The situation that is regretfully evidenced in every region, where efforts to recruit and retain match officials are seemingly not effective enough, is a recurring theme every year. Almost everyone has a view on what Football Far North Coast should do to rectify this situation, but the real reasons why recruitment and retention of match officials fails to be effective, is influenced most seriously, by the impact of bad behaviour and a lack of respect towards match officials.
The most significant reason why there is a reluctance for people to step forward and officiate, is because individuals are not okay with being subject to abuse when they act as a referee or assistant referee. Beyond the potential match officials who we would like to encourage to come forward, but who are not prepared to do so, instances of verbal abuse, disgraceful language, physical taunts and violent acts on the field of play and examples of a lack of respect towards match officials, see too many match officials OPT OUT of officiating!!!
Reports of inappropriate behaviour even thus far this season despite the token number of matches played as a consequence of wet conditions, have already had a negative impact on several match officials. Inappropriate behaviour, whether by individual supporters, parents, players or team officials, have no place in community sport. A number of individuals (many who are under the age of 18 years), have expressed great distress about incidents that they have encountered, while officiating. Any parent will also understand the anxiety that is felt when seeing their child subjected to aggressive behaviour (on or off the field)..
For our match officials, whether older and experienced, or those who are young and inexperienced, incidents that are confronting (even to hear about let alone be close to), have NO PLACE in the game. Football Regulations provide a mechanism for punitive measures to be imposed for offences and while that will happen where required, I make an observation that the energy spent in investigating and responding to such matters, is counter productive to what community sport should be about.
We simply must uphold more respect for match officials (in fact for every person) and this spiralling diminishment of behaviour within the football environment must get a correction. The positive and respectful culture that we are certain every individual wants displayed as a reflection of themselves and their respective club, is surely not an unreasonable benchmark to achieve?
The simple and direct message to the small number of inconsiderate individuals, is that you must either bring your manners to the game, or stay away!
Let’s all work together to make season 2025 a positive football experience.
