The FA's Respect Programme enlists the help of Hollywood star Ray Winstone.
Hollywood tough guy Ray Winstone is supporting The FA’s Respect programme by starring in an online film that aims to improve parental behaviour on the touchline at youth football matches.
The film promotes The FA’s new
Respect Parent Guide after research showed that more than 7,000 youngsters had hung up their boots over the last couple of years due to pressure from the sidelines.
And Winstone, who was an FA englandfans ambassador at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, believes that parents need to lose the “win at all costs” attitude and bring some enjoyment back to the game: “Kids want their parents to watch them play football but they want to be supported by them, not embarrassed.
“You’ve got all these adults screaming and shouting on the touchline but seven- and eight-year-olds aren’t interested in tactics. The kids just want to play the game, be their hero for the day and dream of scoring a goal at Wembley Stadium.”
Winstone, 52, plays two roles in the Respect Parent Guide film – an overbearing parent who abuses the referee throughout a youth football match and a “Godfather” style character who calls for people to use their common-sense at games instead.
The FA Respect programme has already had a major breakthrough in the grassroots game with dissent figures showing an 8% improvement nationwide on last season’s totals, while 567 leagues have shown their support by becoming Respect Leagues.
Two year ago, an FA consultation showed that 98% of referees had been verbally abused from the touchlines, while 5,000 match officials quit the game last season with spectator abuse cited as the main reason for dropping out.
With one in three matches taking place across the country without a qualified match official, The FA is aiming to recruit 8,000 new referees by 2012.
Winstone admits that while his youngest daughter has only just started kicking a ball around the garden, he won’t be sharing a football touchline with over-enthusiastic parents anytime soon.
“It must be a right headache to stand next to these mugs every week who are arguing over kids football. It’s tough on the referee and difficult for the other parents who are trying to enjoy the game.
“It’s as if they’re living their own dreams through their kids and it’s not right.”
Winstone believes that all adults involved in grassroots football should watch The FA Respect Guide and make the game more enjoyable for players, referees, coaches and parents.
He added: “Football’s our national sport and something has to be done, otherwise kids won’t want to play anymore and no-one will be interested in refereeing which means we won’t have a game left.”
Other FA plans to improve pitch-side behaviour include teaming up with the Football Foundation to provide grants for Respect Barriers, which ensure that spectators are standing well away from the touchline at youth football games.
You can watch the Ray Winstone film by clicking the link at the top of the page, or click here to see The FA Respect Parent Guide.
For more information about Respect, click here