Code of Conduct

Young Players

When playing football, I will:
• Always play to the best of my ability
and for the benefit of my team
• Play fairly – I won’t cheat, dive, complain
or waste time
• Respect my team-mates, the other team,
the referee or my coach/manager.
• Play by the rules, as directed by the referee
• Be gracious in victory and defeat – I will shake
hands with the other team and referee before
or at the end of the game
• Listen and respond to what my coach/team manager
tells me
• Understand that a coach has to do what is best
for the team and not one individual player
• Talk to someone I trust or the club welfare officer
if I’m unhappy about anything at my club.

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

I may:
• Be required to apologise to my 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:
• My club,may make my parent or carer aware
of any infringements of the Code of Conduct
• The FA/County FA could impose a fine
and suspension against my club

Spectators and parents/carers

We all bear a collective responsibility to set a good
example and help provide a positive environment
in which children can learn and enjoy the game.
Play your part and observe The FA’s Respect Code
of Conduct for spectators at all times

• Remember that children play for FUN.
• Applaud effort and good play as well as success.
• Respect the Referee’s decisions even when you don’t
agree with them
• Appreciate good play from whatever team it comes from
• Remain behind the touchline and within the Designated
Spectators’Area (where provided)
• Let the coaches 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
• Support positively. When players make a mistake offer
them encouragement not criticism
• Never engage in, or tolerate, offensive, insulting, or
abusive language or behaviour

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

I may be:
• Issued with a verbal warning from a club or league official
• Required to meet with the club, league or CFA 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 alongwith any dependents

In addition:
The FA/County FA could impose a fine and/or suspension
on the club

Coaches, Team Managers
and Club Officials

We all bear a collective responsibility to set a good
example and help provide a positive environment
in which children can learn and enjoy the game.
Play your part and observe The FA’s Respect Code
of Conduct at all times.

On and off the field, I will:
• Use my position to set a positive example forthe people
I am responsible for
• Showrespectto others involved in the game including
match officials, opposition players, coaches, managers,
officials and spectators
• Adhere to the laws and spirit ofthe game
• Promote Fair Play and high standards of behaviour
• Respectthe match official’s decision
• Never enterthe field of playwithoutthe referee’s
permission
• Never engage in, ortolerate, offensive, insulting or
abusive language or behaviour
• Be aware ofthe potential impact of bad language on
other participants,facility users or neighbours
• Be gracious in victory and defeat

When working with players, I will:
• Place the well-being, safety and enjoyment of each
player above everything, including winning
• Never engage in or tolerate any form of bullying
• Ensure all activities I organise are appropriate for the
players’ ability level, age and maturity
• Co-operate fully with others in football(e.g. officials,
doctors, physiotherapists, welfare officers)for each
player’s best interests
I understand that if I do not follow the Code, any/all
of the following actions may be taken by my club,
County FA or The FA:

I may be:
• Required to meetwith the club, league orCountyWelfare
Officer
• Suspended by the club from attending matches
• Suspended or fined by theCounty FA
• Required to leave or be sacked by the club

In addition:
• My FA Coaching Licence may be with drawn

Match Officials

We all have a responsibility to promote high standards of
behaviour in the game.
The behaviour of the match officials has an impact,
directly and indirectly, on the conduct of everyone
involved in the game – both on the pitch and on the
sidelines.
Play your part and observe The FA’sRespectCode of
Conduct of match officials at alltime.

I will:
• Be honest and completely impartial at all times
• Apply the Laws of the Game and competition rules fairly
and consistently
• Manage the game in a positive, calm and confident
manner
• Deal with all instances of violence, aggression,
unsporting behaviour,foul play and other misconduct
• Never tolerate offensive, insulting or abusive language
or behaviour from players and team officials
• Support my match official colleagues at all times
• Set a positive personal example by promoting good
behaviour and showing respect to everyone involved
in the game

• Communicatew ith the players and encourage fair play
• Respond in a clear, calm and confident manner to any
appropriate request for clarification by the team captains
• Prepare physically and mentally for every match
• Complete and submit, accurate and concise reports
within the time limitrequired for games in which I officiate.

I understand that if I do not follow the Code,
the following actions may be taken by my County
FA or The FA:

I may be:
• Required to meetwith The FA/County FARefereeing
Official
• Required to meetwith The FA/County FARefereeing
Committee