Focus on Football

About the initiative

The Scottish FA’s Focus on Football initiative aims to promote all the positive aspects of the game in this country.

The campaign was launched with the aim to get all the focus back on matters on the field as well as building better relationships between players, coaches and match officials.

The campaign was launched at the start of season 2011-2012, with clubs across the country lining up to endorse the Focus on Football message. The Scottish FA has continued to communicate the message at other SPL, SFL, William Hill Scottish Cup and international matches.

All SPL club managers and captains took part in a promotional DVD, with the legendary commentator, Archie Macpherson, providing a unique soundtrack to the production.

Within Focus on Football there is also a bespoke element to raise awareness of the pressures on referees and match officials - REFocus on Football - with the objective to achieve a greater understanding and respect for their role.

A Club Visitation Scheme has also been established with Category One referees visiting clubs with PFA Scotland representatives to present the Laws of the Game and discuss issues. So far referees have visited 61 senior sides and met over 700 players as part of this initiative. As well as this there will also be regular meetings between referees and clubs to discuss matters arising throughout the season.

The refereeing department at the Scottish FA, with the support of Specsavers, ran a successful referee media short course, which provided a unique insight into the requirements and realities of being a referee.

Focus on Football will be the vehicle for a new Scottish Football Charter, agreed as part of the government-led Joint Action Group, to establish a single Code of Conduct for all senior clubs and administrative bodies to adhere to.

The Focus on Football message extends to the Scottish Cup as a platform to communicate the message to clubs via public address systems, match programmes, track advertising and interview backdrops.