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Snippets
 "RESPECT" Campaign
The FA has unveiled the philosophy and the dreams behind its £200m investment in the future of grassroots football.
The remarkable investment, revealed yesterday on TheFA.com, was announced to the world in a press conference at Soho Square this afternoon and marks the start of an exciting campaign to improve all aspects of the game at all levels.
The focus will be on many issues, including the Respect campaign to address poor behaviour from players to raferees and tackle pushy parents on the sidelines.
But the project is also about putting money into facilities, coaching, referee recruitment and player development over the next four years.
Chief Executive Brian Barwick said: “It’s a very important day in the everyday life of English football.
“We are able to unveil an unprecedented £200m investment, which is largely the product of successful television and commercial deals. We will spend that money wisely, not least because we’ve asked those involved how they want it to be spent. Some 37,000 people gave us their views and their experience of football.
“The aims are four-fold. Firstly we want more people involved in the game - players, coaches, spectators, administrators and, critically, referees.
“Secondly we want better coaches, more skilful players, especially children. Thirdly we want to make it easier to organise the game locally.
“And fourthly we want to raise standards of behaviour and address abusive behaviour. And as a parent and lover of the game this goal is especially close to my heart.”
NRCFA Referee Development Officer
Ross Joyce has been appointed to the County RDO, starting in February 2008.
York RA Centenary Dinner - 7 March 2008
At the Ebor Suite, York Racecourse.
York Leeper Hare League
Haxby United and Sheriff Hutton have merged.
Malton & Bacon Factory are renamed Malton and Norton.
New team N Duffield have joined the League.
York Minor League
The League also celebrates is centenary in 2008. The Dinner is on 11 January, 2008 at the Beechwood CL
lose Hotel in York.
Funds Raised:
York RA raised over £100 from the National RA Draw tickets in 2007.
Refs Course oral exam:
The exams in March 2007 generated £30 for York RA thanks to those referees who assisted on the night and donated their expenses.
Alan Wilkie, FA Regional Manager, and Alan Kaye, Referee Coach, attended the recent meeting of a Referees' Academy for York City FC. The club is in full support of the venture as are the FA.
It is primarily for younger / new referees who wish to progress.
Barry Casterton is the Secretary (also making appointments to York City yout games on a Sunday morning) and Graham Bradbury is to be the Chairman of the Academy.
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National News
 A useful link for further information:
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News
 Kick-and-hope' kids sold short
The long-term health of the game relies on getting children involved in football and providing them with coaching that maximises their ability and keeps them motivated. When it comes to skill levels, we are lagging behind the other major European countries, and this can only be addressed by getting things right at the youngest age bracket.
Parents and coaches have a huge role to play in providing positive encouragement to children. Anyone taking a weekend tour around the parks and playing fields of England will witness parents and other spectators haranguing the referee, the opposing team and their own sons and daughters.
As well as creating a climate of abuse, this negative pressure can severely hamper a child's development. Rather than encouraging young players to be patient in possession of the ball, it encourages a "minimum risk", kick-and-hope approach. Unless this culture is changed, we will continue to slip behind.
The FA's Soccer Parent course aims to give parents a better understanding of refereeing and the laws of the game, and a more acute insight into the part they can play in maximising their child's enjoyment and talent. To date, over 150,000 adults have taken this course. Spectator abuse is also a problem at the grassroots in terms of referee retention.
The FA currently recruits around 7,000 new referees per season, but the game loses almost as many over the same period.
Although age and fitness remain the primary reasons for referees dropping out, a significant number do still hang up their whistle because of threatening and aggressive behaviour by players and spectators. As a result, thousands of matches go unofficiated every weekend, which inevitably has a dampening effect on players' motivation, both adults and children alike.
The Charter Standard system, the FA's quality kitemark for clubs and schools, gives parents a point of reference when looking for somewhere for their child to play. There are currently over 3,500 clubs and over 4,500 schools in England with Charter Standard status, and more are achieving this designation every month.
A key criterion for Charter Standard status is a code of conduct which includes respect for match officials, the positive role that parents can play and the promotion of fair play by players, coaches, officials and spectators.
Each Charter Standard club has a designated child welfare officer to ensure that youngsters are provided with the right environment to enjoy the game, and many clubs also provide opportunities for disabled children. With the variety of distractions available to children today, it is essential that football does all it can to keep them active and playing.
With an obesity crisis looming, football has an unparalleled ability to address health and fitness issues, simultaneously providing vital lessons in teamwork, social skills, discipline and respect for authority.
But it can only achieve this by ensuring that young players are properly encouraged. We need investment in specialist staff, course content and learning resources in the key age groups of 5-16, which have been neglected for too long. We cannot take our place as the nation's No 1 sport for granted.
[Acknowledgements - Trevor Brooking, The FA]
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