The abuse of match officials continues to plague sport at all levels and every code.

It’s part of a deeply ingrained culture that is passed down from generation to generation. Kids are carelessly nurtured through years of observation, from having their parents lose the plot on the sidelines to spitting chips at the TV while watching their favourite team.

Over time, we may not realise, but we all have a choice:

• We can either go with the status quo, using our power to punch down on match officials and punch harder when they make a mistake. Or,
• We can acknowledge that match officials love the game as much as we do; they’re critical to everything running smoothly and, just like everyone else, make mistakes and learn from them.

So, what’s your choice?...

More info:

• Contact Patrick on twitter or LinkedIn
• Patrick has written for Club Respect on the topic of match official abuse.
  1. The ‘Sport at the Crossroads’ series, in particular, gives us a candid glimpse into the way different sports are dealing with the issue.
  2. Patrick’s article titled ‘Sport’s ugly blind spot – abuse of officials’ is still the most popular post on our website.
• Books by Patrick Skene
  1. The Big O: The Life and Times of Olsen Filipaina, and
  2. Celestial Footy, The Story of Chinese Heritage Aussie Rules

> Club Respect helps sports clubs build and maintain a deep culture of respect.

> Club Respect is a national harm-prevention initiative by the Dugdale Trust for Women & Girls, of which the Victorian Women’s Trust is Trustee.