River Murray Football League introduces behaviour management system for players, officials and spectators

Clubs in one of SA’s top country footy competitions could face fines and point deductions for bad behaviour this season under a new management system for players, officials and spectators.

Action from last season's interleague game between the River Murray and Hills football leagues. The RMFL has introduced a new club behaviour management system for 2024. Picture: River Murray Football League

One of SA’s top country footy competitions could dish out fines and premiership point deductions this season as part of a new behavioural management system for players, club officials and spectators.

The River Murray Football League has introduced a ‘Club Behaviour Management System’ for season 2024 to prevent on and off-field incidents as well as umpire abuse.

The system, which was voted in permanently by the league’s clubs this year after a trial in 2023, will apply to league, reserves, U18s, U15.5s and U13s football and could see clubs cop sanctions after an accumulation of points for misbehaviour.

Umpires will fill out a form at the end of each game this season and give home and away teams scores for player behaviour, officials/coach’s box behaviour and supporter behaviour, while U13s clubs will only receive points in that age group for red or yellow cards.

The River Murray Football League has introduced a new club behaviour management system for season 2024. Picture: River Murray Football League

“We’ve had a few incidents in recent years including a couple last year where spectators or officials approached umpires and abused them after the game,” league president Phil Gogel said.

“We trialled the system last year and kept scores on all the clubs for player, official and supporter behaviour and it was then voted by the clubs to fully implement it for this year.”

Player behaviour scores will be based on a range of behaviours worth five, 10 or 20 points from backchat and disputing decisions to on-field scuffles, brawls and melees.

Officials/coach’s box behaviour scores are based on umpire abuse or intimidation (20 points), excessive abuse involving personal or degrading remarks (30 points), and approaching umpires to abuse (40 points and suspension), while supporters will follow the same conditions.

Yellow cards (five points), red cards (10 points) and reports (10-15 points) will also be included in a club’s score.

Action from last season's interleague game between the River Murray and Hills football leagues. Picture: River Murray Football League

A club total of 150 points combined across A Grade, reserves, U18s and U15.5s will result in a $1,000 fine with extra fines incurred at 200 points, 250 points, 300 points, 350 points and 400 points.

Premiership point deductions will also be applied if a club accumulates 250 or more points.

Gogel said he was confident the competition’s clubs would keep their players, officials and spectators in check.

“We’ve got zero tolerance for this type of thing and our clubs align with that approach,” he said.

“The clubs are sharing this information with their players, officials and supporters so everyone understands what the process is about and they’re also ensuring spectators are made aware on game days at the grounds.

“They will also receive weekly and monthly reports so they know which areas need work and can address the appropriate people if needed.

RMFL president Phil Gogel said the league's new behaviour management system had already had a positive impact. Picture: River Murray Football League

“The club is always bigger than the individual and this is their chance to exercise that right. I take my hat off and commend our clubs for their approach to this.”

Gogel said the RMFL noticed a significant downward trend in on and off-field incidences after trialling the system last season and hoped it would continue this year for the betterment of the local game.

“This process is hugely important to support clubs as well as umpires and everyone else involved.

“We don’t want to take the passion and emotion out of the game but at the same time you can’t walk into a workplace and abuse someone individually there and we see footy games in the same light.

“It has been hard enough for clubs and competitions to attract volunteers let alone umpires and we want to create an environment that’s safe for everyone whether that’s umpires, players, staff or families and will see the game better off in the future.”