Football – What are we there for?
Are we, as players, there for the sport? For the social inter-action?
For the enjoyment?
Are we, as coaches, there to nurture, develop & teach? For the social inter-action?
For the enjoyment?
Are we, as volunteers/committee, there to assist ? For the social inter-action?
For the enjoyment?
Are we, as spectators, there for the contest? there to support our teams?
For the enjoyment?
People need to take responsibility for their own actions! at all levels of participation.
Incidents of player violence, of umpire abuse, of coaching instructions which tarnish the enjoyment of the game, of anti social spectator behaviour not only in Football Leagues throughout Central Victoria but many sports, now take away valuable time and energy from the core product of that sport. That is playing coaching and supporting the teams and creating a positive environment where everyone enjoys themselves win, lose or draw.
I see many volunteers in particular who spend much of their time trying to repair issues made by people only concerned with their own self interest. Coaches dealing with parents/players who feel hard done by, clubs dealing with on & off field issues of their players coaches and supporters, Leagues dealing with Clubs who haven’t got their own way.
We often forget that at all of these levels, the majority of people are there to enjoy themselves and give freely of their valuable time to try and make the team/club/sport a better environment, often doing thankless tasks with little or no recognition. Don’t forget that things just don’t happen. Someone is up early to mark the ground and put the goal post pads on, someone is there late cleaning up the mess. These are jobs which need to be done but are rarely glorified, jobs done by volunteers doing their best to create a good team or club.
Things aren’t the same as they were 10-20 years ago. You can’t pay your money and expect you have the right to abuse players or umpires or other spectators. It is simply not tolerated and neither it should be. You can’t punch someone, provoked or not. We have seen examples now where actions on the field have been taken into the civil and criminal systems for the perpetrator, but also the impact some of these incidents have on the victim, some who have suffered life destroying injuries. You cannot vilify anyone, it is not accepted in Australian society and will not and should not be accepted on the football field.
Football/Netball clubs play many wonderful, unheralded roles in our communities. They offer everyone a social network of people. They offer guidance and direction to many young people through their formative years. They provide a lot of the moral and social values which build great people and often can play a role in assisting people, who may not have these important building blocks in their lives away from these clubs, to become a positive influence in their lives.
Don’t blame others for your actions. Consider why you are there at a game supporting, or why you are playing or coaching, or why you are involved in a team or club.
If you’re not there to be part of the team, then don’t be there at all!
The vast majority of people involved in football/netball clubs have a great time, enjoy the sport and the mateship and both receive and give benefit to the organisation. All of this gets eroded away with the irresponsible actions of a few.
People need to take responsibility for their own actions! at all levels of participation.
Steven Oliver Trevor Arnel
Chief Executive Officer Football Operations Manager
Central Victorian Football Inc. Central Victorian Football Inc.
Last Modified on 12/06/2010 09:25