Launched in the last week of March, a new campaign from The Football Association (The FA) and England Football urges grassroots players across the country to ‘Show Some Respect’ and think about their behaviour on and off the pitch.
The campaign is spearheaded by a 10-strong online film series which see the players call on their grassroots counterparts and amateurs across the country to focus on their own game rather than disrespecting the opposition and abusing officials and the spots feature a strong line-up of current players: including Harry Kane, Fran Kirby, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alex Greenwood, Jordan Nobbs, Jess Carter, Raheem Sterling, Kalvin Phillips and Reece James.
The spots, which are released across England Football, local county FAs and member clubs across England on their own digital and social channels, each act as personal player pleas to encourage all involved in football to help make the game the best it can be and to eliminate abuse against anyone involved with the game.
Harry Kane: “Get in the game. Don’t let them get in your head. Show Some Respect.”
Jordan Nobbs: “Every race. Every ability. Every Saturday. Show Some Respect”
Reece James: “Your team-mates want to see your skills, not your hate. Show Some Respect.”
Fran Kirby: “Let your feet do the talking. Show Some Respect.”
Raheem Sterling: “Why are you wasting your breath arguing? There’s goals to be scored. Show Some Respect.”
Jess Carter: “Break records. Make waves. Cause absolute scenes. But first, Show Some Respect.”
The ‘Show Some Respect – Men & Women’ hero launch film rolled out on 23 March.
Top players. Top advice.
Learn from England’s best, and make it part of your own game this weekend.#ShowSomeRespect pic.twitter.com/f37XYpue8Z
— Staffordshire FA (@StaffordshireFA) March 21, 2022
England’s best players know the truth. Skills win games, never hate.
#ShowSomeRespect pic.twitter.com/szdFUmG7ZR
— Devon Football Association (@devon_fa) March 23, 2022
England’s best players know the truth. Skills win games, never hate. #ShowSomeRespect pic.twitter.com/d4fQ1FmkFc
— Northumberland FA (@NorthumFA) March 23, 2022
England’s best players know the truth.
Skills win games, never hate. #ShowSomeRespect pic.twitter.com/UWuoM3MiC2
— Durham County FA ⚽️ (@DurhamFA) March 23, 2022
#ShowSomeRespect @england @AskNationwide @englandfootball #respect pic.twitter.com/JYydID363T
— Ridgeway Rovers FC (@Ridgeway_fc) March 24, 2022
The content also encourages viewers to find out more about the campaign at the initiative’s web hub at https://www.englandfootball.com/ShowSomeRespect
The campaign seeks to reinforce England Football’s belief that ‘showcasing good behaviour is integral to the enjoyment and safe running of grassroots football’.
The campaign particularly targets 16 to 18-year-old players and is a response to recent England Football data generated through grassroots team representatives based around ranking opponents after matches with ‘Respect Scores’ (which mark opposition behaviour on and around the pitch in terms of their approach to and engagement with each other, the other team, coaches, spectators and match officials.
The results found that the 16 to 18-year-old segment of grassroots footballers received the worst ‘Respect Scores’ from their opponents over the previous 12 months: with totals of 81% for U16s, 78.5% for U17s, and 79.8% for U18s, in comparison to 96% for U7s, 95.9% for U8s and a range of 93.4% to 82.3% for U9s to U15s.
“As players, we know that coaches, fans, our opposition, and referees are integral to the game we love so much. No matter what level we play at, football can be an emotional game but there is never a place for abuse or bad behaviour,” commented England Men’s Senior Team Captain Harry Kane. “The ‘Show Some Respect’ campaign from England Football gives us players a chance to encourage footballers up and down the country to focus on enjoying the parts of the game they can control.”
“Any game of competitive football should feel fair and safe for everyone involved on and off the pitch,” added England Women’s Senior Team star Fran Kirby. “In games, it’s easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment, but there is always a line that should not be crossed. Collectively as players, we all can do better, and that’s why I am supporting the ‘Show Some Respect’ campaign.”
The FA Director of Football Development James Kendall explained: “We are pleased to launch the latest iteration of England Football’s Respect campaign aimed at encouraging better behaviour on and around football pitches. We’re calling on all grassroots players at all levels to Show Some Respect by concentrating on their own games rather than taking situations out on coaches, opposition players, fans or referees.”
Comment
‘Show Some Respect’ is part of a wider England Football ‘Respect’ initiative run in partnership with Nationwide: a dedicated effort to help cut dissent in football matches across England by encouraging players to think about the people they are speaking to.
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