As a parent at Meadowridge AFC, you play a special role in the development of your child and his / her teammates. Your encouragement and good example will do more to ensure good sportsmanship and self-discipline than any other influence. The other team is the opponent, not the enemy, and should be treated with respect. While winning is important, playing well and fairly is the essence of the game.

1. Support your Child

Support your child by giving encouragement and showing an interest in his / her team. Help your child work towards skill improvement and good sportsmanship in every game.

2. Always be Positive

Children learn more by example than by criticism. Work to be a positive role model and reinforce positive behaviour in others. Applaud good plays by others in your child’s team as well as good plays by the opposing team. Do not criticise any child’s performance from the side lines. Accept the results of each game. Teach your child to be gracious in victory and to turn defeat into victory by learning and working toward improvement.

3. Don’t be a side line Referee or Coach

Refrain from coaching or refereeing from the side line. Parents who shout or scream from the side lines often give inappropriate advice at the wrong time. The coach should be the only side line voice. Remain well back from the side lines and within the spectator area. You and your child will enjoy the game more if you put some emotional distance between yourself and the field of play. Officials are symbols of fair play, integrity and sportsmanship – Do not openly question their judgement or honesty.

4. Demonstrate a Positive Attitude towards your opponents and their Families.

Opponents are not enemies. Take care to show hospitality at home and to represent MAFC in a positive manner when visiting other clubs. Never allow yourself to be drawn into a verbal disagreement with opposing parents and coaches. No one has ever regretted letting “cooler heads prevail”.

5. Remember that your Child wants to have Fun

Your child is the one playing football not you. Children must establish their own goals – to play the game for themselves. Take care not to impose unreasonable demands on your child. Let your child experience the fun of playing as well as the challenge of excelling.

6. Social Media Responsibility

Under no circumstances will MAFC tolerate negative social media posts in relation the MAFC, our opponents, officials or the CTTFA. (Social media includes Whatsapp, Facebook and the like). Rather approach the Club Chairman or Junior Chairman if you have experienced or witnessed something that you are unhappy about.

I / We will set a good example to our child in his / her football development by adhering at all times to the following:

• We will not criticise the referee openly or directly during or after games. Any criticism shall be done in writing to the coach and copied to the Club Chairman/Junior Chairman.
• We will only give positive feedback to players.
• We will cheer at all times within the spirit of fair play and shall do our best to cheer the effort regardless of the outcome.
• We shall do our best to teach our players to become students of the game.
• We shall show the quality of our sportsmanship during and after each game and help our child remember to thank the referee after the match without regard of the result.
• We shall do our very best to have our child prepared for every game.
• We shall support the learning efforts of the players of the players, the coaches and the referee by demonstrating our patience.
• We understand that improper behaviour at the game may result in a parent being asked to leave the field by the referee. (This is an offence that carries and mandatory report to the CTTFA Disciplinary Committee and will result in MAFC being fined and the Club Chairman having to attend the hearing)
• We shall leave the coaching to the coach during the game. We shall not give our child instructions during the game.
• We understand that MAFC can suspend our privilege to watch our child play should we behave in a manner that is rude or otherwise offensive.
• We agree to do our best to have as much fun watching the game as the players should have playing the game.
• We will not use any form of social media, private meetings or informal chats to air any grievances that we have with MAFC, coaches, parents, players or officials. Kindly follow the correct channel i.e. Club Chairman or Junior Chairman to list your concerns in writing.
• We will make sure our child is dressed in the correct MAFC outfit which is Blue socks, blue shorts, shin pads and boots. (MAFC jersey supplied by the club.)