behaviour issues that exist in grassroots football. Football is our national game, and there is no place in our game for unacceptable and antisocial behaviour. Recreational and youth football is there to be enjoyed and players, coaches and spectators all have a massive responsibility to ensure that football is played in the right environment throughout the County.”
Mike Hale, Chairman of Leicester & District Sunday Juniors Football League, commended everyone involved, “All 13 Youth Leagues involving 189 teams, over 9200 youth players, are signed up the FA RESPECT Programme. We see a steady improvement all the way with regards to behaviours from the touchline from coaches, managers, parents and spectators. We’ve still got to continue working to make RESPECT work for the good of the game. That is our ultimate goal!”
Marion Hayton, RESPECT Lead Officer for Leicestershire & Rutland was asked by Alan Birchenall if The FA RESPECT Programme for Grassroots, is working? And if the local Clubs have embraced it? Marion went on to say,” We can say youth clubs have embraced RESPECT especially where it involves the younger player. Clubs and Leagues from across U8’s – U18’s players have worked hard over this first part of the season to ensure everyone plays his/her part in reducing poor behaviours and abuse towards referees and players. We as adults need to make sure we allow our young players to play football without any excessive demands placed on them. By allowing them to enjoy playing football we will see players develop their game better and hopefully they will stay playing football right into their adulthood”.
For all of us who have already embraced RESPECT, the key is not to lose the momentum. KEEP UP the good work.
For further information on Respect in the County please visit - www.LeicestershireFA.com