UNITED Campaign

What Is UNITED

• Understanding

• Need for encouragement

• Integrity

• Together

• Enjoy the game

• Development

Why UNITED

• There is a 32% turnover rate of referees each year.

• Of all of the referees in Indiana, 61% are under the age of 18.

• To improve player, coach, and adult discipline.

• To help create a learning and enjoyable environment for youth soccer.

Goals • To decrease the turnover

rate of referees • To collectively improve

the playing environment for youth soccer players

• To educate adults on the laws of the game and best practices for youth soccer.

• To improve the area in the area of dissent and fair play for players and coaches.

How?

• Pregame handshake (World Cup Style) before each league match.

• Pre-match message read by home club’s coach/manager

• Code of Conduct signed by players, coaches, referees, and parents.

– Leagues/Associations can hold off giving trophies.

– Referee assignments not given until code of conduct signed.

• Sideline Reminder Pocket Cards given by players to parents.

• Designated Spectator Areas (use cones to mark)

• Use of Team Captains to interact with Referees

Roles of the Captain • Wear captain’s armband. The league will

supply these to the club.

• Introduce yourself to the referee and opposing captain prior to the start of the match.

• Meet with the referee(s) and the opposing captain prior to the start of the match.

• Captain’s manage their own teams (including the coach) to ensure that harassment and opinions from other players do not occur.

• Captain’s should know what is “undesired” behavior prior to the match with regard to harassment and challenging.

Roles of the Captain (continued)

• The captain is the only person allowed to openly ask for clarification for a referee’s decision before, during, or after a match.

• The captain should relay any concerns from the coach to the referee at halftime.

• The captain is not exempt from behavior that is deemed disrespectful to the official, opponent, and to the game.

• A backup captain should be assigned by each team just in case the captain is unable to attend or finish the match.

• Thank the referee(s) after the match.

Roles of the Referee(s)

• Meet with the captain’s prior to the match and at halftime to discuss examples of undesired behavior:

– Harassment:

• Running towards the referee in an aggressive manner.

• Surrounding the referee to protest a decision.

• Repeatedly asking questions about decisions in an attempt to influence the referee or undermine his/her responsibilities.

– Challenging:

• Passing comment to other players about a referee’s decision-making.

• Repeatedly moaning at the referee about decisions.

• Gestures that obviously are made in a derogatory manner, such as a shaking of the head or waving of the hand.

• Manage the game. Work with both team’s captains to ensure fair play and curb down dissent.

Roles of the Referee (continued)

• If players and/or coaches openly challenge the referee, they should first get a public warning. This is providing a player has not committed an offense that clearly falls under Law 12.

• If players, including the captain, and/or coaches continue to openly challenge the referee they (individual) should be cautioned and shown a yellow card.

• If players, including the captain, and/or coaches continue to openly challenge the referee after they (individual) have been cautioned a second yellow card should be shown. The individual shall then be shown away from the field.

• Thank the team captains after the match.

Roles of the Coach(es) • Inform the captain of their role in the match with regard to

communicating with the referee.

• Understand that the captain is the only person that is allowed to communicate to the referee.

• Communicate to the captain any concerns at halftime to discuss with the referee.

• Manage your team, not the referee.

• No discussions, questions, etc. will be allowed before, during or after the match with the referee(s). If you have concerns privately communicate to your captain.

• If shown a yellow card for dissent or undesired behavior to the referee, the club will be potentially fined $100.

• If shown a red card for dissent or undesired behavior to the referee, an additional one game suspension will be applied along with $100 fine.

Monthly Themes

• January-Administrator appreciation

• February-Managers appreciation

• March-Field and Maintenance appreciation

• April-Volunteer appreciation

• May-Referee appreciation

• June-Coaches appreciation

• July-Parents appreciation

Monthly Themes

• August-Volunteer coach appreciation

• September-Youth Soccer month

• October-Service month

• November-Outreach month

• December-Pass it back month

Incentives

• Acknowledgement

• Better Environment

• Retention of Referees

• Retention of Players

• Increase Volunteers