Sportsmanship Performance as at the end of 2008 / 2009 Season

Dear Club Secretary,

This letter is intended inform you of the sportsmanship marks attributed to each of your teams for the season past.  Below are the instructions for you to follow depending on the mark itself and I trust you will heed the advice given.

If either the manager, players or spectators have accumulated a score between 0 -5 penalty points well done this is an excellent record please keep this up you will be awarded Sportsmanship Status for the forthcoming season.

If either the manager, players or spectators have accumulated a score between 5 -20 penalty points this is still quite good but you may need to take steps to ensure that it stays that way and prevent it form getting  any worse.

If either the manager, players or spectators have accumulated a score between 20 - 40 penalty points There may be issues you need to address for the new season this may include trying to set out a strategy to prevent a further repeat next season and seriously look at ways to improve this.  

If either the manager, players or spectators have accumulated 40 or more penalty points each:

I must inform you that we are not very happy with this mark and we will be looking at this team very closely next season. We have a new Football Watch Scheme and are implementing other measures to improve behaviour. You will need to look at the staff that run the team and some of the players or supporters to see if they are the best people to represent your club in this league next season. These teams will be looked at again in December 2009 and if there is no marked improvement the league will call the team to a meeting where that team’s future in the league will be debated.  Some teams have been told already they will not be invited back to the league next season.  Please do everything you can to ensure that this mark improves next season and be brave enough to make some hard decisions.

We would be grateful therefore if you as club secretary will bring the concerns of the league and the contents of this letter to the notice of the officials, players, parents and supporters of the team in the hope that some improvement can be made and that the team will be able to continue to enjoy their football in the SYL.

It must be stressed that these marks clearly only give indications that a problem may exist. Please try and be positive and use the experience to strive to enhance the high standards that we should always aspire to. Previous experience has showed us that clubs who take the trouble to examine themselves with an open mind have showed significant improvement in later years. Being prepared to accept that things may not appear to others as you believe them to be is a good way to start. 

I am available to discuss any concerns you may have around this, please feel free to contact me at any time, I will be happy to offer what advice I can.