FAW Fair Play Award

The Code

Play Fair

There is no value to victory if it has been achieved unfairly or dishonestly. Playing fair is more satisfying and rewarding. Even when a game is lost, playing fair earns respect while dishonesty only brings shame.

Play to Win, Accept Defeat with Dignity

Winning is the object of any game. Never set out to lose but remember that nobody wins all the time and it is important to lose graciously. Do not seek excuses for defeat as reasons will always be self-evident. The winners should always be congratulated with good grace. No blame should be directed at the referee or anyone else and there should always be a determination to do better next time. Good losers always earn more respect than bad winners.

Observe the Laws of the Game

The rules of football are simple and easy to learn. In learning the rules a greater understanding of the game will be gained. Through a better understanding of the game, players, clubs and supporters will have a greater respect for the referee’s decisions. It is equally important to understand the spirit of the rules. They are designed to make the game fun to play and fun to watch. By following the rules, the game will be more enjoyable for all.

Respect Opponents, Team-mates, Referees, Officials and Spectators

Respect is part of the game and is fundamental to the FAW Fair Play Code. Without opponents there can be no game. Everyone has the same rights, including the right to be respected. In a team all members are equal. Referees are there to maintain discipline and Fair Play. Always accept their decisions without arguing and help them to enable all participants to have a more enjoyable game. Officials are also part of the game and must be respected accordingly. Spectators provide a game with atmosphere. They want to see the game played fairly but they too must behave fairly and with respect themselves.

Promote the Interests of Football

Football is the world's greatest game. But it always needs everybody's help to maintain its greatness. Think of football's interests before your own. Think how your actions may affect the image of the game in Wales. Talk about the positive aspects of the game. Encourage other people to watch and play fairly. Help others to have as much fun from football as you do. Be an ambassador for the game in Wales.

Honour Those Who Defend Football's Good Reputation

The good name of football has survived because the vast majority of people who love the game are
honest and fair. Sometimes somebody does something exceptional that deserves the recognition of the FAW. They should be honoured and their fine example publicised. This encourages others to act in the same way. Between the FAW and yourselves we can help to promote football's image by publicising its good deeds.

Reject Negative Outside Interests

Football's popularity sometimes makes it vulnerable to negative outside interests. Drugs have no place in football, in any other sport or in society as a whole. Say no to drugs. Help to kick racism and bigotry out of football. Treat everyone involved in the
same with equal respect, regardless of their religion, race, sex or national origin. Show zero tolerance for gambling on games in which you participate. It negatively affects your ability to perform and creates the appearance of a conflict of interests. Show that football does not want violence, even from your own fans. Football is sport, and sport should be played peacefully in a safe environment.

Football Community

Football has an incredible power, which can be used to make your community a better place in which everyone can live. Use this powerful platform to promote peace, equality, health and education for everyone. Make the game better by taking it into your community.

Aim
The aim of the FAW Fair Play Award is to encourage a reduction in on-field misconduct and promote the FAW Fair Play Code.

The FAW, players and their clubs have a duty to raise awareness of the Fair Play message for the good of Welsh football.

The good name of football has survived because the vast majority of people who love the game are honest and fair. Those who defend football’s good reputation deserve the recognition of the FAW.

As a result the FAW will honour and publicise these fine examples through the Fair Play Award.

The FAW will reward clubs who are making a significant contribution to improving the behavioural standards in football. Through such collective responsibility the FAW aims to promote team play through Fair Play.

The Award

Measurement
The FAW produces monthly Discipline Tables for the Directly Affiliated Leagues, which details and compares a club’s on-field disciplinary record within their league.

The FAW Discipline Tables will form the basis measurement of the FAW Fair Play Award. Clubs who demonstrate fair play on the pitch will have the best chance of winning the award.

As the FAW wants to encourage player, club and fan involvement in order to deliver the FAW Fair Play message, other factors will also be considered before selecting the award winners.

Those clubs who actively take part in delivering the message of Fair Play will also see their efforts count towards being a potential award winner. It will be the duty of the club to evidence such efforts to the FAW.

Examples of player, club and supporter involvement can include displaying the FAW Fair Play message and logo on your website, in your match programmes and drawing attention to it on the day of a game.

Clubs may also wish to take part in schemes such as ‘Show Racism the Red Card’, who have given their backing to the FAW Fair Play Code. Contact details for Show Racism the Red Card are detailed in this document.

Essentially, Fair Play is something that the players, clubs and fans should “own”. It is the responsibility of each to ensure that they spread the message of Fair Play and exemplify their good work to the FAW.

There will be a dedicated page on the FAW website for Fair Play, where we will highlight the work that the clubs are doing throughout the season. ‘The Voice’, the new FAW magazine, will also be utilised to promote the FAW Fair Play Award and those clubs who are being proactive. The FAW’s social networking sites will also be used to exemplify a club’s good work.

This will provide positive exposure for those clubs and encourage others to embrace Fair Play and provide the FAW with examples of their work helping us to select the winners of the FAW Fair Play Award.

Prizes

There will be a FAW Fair Play Award winner in each division of the Directly Affiliated Leagues. Each winner, regardless of level in the pyramid, shall receive a monetary incentive. This prize money is to go towards equipment or ground improvements, for example. The winning clubs must provide the FAW with an invoice or quotation for the equipment or work etc. to be carried out.

Each winning club shall also be presented with a FAW Fair Play Award trophy, which shall detail the FAW Fair Play logo along with the name of the club and season. We shall also provide the clubs with a FAW Fair Play winner’s logo that can be displayed, for example, on their match programme and website. The winning clubs will also have an option to display a FAW Fair Play winners badge on their kit for the following season.

As we believe in Fair Play, and taking a proactive role in reducing on-field misconduct, the FAW is encouraging, incentivising and rewarding good behaviour.