top of page

🤝 Respect for Coaches



“Respect isn’t just earned — it’s role-modelled.”

In grassroots and elite football alike, respect is the foundation for every positive interaction on and off the pitch. The FA’s Respect for Coaches course is designed to reinforce this essential value — not just in how coaches are treated, but in how they lead, communicate, and inspire.

Respect builds trust. Trust builds development. And that’s where real progress in football begins.


🧠 Why Respect Matters in Football Coaching


  • Coaches play a pivotal role in shaping values and attitudes

  • Disrespect can disrupt learning, growth, and enjoyment

  • Positive environments foster better performance and behaviour

  • Respect is essential between players, coaches, officials, and parents


“The behaviour you allow becomes the culture you create.”

📚 Course Overview: What You’ll Learn


🧭 1. Understanding the FA’s Respect Campaign


  • The origins and purpose of the FA’s Respect programme

  • How football can lead by example in wider society

  • The importance of dignity, inclusion, and understanding in sport


🏳️‍🌈 Respect goes beyond manners — it’s about valuing others fully.

🗣️ 2. How Coaches Earn and Demonstrate Respect


  • Leading with integrity and consistency

  • Communicating clearly and positively

  • Setting high standards for behaviour

  • Understanding the influence you have on players and parents


🎯 “Respect isn’t taught in drills — it’s taught in how you speak, act, and react.”

🧒 3. Respect in the Coach–Player Relationship


  • How to build trust and mutual understanding

  • Supporting emotional well-being through respectful feedback

  • Creating a safe space for learning, making mistakes, and growing


❤️ When players feel respected, they listen more, learn faster, and love the game longer.

👨‍👩‍👧 4. Working With Parents and Spectators


  • Managing expectations and addressing conflict

  • Encouraging respectful sidelines

  • Reinforcing values through club codes of conduct

  • Handling inappropriate behaviour professionally and promptly


📣 “Every shout from the touchline teaches a value — make sure it’s the right one.”

⚖️ 5. Dealing With Disrespect


  • Strategies to diffuse tension with parents, players, or officials

  • When and how to involve the Club Welfare Officer

  • Understanding the disciplinary processes and reporting pathways

  • Protecting your own well-being as a coach


🛑 Disrespect doesn’t have to be tolerated — it can be managed calmly and constructively.

🧑‍🏫 Course Format & Delivery


  • 💻 Delivered online through The FA's learning platform

  • 🕒 Takes approximately 45–60 minutes to complete

  • 🎥 Includes interactive activities, video case studies, and downloadable resources

  • 🧾 Certificate issued upon completion


Perfect for new coaches, volunteers, and experienced mentors alike.


💬 Why This Course is a Must for Every Coach


By completing the Respect for Coaches course, you're:


✔ Reinforcing positive values in your sessions

✔ Establishing a consistent and fair coaching approach

✔ Protecting your own authority and mental well-being

✔ Modelling the behaviour you want to see in others


“Respect isn’t a handshake at full-time — it’s every decision, every word, every day.”

⚽ Respect Strengthens the Whole Game


When respect is consistent and visible, it:


  • Improves player retention

  • Builds stronger relationships with families

  • Encourages good sportsmanship

  • Helps referees and officials feel supported

  • Reduces conflict and complaints


🎯 The result? More enjoyment. More development. More love for the game.


🏁 In Summary


The FA’s Respect for Coaches course is a vital piece of your toolkit as a modern football coach. It underpins everything you do — from giving feedback, managing games, to leading your team through challenges.


Respect is not a soft skill. It’s a power skill — and this course helps you master it.


🌍 Respect as a Coaching Standard


Steve Halls is an FA qualified football coach offering consultancy, talent identification, mentoring and player representation in Cheshunt and the surrounding areas. In today’s interconnected world, Steve can offer his services to players, clubs, and organisations across the globe. Steve believes respect, care, and consistency are the cornerstones of long-term player development and elite performance environments.











📣 From the Touchline – Grassroots Football Update | NexxtGen Football



As we approach the business end of the 2024/25 season, there are several important updates shaping the grassroots football landscape — from new FA rule changes to evolving matchday standards designed to support players, coaches, referees, and families across the country.


🔁 New Rule Changes to Know


🟥 Sin Bins Extended to More Age Groups


The FA is widening the use of temporary dismissals (sin bins) for dissent. Previously used primarily at U13 and above, these 8-minute dismissals are now being introduced into more youth leagues to encourage better discipline and improve respect for match officials.


👟 Rolling Substitution Clarification


Substitution rules have been clarified to ensure smoother matchday management. Players can re-enter the game after being substituted in the same half, but all changes must be made at the halfway line with referee consent. Coaches should keep players informed on this.


🗣️ Respect Barriers & Spectator Conduct


There is now a greater push for strict adherence to Respect Barriers. Many leagues are also trialling silent sidelines at younger age groups to help players develop their decision-making without too much pressure from the touchline.


⚖️ Flexible Age Group Trials


Select leagues are trialling schemes allowing players to temporarily play down a year if they’re physically underdeveloped or new to football. These initiatives are aimed at encouraging development and confidence — particularly for late bloomers.


🌱 Supporting Grassroots Growth Through NexxtGen Football


At NexxtGen Football, we're committed to helping players, coaches, and parents understand and adapt to these changes. Our mission has always been to deliver expert guidance and foster a positive, professional, and structured environment for youth footballers to thrive.


We continue to work with leading grassroots clubs, academies, and leagues to ensure our players stay ahead of the curve and benefit from a safe, educational, and empowering football experience.


💡 What This Means for Young Players at NexxtGen Football


✅ Coaches will continue to deliver up-to-date, compliant sessions

✅ Players will be guided through the latest rule changes

✅ Parents can expect a better, more positive matchday culture

✅ The focus remains on development, discipline, and enjoyment


💬 If you’re a coach, player or parent working with NexxtGen Football, or you're just looking to learn more — stay engaged, ask questions, and let's keep raising standards together. The future of grassroots football is bright, and we’re proud to be helping shape it.


---

Report hate and protect our game




ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Together we can end hate in football

In grassroots football, hate has many faces

Hate reveals itself in players, in coaches, in spectators. It ruins the experience for everyone who’s there just to enjoy the game.

Report hate and protect our game

Too often, people who don’t want to make a scene feel they have no option but to stand by and let it happen. Until now. 

We’ll take action when you tell us

As our eyes and ears on the ground, we’re asking you tell us every time you see hate happening. You can report it anonymously if you wish, your report will always be confidential. When we know about it, we can take the tough action needed to remove the haters, with tougher sanctions than ever before.

Only when you do your part can we do ours 

Together, we can protect our game. It means not standing by or relying on others. It means stepping up by reporting abusive behaviour every time it happens, whenever and wherever you experience it.

When you report hate, we can take the steps needed to remove it, and together can protect the game we love.



What counts as hate?

In grassroots football, hate is verbal abuse, insulting gestures or prejudicial behaviour. Racism, sexism and homophobia are the most common hate incidents we hear about, but we want to hear about any form of discriminatory behaviour any time it happens. If it feels wrong to you, it will to others too.

What are the punishments?

Let us be clear, we will take the strongest action against those who ruin the game for others. Tough punishments for players, coaches and spectators – and anyone else – who behave in discriminatory ways include:

• Players will be removed from play • Players will be suspended for games • Clubs can have points deducted • Clubs can have their ground closed • Spectators will be asked to leave

Remember, reporting hate is the first step to removing it and protecting the game we love.

How do I report hate?

We need you to report abusive behaviour every time you experience it. Only then will we know it’s happened. Only then can we act to remove it.


You can report hate anonymously if you wish, or you can give us your name along with your evidence. This gives us a better chance of successfully punishing offenders. When you do your part, you can rely on us to do ours.


You can report anything you don’t like at any time, even after the match has finished. To make this easy, here are four ways of telling us:


• To report it to The FA click here • To report it to Kick It Out click here • Report it to your County FA • Report it to a Match Official




What support is available?

If you are a victim of hate or discriminatory abuse, we make specialist support available to you. Funded by The FA, this a range of mental health and emotional well-being services delivered by the charity Sporting Chance.

You will have access to between one and six counselling sessions, with extra sessions considered on an exceptional basis. These are face-to-face within 45 minutes of where you live, or by online platforms. The sessions:

• start with an assessment of how the incident has affected you, followed by a confidential and safe talking space with a skilled therapist

• then focus on assisting you in contextualising the incident in the context of your broader life

• will be followed by teaching on self-care


Together we can stop HATE!



bottom of page