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Respect
Aug 20, 2009 15:01:19 GMT 10
Post by legend on Aug 20, 2009 15:01:19 GMT 10
DS I commend your work and passion for a "Respect Campaign" It certainly is need; however, in a perfect world, of course we would want unblemished respect from players and managers towards officials and vice versa - but ultimately there are too many other aspects at work to make this possible. Let me state straight away that I believe referees have the hardest job in the world. I never came back into any dressing room to hear everyone saying how great the referee was. If we lost it was because the referee was useless, and if we won it was because we were great. It is a thankless task and you will never please everybody, and while I applaud the Respect campaign and feel its intentions are entirely honourable, if you ask me if there is an answer to making it work in a faultless fashion, I would have to say no. If you look back 20 or 30 years ago, it was a more physical game and we just accepted that. Now there are so many thin dividing lines between tackles for red and yellow cards and the stakes are so high. If you want the campaign to work to perfection, then you would have to take out human emotion, reactions, titles, promotion, relegation, money and ensure there are no stakes to play for. That particular day will never arrive and there is no perfect solution, so we have to try and make the best of what we have. I have tried really hard to come up with a solution as to how the Respect campaign can be made to operate seamlessly and with maximum effect, but I honestly do not believe there is a complete answer. I am not in any way condoning a lack of respect towards referees, but you would almost have to be a saint not to react to an obvious error made by some referees even at the highest levels. The rewards for success and the penalties for failure in football are now so great that even the most mild-mannered person would find it hard not to react to any perceived injustice. When I played at a higher level the stakes were high, but now we could have clubs' entire futures riding on some decisions. If a decision goes against you, you can multiply the consequences by 10 these days. There are areas where problems can be tackled. If players are running after referees or surrounding them, then they can start brandishing cards. This will soon sort that out. I would also try and improve communication between all parties. I feel there was more communication when I played professionally and I do think that can be worked on to improve things, because I do feel the Respect campaign is great in theory but struggles in practice. I applaud the intentions of the campaign, and I do actually think it will do some good, but it will never work perfectly. It is a question of everyone doing their best to make it work and try to understand the pressures of everyone involved in a sport where there are great pressures, huge incentives and penalties. But unless you remove human emotion from the equation - and that will not happen - it will never work perfectly and we just have to live with that reality. However, all this said it can help us to improve the problems we are currently experiencing at grass roots level. This year has been terrible. I hope it at least partly works beause anything is better than this years crap. It is too late this year but GDSFA needs to work with GDSRA and DS to improve things. Perhaps, higher fines, longer penalties, life bans, team bans, bring back ground officials (team officials just didn't work as they were part of the problem) and criminal charges laid on assaulting of officials (especially juniors), spectators and coaches and managers. Granville need to take harder lines and get ride of the bad elements, problem teams and problem clubs (some of these seem untouchable). MC members need to be more visible at games with problem teams and to take action in a ore timely fashion. Enough said as I could go on and on. Just let me say great idea DS and one that should be implemented but as I said I have my doubts of total success because of the human element involved.
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Respect
Aug 21, 2009 8:40:10 GMT 10
Post by paddy on Aug 21, 2009 8:40:10 GMT 10
Tend to agree with some of the things you have said legend but the Respect Campaign in Ireland is slowly working and there are far less problems than before it started. I agree because of the human element there will always be some idots who just don't learn and will never show respect to anyone let alone the referee. However, I can say that life is better in Irish Football; penalties in place for breaking player, coaches and spectators codes, etc have made many think twice before causing trouble. So yes the Respect is coming back into football in Ireland but we still have a way to go. Paddy
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Respect
Sept 1, 2009 9:49:03 GMT 10
Post by peanut on Sept 1, 2009 9:49:03 GMT 10
That's fantastic work, fantastic to see the effort put in by Richard and also that GDSFA have got on board with it.
Every Association both RA and FA need to be getting together to implement this including FFA/FNSW - this really does need to come down from the top for the impact it needs.
Keep us updated with the progress and what impact it is making.
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Respect
Apr 15, 2010 10:11:34 GMT 10
Post by Direstraits Referee on Apr 15, 2010 10:11:34 GMT 10
In spite of presentations to the football body and a couple of clubs very little has changed. My 3.00 pm game last Saturday was a good example; whilst limited open dissent was shown, except for a couple of incidents where the offender was punished with the appropriate card, there was constant smart arse and condescending remarks made to me all game with a lack of discipline by some players. Yes, I used approrpaite management to handle the situations but nevertheless the players should have known better at this level.
I must say that a couple of clubs have embraced the respect campaign and one even is getting the referee to fill in my form on the attitude and behaviour of teams and its spectators. Perhaps, these will get to Granville Football Association as to date they have not formally endorsed the campaign?Why does football needs Respect? We need to respond to the concern from grassroots football to tackle unacceptable behaviour in football. We must eradicate unacceptable behaviour and make it our number 1 priority. This opinion is shared by everyone in the game – players, league and club officials, referees and spectators.
We have to respond in a variety of ways, and one of the main actions is the Respect programme. It is not a short-lived campaign but on ongoing commitment to improve behaviour in football. It won’t be tackled in one or two seasons as we all have a lot of work to do over the seasons ahead.
One of the main aims of Respect is to tackle the mass drop-out of referees from football due to abuse. Thousands of referees drop out of the game every season in Australia, mainly due to the abuse they receive on the pitch and from the sidelines. The number of match officials in 2008 reached its lowest-ever level in the UK. Without referees the game simply cannot be played properly. Sadly, the following is a reflection of the current grassroots game:
• 98% of referees have been verbally abused and 27% have been physically abused. In season 2008-09 in the UK over 500 referees were assaulted – 100 of them seriously. This must come to an end.
• Thousands of grassroots matches are played without a qualified match official.
• In 2007-08, 846 grassroots matches in the UK were abandoned due to unacceptable behaviour from players and/or spectators.
Of course, your club and competition may not have experienced these issues, but nationally it is a problem. Given we all love the game, we should all want to take behaviour standards to a new level. Respect needs your club and its players to play its part. Together, we can make a huge difference. Who will you be today?
Apadated from a FA report and flyers. Can we all get behind this and support it and get it implemented?
Cheers
Webmaster - GDSRA
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refsmum
50 Posts + Member
Posts: 66
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Respect
Apr 15, 2010 12:36:03 GMT 10
Post by refsmum on Apr 15, 2010 12:36:03 GMT 10
I had the privilege of watching your 3 o'clock game DS and what a great job you did. Your application of the Laws of the game were consistent and the cards given were warranted. What concerns me was that both these teams were in serious trouble in the previous season and it seems to be one team in particular didn't learn a thing from their punishment.
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Respect
Apr 15, 2010 13:02:01 GMT 10
Post by *Ris* on Apr 15, 2010 13:02:01 GMT 10
It is definitely time for the problem of a lack of respect to be corrected. It's not like the players don't know that what they are doing is wrong. For example, in one of the games, the players on the bench asked me "Tough day in the office hey?"... this occurred as the game was getting more intense. I pose the question, if they could see that it was "tough" why didn't they attempt to bring the game back to what it should have been?
DS, I back your actions & decisions 100%, and I think you did a great job. But when will the senior players learn? I agree, they should've known better at that level. The worse thing is that they are the local role models to the younger players in the association. Not the best example to be setting.
I think ideally, the players need to learn that questioning the ARs, or the Referee is not acceptable. I think it's important for them to learn to just accept the decision and move on. Also they need to realise that attempting to 'explain' the LOTG to an official after a decision is not appropriate behaviour, it's definitely not respectful either.
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Respect
Apr 16, 2010 17:37:43 GMT 10
Post by Direstraits Referee on Apr 16, 2010 17:37:43 GMT 10
Thanks for the support refsmum and Ris. Unfortunately, some teams will never learn. All we can do is to keep trying and perhaps, one day they will understand that they need to set examples and that the game is bigger than them. Being respectful doesn't hurt anyone!DS
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Respect
Apr 23, 2010 10:05:53 GMT 10
Post by Irishkeeper on Apr 23, 2010 10:05:53 GMT 10
Well done DS; I for one support your efforts and others at club level that have got behind it. It is good to see that it is also on the GDSFA website as a drop down menu with a series of videos (that I guess you supplied) as one of them is on the GDSRA website. Keep up the good work Sir and it is a pity many others at all levels have a conservative attitude towards it's promotion. My club is supporting it though and encouraging spectators, coaches, players, managers, etc. to show respect. Wether it changes attitudes time will tell but if we don't do something then many will leave our wonderful game.
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Respect
Apr 23, 2010 13:23:06 GMT 10
Post by Direstraits Referee on Apr 23, 2010 13:23:06 GMT 10
Thanks for the words of support and encouragement. It has been and will continue to be a hard road but one which we must keep on the destination path to bringing RESPECT back into the game.. It is a pity that apathy and a couldn't care attitude prevails by many. If everyone in the game supported it then we would have no trouble! Lose respect lose the game!!!
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Respect
May 17, 2010 8:47:56 GMT 10
Post by Direstraits Referee on May 17, 2010 8:47:56 GMT 10
Chris Foy, the man who took charge of FA Cup final, has described England as "a world leader" in raising referee standards, with the Football Association's Respect campaign at the forefront of improving behaviour and attracting more officials into the game.
Though more than 500 incidents of physical abuse towards referees were reported last year and this season's figures have not been finalised, the FA reports that dissent is "significantly down across the professional game" and has diminished by 5% in its 1,200 affiliated leagues.
The FA is also ahead of its recruitment targets for referees, the ultimate aim being an extra 8,000 match officials, and Foy credits Respect, launched two years ago and often criticised during its inaugural season, as playing an instrumental role.
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maxgp
50 Posts + Member
Posts: 65
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Respect
May 20, 2010 9:45:38 GMT 10
Post by maxgp on May 20, 2010 9:45:38 GMT 10
DS, agree with the whole respect Campaign and its a long term thing, all it will tak a long time. But players,teams, coaches and clubs are still not learning. I would like to see some statistics on the amount of assults, verbal abuse and descent we as a Assocition with in Granville have had done to us , and this will be only the reportable stuff. Two teams have been thrown out one senior squad and one junior team due to violence to referees. DS , I referee near you several times this year and with the teams knowing your experience and what you are trying to achieve they still push the boundaries. What about the 19 and 20 year olds doing seniors and 35s who we need to referee to cover our games , who put up with so much more. I believe in showing respect and recieving respect because of that. If this keeps continuing to break down maybe more referees will leave our ranks and or more move to another district.
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Respect
May 29, 2010 14:30:01 GMT 10
Post by mixedupref on May 29, 2010 14:30:01 GMT 10
A couple of heartening incidents this year...
One team has given me a "respect sheet" asking me to grade both sides' players, officials and supporters' attitudes - not a problem!!! (For the record, it was an excellent game!)
I had a Junior Player sent off for verbal abuse of another player, and straight away his coach makes sure to get him as far away as possible before he can create a real stink. The send-off kind of ruins the match as a contest, but I have never had so many apologies from a single team, or one of his team's supporters tell me "well handled." Part of that I think is knowing that teams are being heavily punished if incidents go further (melees, ref assaults, pitch invasions etc.)
Still a whole lot of dissent though at all levels... Going on last time there's going to be some fireworks at the WC...
Moving in the right direction but a long way to go...
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