With children and young people all across the nation gearing up for another exciting football season, the Scottish FA, in partnership with all members of the Non-Professional Game Board (NPGB), has today reiterated its Let Them Play message, focused on creating an environment that fosters positivity, inclusivity and respect.
Designed to make youth football more enjoyable for players, the Let Them Play campaign will put a fresh focus on enjoyment, equal opportunities and positive sideline behaviour. Although aimed primarily at the youth game, the values and message will also be spread by all NPGB members to encompass the entire game in Scotland.
Over the next few months, the Scottish FA will be sharing a series of films, aimed at showcasing good practice and tackling poor sideline behaviour head-on.
A toolkit is also available, providing resources around sideline guidelines, an updated matchday checklist for clubs, information on how to join the newly-launched Scottish Grassroots Football WhatsApp channel, and details of an online Touchline Behaviour Module, which participants in the grassroots game are encouraged to complete.
The aim is simple: to create an even more positive and welcoming playing environment across all leagues in Scotland.
The toolkit also includes information around the Scottish FA's Let Them Ref initiative, which will run in parallel to Let Them Play, focusing on the role that everyone at all levels of the game can play in championing respect for referees and match officials.
As part of this initiative, all clubs will be encouraged to create a Designated Technical Area exclusively for team staff, allowing officials to manage coaching behaviour and prevent unnecessary encroachments onto the field of play, while all spectators are to positioned at least two metres back from the sideline. This measure aims to reduce crowd influence on officials and players, fostering a safer and more controlled environment. Referees will also encourage only the captains to speak at key moments in the match, in a move designed to reduce instances of dissent and create a more respectful atmosphere on the pitch.
Both the Let Them Play and the Let Them Ref campaigns sit at the heart of the Scottish FA’s refreshed Player Journey concept, which focuses on creating an environment that prioritises fun, learning, and long-term participation over results by promoting smaller-sided games for younger players, allowing them to enjoy the game and develop at their own pace.
Paul McNeill, Head of Football Development, Scottish FA: "This campaign is about more than football. It’s about setting the tone – from home to the sidelines to the centre circle – so that every player and referee feels valued, supported, and inspired to stay in the game for as long as they wish. By promoting fun, creativity, and decision-making, we want to create the conditions for, not only young people, but everyone playing the game to thrive both on and off the pitch.
"This is a concept for everyone to embrace, at every level of the game. We recognise that as players progress, the focus on results and competition grows. However, our shared responsibility remains the same: to uphold the values of respect, fun, and learning.
"We all play a role in shaping the culture of the game. Creating a positive matchday environment is something every coach, referee, player, parent, spectator, and volunteer can influence.
“By taking small, positive steps to improve behaviour and tone on and off the pitch, we not only support the current generation – we create a better game for the future."