LAST Friday night showed just how far we’ve come with women’s football and sport in general, both as a region and a society – and yet when it comes to behaviour, it was also a stark reminder of how far we still have to go.
To witness first-hand the enormous crowd that came out in support of six girls teams in a fledgling competition was a watershed moment for football in our region.
The organisers of the CVFL Under 14s Girl’s competition, as well as the women’s football advisory committee, should be commended for their foresight and commitment to bettering the opportunities for young females to play sport in our region – and for ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for all.
After witnessing what was essentially a celebration of football – be it men’s or women’s – I should have left the ground feeling content that the game I love was heading in the right direction. Sadly, thanks to the actions of a few, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The reality is I left frustrated and angry that in 2022, there’s still a minority of people who feel it’s appropriate to spew vitriol and obscenities at amateur junior sport. What disappointed me even more was that some of that disgraceful behaviour was even directed at the participants – in other words, the young girls aged between eight and 14 who had the courage to participate in a sport, most likely for the first time.
At this point, I must stress that it was a minority of the crowd who behaved in this manner and that for the most part the vast majority of spectators where cheering loudly for their respective daughters, sisters or grandchildren in a respectful and encouraging way, befitting the occasion.
However, it only takes one – or in this case a handful – of rotten apples to spoil the batch.
Surely, in this day and age, we have moved past the need to abuse the umpires – especially when they are volunteering their time to provide a safe environment for everyone’s children to enjoy the sport they love, be it football, netball, soccer or the myriad of other sports on offer in our district. As has been well documented, there is currently a major shortage of community umpires at all levels of football – and when they cop the level of abuse that I consistently witness on a weekly basis, then it’s easy to see why.
I’m yet to find anyone who enjoys being sworn at or verbally abused at their place of work – so why is it acceptable to do exactly that to those men and women who are officiating our great game?
The short answer is it isn’t. Not under any circumstances. And yes, that includes in a Grand Final that is decided by a point, on the last kick of the night. It’s no longer acceptable by modern standards and it needs to stop.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t just the volunteer umpires, or the organisers who spent countless hours of their time putting together such a worthy and well-run competition, that were on the receiving end of the venom from this small pocket of so-called supporters.
No, even those playing copped it. To the supporter who yelled out to one young girl, who at best estimate would have been aged around ten years old, and screamed “s..t kick!” I hope you’re reading this – and I hope you’re as disgusted with yourself now as I was with you on Friday night.
The vast majority of those attended behaved in an appropriate manner – as the vast majority who go to the netball and football at any level often do – but why should those who do the right thing have to put up with the behaviour of the few who can’t?
It’s time these actions were called out instantly for the betterment of the game and those participating.
And if you are someone who can’t control their “passion” and feel it’s still okay to hurl abuse from the cheap seats to the umpires, coaches or volunteers that are merely doing their job – then I suggest you don’t go, because you are no longer welcome.
Or better still, pick up a whistle or a clipboard and have a go yourself. Because maybe then you’ll have a greater appreciation of just how difficult a job it really is.
While the actions of the minority may have spoiled my night, it shouldn’t detract from the great work that’s been done and the huge progress that’s been made over these last six weeks.
But with the first finals series in two years just around the corner, it is a timely reminder that football, netball, or any sport for that matter, is not a matter of life and death. It is a game. A game that is meant to be enjoyed by all who play, participate and watch.
Win, lose or draw, the sun will still rise tomorrow – and there will always be another week, game or season to be played.
And for the majority of us who do the right thing, remember this – the actions we walk past, are the actions we condone.
