The Sussex FA has launched the Football Association's new behavioural campaign – Respect – across the county.
It aims to improve the standards of behaviour across the professional and grassroots game, reducing the drop-out of referees and the number of abandoned matches and reintroducing the fun into kids' football.
Local leagues and clubs are being invit
ed to voluntarily sign up to Respect and to introduce the following steps into their matches and club management:
* 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 show of dissent.
Every league secretary will receive a personal letter from FA chief executive Brian Barwick inviting them to sign up to Respect and pledge to tackle unacceptable behaviour in football.
Interested grassroots leagues in Sussex will be asked to contact the county FA who will support them to take on the above Respect practical steps this season.
On signing up, each club will get a Respect 'toolkit' comprising of guidance notes, codes of conduct, a Respect captain's armband and advice on obtaining spectator barriers at a special rate.
Every referee appointed to those leagues will be offered training under the guidance of county development officers.
Ken Benham, chief executive of the Sussex FA, said: "Respect is critical to helping us all work together to change the negative attitudes and unacceptable behaviour which threaten the future of football in Sussex.
"This is a long-term commitment but, if we all play our part, together we can make a difference."
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