APRIL NEWSLETTER 2022

Hello friends,

Some players will argue that the "heat of the moment" justifies having a go at the umpire and that it's all part of the game. Some enjoy the luxury of dissent and in fact, use it as a way of gaining an advantage by shaping the way the umpire sees the game. 

Should a sport tolerate this behaviour? Even just a little bit? 

It's the AFL's turn to tackle the issue of dissent and disrespect towards Umpires with outgoing AFL CEO Gil McLachlan saying "Frankly, I take responsibility for the fact it's got away from us. We are not going to tolerate the abuse of umpires."

Does the AFL have the right ingredients in place to enforce, at the very least, a visual display of respect for Umpires?

And if so, will this respect for umpires filter down to the grassroots and reinvigorate the dwindling numbers of umpires signing up to officiate?

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Rugby Union is a sport that has answers for the AFL. Respect for referees is ingrained in the behaviours of players and there's no tolerance for dissent.

Team captains have a greater responsibility for the behaviour of their teammates and in a way, work alongside the referee to enforce the special code of conduct and respect. 

Patrick Skene's latest article on tackling referee abuse, Rugby Union: A timeless tradition of respect for referees, finds gold at the highest level of Rugby Union while acknowledging challenges at the grassroots level. 

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The federal election has been called and the challenge of trans women's inclusion in sports has dominated headlines early with a push to amend the Sex Discrimination Act (SDA) to impose a blanket ban on trans women participating in women's sport. 

Joe Ball's The Facts: Sex Discrimination Act and transgender women’s inclusion in sport carefully summarises how the SDA currently impacts transgender women and specifically its powers to "exclude people from competing in sport, where strength, stamina and physique is relevant". 

Tarik Bayrakli
Manager, Club Respect 

CR JOURNAL

Rugby Union: A timeless tradition of respect for referees
by Patrick Skene

"A ‘Hooligans game’ it may appear to some, but despite its physicality and close-quarters gladiatorial combat, these ‘hooligans’ are incredibly respectful to referees. As a result, rugby union is played in a culture of respect for referees that is unmatched in contact sport throughout the world."

PANEL OF EXPERTISE

The Facts: Sex Discrimination Act and transgender women’s inclusion in sport

"The Sex Discrimination Act (SDA) already allows for discrimination on the grounds of sex, gender identity or intersex status by excluding people from competing in sport, where strength, stamina and physique is relevant."

CLUB RESPECT TOOLS

CR Tips for The Player

Club Respect places a 'right actions' lens over each role in the club. Print out all 8 info sheets and hand them out to your club members. This month we feature 'The Player'.

We respectfully acknowledge the wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their custodianship of the lands and waterways.