Forrester PE Dept

Conduct of self, player, crowd and officials

 

Definition:

 

Conduct of self, players, crowd and officials relates to the social interactions and behavioural patterns of the persons aforementioned, before, during and after a performance.

 

Impact on performance:

 

The conduct and behaviours of all the people involved in a sporting performance can be very complex since it often affects others involved and the relationships between each other. For example a football player may feel intimidated or anxious by an aggressive crowd chanting for them to miss a penalty. A “weaker” referee may be more easily swayed to award free kicks or other decisions by the conduct of a home crowd throughout a match. There are written rules of conduct and codes of conduct for all parties to follow. Professionalism in sport has led to sportsmen/women and officials having to conduct themselves in a more “professional” manner. This can affect how they dress, how they train, how they behave throughout a performance, the things they may say and how they behave in post performance interviews. Their overall conduct can be placed under a great deal of scrutiny by the general public as well as the media and since they often set an example to the younger generations there are a number of expectations on how they must conduct themselves at all times. Failure to conduct themselves correctly can lead to punishment through the rules of the activity, financial fines, suspensions, loss of jobs etc. In golf players will generally conduct themselves very well. Despite having a deep desire to win they will do all they can to behave in line with the rules and the codes of conduct. They may hope that their opponents don’t hole their putt to win, but they would never cheer, fist pump or laugh when an opponent misses. Win or lose they will generally conduct themselves in a manner showing respect to their opponents, the officials and the crowds watching.

 

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was banned for 10 matches following a charge of violent conduct where he bit Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic. He was also banned in the previous season for racially abusing Manchester UTD defender Patrice Evra. These are both examples of a player conducting himself in a negative way and he was punished as a result.