Players Zone Board

    

Citizen Newspaper article 10 February 2005 launching the Players Zone Board

Fair play's still the name of the game

The Milton Keynes and Border Counties Youth League this week launched its Players Zone boards, a fair-play initiative believed to be unique in the UK.

The A-frame boards are designed to be displayed on the sidelines of matches played in the SRBE Ltd Plant & Tool Hire-sponsored league, which caters for youth football from under 11 through to under 18 level. The league, in its 35th season, has some 3,500 players signed on. It has operated a fair-play scheme endorsed by the FA for many years, this promoting the playing of youth football in the right spirit and ensuring positive behaviour standards are displayed not only by players but also by coaches, parents and spectators – everyone involved in providing football for children.

The Players Zone boards contain a list of key messages promoting the behaviour expected at youth football matches, this done in an attempt to eliminate the negative sideline behaviour sometimes exhibited by over enthusiastic coaches and parents who can get carried away with the tension that arises from matches.

The messages remind everyone that the players are the number one consideration and that everyone must show respect to the match officials and must set a good example to the children. The list of league sponsors is shown on the reverse side of the board.

The boards were the idea of league president Dave Dunford who, while holidaying in Hawaii, saw similar boards displayed at a youth football tournament there. Mr Dunford said: "I saw these boards and their messages and immediately realised they supported our fair play scheme perfectly. In launching the Player Zone boards, we are attempting to create the right atmosphere at all our matches by setting out the standards of behaviour we expect from everyone. Those who abide by them are welcome – all others are not."

The launch took place prior to Sunday's under 13 match between MK Wanderers and Woburn Lions, both clubs having attained the prestigious FA Charter Standard. Supporting the launch were Mr Dunford, Samantha Knight from Castle Estates and members of the league's management committee. MK Dons' player Nicky Rizzo was also on hand to support the initiative and meet the players, something the league hopes will become a regular occurrence involving other MK Dons players.

All clubs in the league will be issued with the Players Zone boards.