The FA is delighted to announce the fifth year of the Respect and Fair Play Awards where we recognise – at all levels of football – the individuals, clubs and leagues that are keeping our great game beautiful.
What do we want to recognise?
Leagues, clubs, County FAs or individuals that are providing safe, fair and enjoyable opportunities for people to play. This might be achieved through the following approaches:-
• Educating teams, coaches, spectators or players.
• Encouraging players, coaches, spectators or teams to strive for high standards of behavior.
• Dealing with poor behaviour, incentivising good behaviour.
• Recruiting, retaining and valuing referees.
• Improving a situation of established poor behaviour.
• Captains who work well with referees to help manage on pitch behaviour.
• Referees who gain Respect for the way in which they manage games.
• Campaigning in an effective and persuasive way.
• The work of individuals that have improved the environment in which the game takes place.
• A spontaneous act of Fair Play or kindness that demonstrates Respect in the game
Who can nominate?
Self nominations, nominations by a friend or relative or by a third party are all acceptable. The FA will seek references or endorsements for nominations which are under consideration for awards from the relevant club, league, or Football Association.
How can nominations be made?
This year all applications need to be submitted online by clicking here. The application process is the same for clubs, leagues and individuals. The closing date for online applications is 5 May 2014
What are the Award Categories?
Professional Game – We will recognise the Fair Play Award Winners in the Premier League and Football League. An award will also be made to the Premier League club considered to have the most sporting fans.
Leagues – We will recognise at a county, regional and national level in the following areas of the game: National League System, Women’s Pyramid of Football, Grassroots Adult League, Grassroots Youth League.
Clubs – We will recognise clubs at all levels; National League System Clubs, Women’s Pyramid, Grassroots Clubs.
Individuals – The Bobby Moore Award is available to anyone in football that, by their conduct throughout their involvement in football, has provided an example of the way in which the game should be played, officiated or administered.
County FA – The County FA considered to have done the most to promote Respect in the last three seasons.
People’s Award – A new category, which will recognise an individual, team, club or league involved in a spontaneous act of Respect displayed this or last season. This might relate to an incident in the professional game where a group of fans have been particularly sporting to a visiting team or spectators. It could be a player who has acted in a way which has demonstrated exceptional Fair Play. This award is not about recognising a lifetime of good service but a moment in time that reminds all about how decent many of the people that play, referee, manage or spectate our game can be.
