Amateur Football Combination

Affiliated to the Amateur Football Alliance, London F.A., Middlesex F.A. and Surrey F.A.

Spirit of Football 

Playing in the Spirit of Football, Promoting Fair Play and Respect for All

Spirit of Football

Fixtures

Results & Tables

Clubs & Maps

Sin Bin & Discipline

AFC News

Season 2009-10 Kickoff                                                  Neutral Assistants Premier Division Trial 2009-10                                                  AFC Annual General Meeting - Report                                                  AFC Website - Expanded History Section                                                  AFC Representative Team - Trials and Training Camps                                                  AFC Publications Secretary                                                  AFA Referee Training Courses                                                  Bart O'Toole elected as AFA Vice President                                                  Football Association Workforce Awards - John Brooks and John Long                                                  Robin Wolstenholme Retirement                                                  Spirit of Football Awards 2008-09 - HAC, Old Guildfordians, Old Pauline                                                  Ken Elbourne Club Hospitality Award 2008-09 - Old Kolsassians                                                    Ken Fletcher Club Development Award 2008-09 - Leyton County Old Boys                                                   David McCarthy Memorial Referees Awards 2008-09 - Lee Kill, Darren Fenner, John Martin                                                   AFA Record Published                                                  Final AFC Club & Team Ratings                                                    NLS Cup Draw 2009-10                                                  Respect Monitoring & Referee Appointments on Full-Time                                                  AFC and Kick It Out                                                  Valuables and Cars                                            The Non League Paper (and Online) - How to get your club featured in the AFC section
Home Page
Constitution 2009-10
Final Club Marks
AFC on Full-Time
SMS & Phoned Results
Respect and the AFC
Laws of the Game
Rules & Officers
Referees

Youth & Development

League Information
Club Guidance
Representative Team
Non League Paper
Cup Competitions
AFC Shop & Dinner
History
Joining the AFC
Other Links

      

 

 

     

AFC signs up to Respect

The Amateur Football Combination has signed up to the Football Association's RESPECT campaign, which we will run in conjunction with our own Spirit of Football Campaign, launched in 2005.

This section will give details about Respect, and how we intend to include it within the Amateur Football Combination.

Respect - Introductory Film

Respect - Football Association

Spirit of Football

Respect - Monitoring Registering for Members Services Logging Respect Marks

 

The Respect Programme

The Respect Programme is about changing mindsets, and making the game more enjoyable for everyone. One in three games of football played in England don't have a qualified, independent match official, and within the Amateur Football Combination we are unable to appoint "league referees" to more than 50% of games (often fewer), relying on clubs to provide their own referees (who do us proud).

Respect is about educating people about what is acceptable behaviour towards referees and youngsters, and changing the mindset that is all too prevalent in football. "If he's going to ref, he should expect abuse", or "if he gets it wrong, what does he expect?" are all too common - no wonder so few people are prepared to referee.

What is Respect?

Respect is The FA's programme of activities to combat unacceptable behaviour in our game at every level - on the pitch and from the sidelines.

This was the No.1 priority emerging from the biggest opinion survey to date of grassroots football in England. It was carried out in late 2007 and directly informed The FA's National Game Strategy, published in March 2008.

We hope that Respect will ensure a safe, positive environment for everyone to enjoy football. From the start it will have an impact on the following areas:

No matter what your role in football, you have a part to play in Respect.
bullet

Referee recruitment and retention: By tackling abuse towards match officials, we hope to reduce the stream of referees understandably leaving the game.

bullet

Participation within youth football: Abuse and pressure from the sidelines needs to stop if we are to ensure young children enjoy, stay and progress in the game.

bullet

Coaching and player development: An encouraging and player-centred approach is vital if we are to improve coaching standards - particularly for the key 5-11 age-group. It's simple: better coaches produce better players.

bullet

Safeguarding children: Everyone in football has a duty of care towards children - ensuring they are able to play football in a safe, enjoyable environment free of abuse, bullying and discrimination.

bullet

Improving behaviour is a whole-game issue and the 2008-09 season will see the Respect programme introduced at professional and grassroots levels.

The Professional Game

Whether we like it or not, the majority of people in football take their lead from the professional game. Good or bad, they are our "role models". The Premier League, PFA and other professional game bodies have all signed up to Respect, and whilst it will doubtless take time for them to change mindsets too, having them on board can only help to get the message through at our level.

If you haven't noticed them, the following are all being applied in the professional game this season.

bullet

Referees managing the game, involving team captains when required

bullet

Captain taking more responsibility for their own players and their behaviour

bullet

Pre-match briefing meeting with referee & managers/captains

bullet

Team handshake before kick-off

bullet

Removal of TV monitors from the technical area

Respect is a long term commitment from the Football Association, part of their strategy to 2012 and we hope, beyond.

Respect and the Amateur Football Combination

The Amateur Football Combination has signed up to be a "Respect League". Much of what Respect is about is the same as our own Spirit of Football, and we intend to run the two campaigns together.

From March 2009, we shall be logging all referee appointments on Full-Time, and referees can log onto the "Members Services" section of their county website to log marks for their games (in addition to continuing to register Spirit of Football marks). Click here for more details and see the links below for details on how to use Members Services and log Respect Marks.

We will, in due course, send out more information to our clubs. At present we're awaiting from the Football Association details of "Respect Packs" for clubs, and once we have those, we will send out more details. 

#

 

Respect - Introductory Film

Respect - Football Association

Spirit of Football

Respect - Monitoring Registering for Members Services Logging Respect Marks

 

 
The FA            AFA            UEFA            FIFA            Weather            Rainfall            Multimap
National Rail            The Tube            London Buses            Tramlink            Congestion Charge
BBC Travel            AA Route Planner            League Diary            Sunset/Sunrise            Other Links