Austin Lloyd, NJ Youth Soccer
NJ Youth Soccer has officially launched the NJYS Respect Campaign, which is designed to improve the local soccer community and the experiences of all involved, both on and off the field.
“Unfortunately, we have witnessed a concerning trend of increased reports of referee, parent and participant abuse and violence,” said Evan Dabby, NJYS Executive Director. “That said, we know this represents the vast minority of the on-field experience, and this respect campaign is design to focus on the amazing people that we do not hear enough about.”
To get involved with the NJYS Respect Campaign, all members of the NJYS community are urged to recognize and acknowledge acts of respect by players, coaches, parents, referees and administrators. If you observe someone taking the extra step to promote a more respectful atmosphere in youth soccer, we encourage you to nominate them as an NJYS Respect Ambassador by filling out this link: CLICK HERE
To further promote respect in the game, NJ Youth Soccer also encourages the soccer community to post a picture on social media that portrays and describes the observed respectful act. Make sure to use the hashtag #NJYSRespect and tag @NJYouthSoccer on the post so they can be recognized by our state association.
NJ Youth Soccer will review nominations and celebrate a monthly winner via its website, social media and email newsletters. One nominee will be selected as the NJYS Respect Campaign winner each month, with the recipient receiving an award courtesy of various NJYS partners (e.g. New York Red Bulls, Gotham FC, Philadelphia Union). To further promote participation, the nominator will also receive an award.
“At Gotham FC, one of our key priorities is to build a community that fosters inclusivity and promotes a sense of belonging for all members,” said Yael Averbuch West, Gotham FC General Manager. “We strive to build that community on a foundation of mutual respect, which is why we are thrilled to partner with NJYS on this incredibly important campaign. Together, I hope we can highlight how the soccer community is a community for all.”
The goal of the NJYS Respect Campaign is to improve the soccer culture, decrease the frequency of required disciplinary measures, and reduce reports of abuse from competition in member leagues. This is not a temporary campaign but an ongoing commitment to improve behavior in NJ Youth Soccer.
To find out more about the NJYS Respect Campaign, email [email protected]. Also make sure to follow us on social media: @NJYouthSoccer