CR Journal

The Yarra Junior Football League (YJFL) and Club Respect are proud to announce a partnership to deliver workshops to all 32 YJFL member clubs.

Club Respect was on the road this month, participating in the True Sport conference at Optus Stadium in Perth. 

I genuinely see sport as its own ecosystem with regard to leading society. It's like a hotbed or a heightened example of where human interaction gets put to the test, where you've got people ‘passionate’, about their sport, under fatigue and under pressure. All in a short timeframe, with the expectation or pressure to win. There is a really good window in sport to show how we should act in wider society.

So when I say a 'line in the sand moment', it means everything we do from now on as we move forward will be using this modern approach. It includes a multifaceted approach to 'let's not blame the victims’ and let's start to look at how we support people by placing things around them and pulling on the levers that currently exist.

Sporting clubs and associations have many ways to contribute to reconciliation efforts, by challenging the norms we’ve previously accepted in our sporting environments and taking action towards change. By encouraging community sports clubs to transition from being mere allies to becoming active accomplices, we can collectively contribute to a more inclusive and equitable sporting culture.

A question I've been asking myself recently is: who is ultimately responsible for removing a person who relentlessly abuses from the sidelines week-in, week-out?

Club Respect is thrilled to announce a partnership with SportWest, supporting their Sideline Behaviour initiative with our “A.W.E.S.O.M.E.” framework and resources.

Club Respect is excited to announce that we'll be a Community Partner for the National Officiating Summit, to be held in Melbourne from 17-19 November 2023. Match officials have a power that isn’t often recognised. Coming together across codes to promote positive relationships with players and spectators can supercharge the prevention work already being done.

These steps are about building a culture that respects everyone, including LGBTQIA+ people. A club's focus on inclusion will benefit with celebration and pride. 

NAIDOC Week events are being held across the country to celebrate and recognise the history and are a great way for clubs to show their support and commitment. To celebrate NAIDOC Week with a local club, we’ve compiled a list of clubs celebrating across the country: