The Guernsey FA Academy promote and follow the Football Associations Respect campaign and ask that all officials, members, players, coaches and spectators adhere to the codes of conduct.

We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of behaviour in the game. In The FA’s survey of 37,000 grassroots participants, behaviour was the biggest concern in the game. This included the abuse of match officials and the unacceptable behaviour of over competitive parents, spectators and coaches on the side-line. We ask that you/your child play your part and observe The Football Association’s Respect Code of Conduct in everything you/they do.

Young Players

As a player, you have a big part to play. That’s why The FA is asking every player to follow a Respect Code of Conduct. We ask that:

When playing football, you will:

- Always play to the best of your ability

- Play fairly – don’t cheat, complain or waste time

- Respect your team-mates, the other team, the referee and your coach/manager

- Play by the rules, as directed by the referee/your coach

- Shake hands with the other team and referee at the end of the game

- Listen and respond to what your coach/team manager tells you

- Talk to someone you trust or the club welfare officer if you are unhappy about anything at the club

You should understand that if you do not follow the Code, any/all of the following actions may be taken by your club, County FA or The FA:

- Be required to apologise to your team-mates, the other team, referee or team manager

- Receive a formal warning from the coach or the club committee

- Be dropped or substituted

- Be suspended from training

- Be required to leave the club

In addition, your club, County FA or The FA may make your parent or carer aware of any infringements of the Code of Conduct. The FA/County FA could impose a fine and suspension against your club.

Spectators/Parents


As a spectator, parent or carer, you will remember that children’s football is a time for them to develop their technical, physical, tactical and social skills. Winning isn’t everything.

We ask that you will:

- Remember that children play for FUN

- Applaud effort and good play as well as success

- Always respect the match officials’ decisions

- Remain outside the field of play and within the Designated Spectators’ Area (where provided)

- Let the coach do their job and not confuse the players by telling them what to do

- Encourage the players to respect the opposition, referee and match officials

- Avoid criticising a player for making a mistake – mistakes are part of learning

- Never engage in, or tolerate, offensive, insulting, or abusive language or behaviour

We ask that you understand that if you do not follow the Code, any/all of the following actions may be taken by my club, County FA, league or The FA:

You may be:

- Issued with a verbal warning from a club or league official

- Required to meet with the club, league or County FA Welfare Officer

- Required to meet with the club committee

- Obliged to undertake an FA education course

- Obliged to leave the match venue by the club

- Requested by the club not to attend future games

- Suspended or have my club membership removed

- Required to leave the club along with any dependents.

In addition:

• The FA/County FA could impose a fine and/or suspension on the club.