OCRC Soccer: Our Spectator Code of Conduct
At OCRC Soccer, we believe that creating a positive and supportive environment is crucial for everyone involved – our players, coaches, officials, and fellow spectators. By adhering to the following guidelines, we can ensure that every match is an enjoyable and enriching experience.
Respect for Officials
As spectators, we commit to refraining from booing or yelling at officials at any time during a match. We understand that:
This behavior sets a poor example of sportsmanship for our young athletes.
Such actions reflect negatively on our OCRC community, our teams, our players, and ourselves.
Most youth soccer officials are volunteers or have limited experience and formal training. They are doing their best given these limitations.
Most officials make correct calls, even when our perspective from the sidelines might suggest otherwise.
If incorrect calls occur, we recognize that:
The number of calls usually balances out for both teams over the course of a game.
No one is perfect, and mistakes happen.
Officials don't have the same clear view as spectators in the stands.
An occasional incorrect call rarely determines the outcome of a match.
There are more effective channels for addressing officiating concerns than verbal abuse during the game.
It's challenging to truly understand the difficulty of officiating a soccer match until you've been on the pitch in their boots.
Encouraging Our Players
During a match, we will refrain from yelling at players on either team. We are aware that:
They are young people, not professional athletes. Due to limited experience and their passion for the game, they will make mistakes.
Encouragement and praise should be given publicly; constructive criticism is always best delivered in private.
The coach is best equipped to analyze and correct technical or tactical deficiencies. Our attempts to "coach from the sidelines" may only confuse the players.
The Golden Rule applies: Treat other players with the courtesy, respect, and consideration we wish other supporters would show our own players.
Courtesy Towards Opposing Supporters
At soccer matches, we will refrain from being argumentative or using abusive language towards supporters of the opposing team. We understand that:
Others are judging us by our actions and words. We will always strive to ensure that this judgment results in a verdict of SPORTSMANSHIP.
We will conduct ourselves with such courtesy and restraint that we could, if called upon, line up after the match and shake hands with each supporter of the opposing team, just as our players are expected to do.
Grace in Defeat
If our team loses, we will demonstrate our ability to cope with the loss gracefully, both in our words and actions. We recognize that:
In soccer, as in life, it's not always possible to win, no matter how much effort is put in.
When victory eludes us, we must learn to accept it as graciously as we celebrate our triumphs.
It's possible that a loss occurred simply because the opposing team played a better match than ours.
Our players should learn from our reactions to a loss that:
We believe they played their best, even if it wasn't enough on that particular day.
They should hold their heads high; there is no shame attached to an honest effort, win or lose.
There is always something valuable to learn from a loss.
There is nothing gained from brooding. Players should be encouraged to put the match behind them and look forward to the next opportunity to play.
Seeking scapegoats, such as "biased officials," "poor turf," or "poor performance by one or two teammates," is not a mature or healthy reaction to a loss. Such excuses prevent the acceptance of reality.
Our Philosophy of Soccer
Whether at or away from the field, our words and actions should always convey a philosophy of soccer that emphasizes:
The true purpose of soccer competition is to have FUN and to participate in order to improve skills, learn sportsmanship, develop a sense of responsibility and self-discipline, foster group loyalty and comradeship, learn to compete within established rules, accept decisions of authorized officials, seek interpretation or change through proper channels, and develop sound minds and bodies.
By embracing these principles, we can collectively ensure that OCRC Soccer remains a positive and enriching experience for everyone involved. Let's lead by example!