A TENDRING football club has introduced an innovative new scheme aimed at banishing bad behaviour from the touchline at youth games.
Holland FC, which boasts 25 teams in its thriving youth section, has asked parents to sign up to a clap only/support only rule, designed to clamp down on unsavoury conduct on the sidelines at grassroots matches and encourage more clapping and cheering.
The Jaffas, who are the first Essex youth club to bring in the rule, will operate a zero-tolerance stance on any bad behaviour from spectators, parents and guardians.
Anyone using foul language, direct shouting or instructions will be asked by the team’s manager to immediately leave the area following a first offence.
A second offence occurring within the next game will then potentially result in the individual being banned from the team’s next three games, with a yellow and red card protocol if the support only rule is broken.
Holland FC, which also has two men’s senior teams in addition to under-18 and girls’ sides, have written to the parents of their youth players asking them to sign and agree to the new ‘silent spectator/support only’ initiative.
The scheme has already been trialled throughout the summer by a number of the club’s teams to considerable success, with youngsters benefiting from clear instructions from their respective managers from the touchline.
Holland FC chairman Mark Sorrell said: “After extensive trials throughout the summer, I feel this is the way forward for all youth football to enjoy the game in its entirety.
“We are very proud to be the leading grassroots club in Essex to be taking this stance. We are hoping other clubs will follow.
“This will give all our children the best and most beneficial football experience.”
A new set of measures were introduced last summer to help improve behaviour in grassroots football, as part of the ‘Love Football Protect The Game’ campaign, a cross-football campaign implemented by the FA, Premier League and EFL.
The interventions are aimed to drive positive behaviour across grassroots football and act as a clear deterrent against unacceptable behaviour.
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