Respect A note from John It's important that everyone in the Club is aware of the importance of the FA's respect campaign and that Pinewood FC complies with best practice in this regard. Please take a look at FA's Respect campaign www.thefa.com/Leagues/Respect.aspx especialy the parents and carers guide. We are fortunate at Pinewood in having a few senior referees prepared to turn out in all weathers on a Sunday and an enthusiastic and energetic group of young referees who keep the Saturday games going   As we haven't had many games over the past couple of months it is probably worth reminding everyone -players, parents, coaches and managers - that the Club remains an enthusiatic supporter of the FA's Respect campaign. As far as the Club Committee are aware the season has gone pretty well in terms of Respect, with few problems and we'd like to go through 2010 with no examples of a lack of respect anywhere. This applies to all matches but it is especially important to remember that many of the Saturday referes are in their mid teens and need our support as they gain experience and maturity. Below is a letter from the parents of one referee which is a useful reminder to other parents about the need to apply Respect.   John Edgar A note from a Ref's parents As parents of a referee we would like to appeal to parents to support them in the crucial role they play for the club. We have 3 boys who all play football and we well know that in the heat of the moment it is all too easy to forget that the refs are mostly just young lads themselves.  We have seen from our own son's experience how his confidence has grown dramatically whenever he has received positive support but equally we have also seen how easily confidence and motivation can be undermined by a challenged call. Many of the refs are only 15 or 16 years old, they have invested their time in the training required to become a qualified referee and they are commited to trying their best.  We would therefore ask that parents support these young lads and make refereeing a positive experience for them.... so they continue to provide an essential service for the club without which there would be no matches.   Daphne & David Hill Another note from a Ref's parents My lad Seb started being a ref at Pinewood around 5 years ago in his mid-teens.  He's now at Uni and refs some of the University teams' matches - whilst also playing in goal at Uni - though not both at the same time !! His experience as a ref at Pinewood was almost 100% positive and just as Daphne and David say, it can be great in terms of increasing confidence and motivation.  Seb being Seb, there was no way that he'd ever be biased in his decisions - he'd call it as he honestly saw it.  Now and again they'd be a decision against Pinewood that I'm sure provoked some concerns from the Pinewood parents and manager - but these were never voiced in anything but a constructive manner - and after the game ... helping him to mature as a referee. Once he received very venemous criticsm from a Pinewood opponent's manager when Seb played 1 minute of stoppage time and Pinewood scored to level the game.  The manager in question refused to pay the ref's fees. How sad is that - a grown man refusing to give a youngster the small fee he is owed - some people really need to get a life!!  Don't be one of these.  And of course, this applies just as much when Pinewood are away - when the ref is appointed by the opposition, you can be sure that their lad's are trying just as hard to be as fair as are ours. Steve Powers