Following the four-round trial period of Match Day Actions to stamp out anti-social behaviour, the EDFL wishes to advise the actions that will be implemented for the remainder of the 2023 season, including finals.
Overall, the response to try and implement all three of the match day actions by clubs was positive.
Over 300 stakeholders responded to a survey to help inform the league’s decision.
The following decisions have been made:
- The Match Day Official role will remain at ALL age groups (Juniors and Seniors) for the remainder of the 2023 season, including finals, and beyond.
- For Under 8 to Under 16 football, spectators will still only be allowed in the 50m arcs at ¼ and ¾ breaks.
- For Senior football (including Under 18.5), spectators will be allowed to go to huddles, but no one (other than allocated club officials) will be permitted inside the centre square.
- The 25-metre exclusion zone will remain at ALL age groups for the remainder of the 2023 season, including finals, and beyond.
MATCH DAY OFFICIAL
Match Day Officials will communicate with the umpire/s at all breaks to be provided with any negative (anti-social behaviour) feedback in relation to their club’s players, coaches and/or spectators behaviour and then act on these if required for their club only and only if safe to do so.
From the survey, 64.8% of responses found the role somewhat to extremely effective, with 54.7% supporting the extension of this role.
SPECTATORS ON GROUNDS
This action is to remain as a trial at ALL Junior Age Groups only (U8-U16) for the remainder of the 2023 EDFL season, including finals.
Spectators at Senior matches are permitted back on ground at breaks, but must not enter the centre square.
Prior to the implementation of this action, the EDFL had significantly more issues at Junior level with coaches and spectators across the year. This has been reduced, but we are still having spectator abuse umpires and players on match day.
The response to this action has been positive from a significant number of coaches at junior level with less interference from parents, kids can concentrate more, and they can actually coach the players more positively.
It has also been noted that the flow of the game and time between games has been significantly improved.
There are exceptions for health and welfare concerns, but it must monitored and enforced by clubs:
- Where a player is injured, and it is of the opinion of the Club Trainer that a parent needs to attend to the player.
- U/8-U/10 only where the team requires a parent to communicate with son/daughter in distress.
From the survey, 56.7% of responses supported the extension of this action in some capacity.
EXCLUSION ZONE
This action is to remain at ALL age groups for the remainder of the 2023 EDFL season, including finals, and beyond. It must be 25 metres in length (where possible) – 12.5m from the middle of the coaches box.
From the survey, 70% of responses supported the extension of this action.
