The Maidstone Invicta Primary League has issued its Managers’ Guide for the 2026–27 season, highlighting several important measures designed to improve behaviour, respect and the overall matchday environment.
These changes are particularly important for team managers and coaches, but players, parents and spectators also need to understand what is expected of them.
At Park Regis Junior FC, we want every match to provide a safe, positive and enjoyable environment for our players, match officials, coaches and families. Managers should therefore make sure these points are understood by their teams and supporters before the new season gets underway.
1. Set the Standard Before Kick-Off
Good behaviour starts before the referee blows the whistle.
Managers should brief their players about respect and the Captains Only approach, clearly identify the team captain or nominated outfield player and remind parents and other spectators that their role is to provide positive support.
There is also an important reminder about young referees. A referee wearing a yellow Under-18 armband is a young person and must be treated with the appropriate respect by players, coaches and spectators.
2. Cooling-Off Periods
The league’s cooling-off procedure provides the referee with a way of dealing with situations where behaviour is becoming unacceptable.
During a cooling-off period, players return to their own penalty areas while coaches and captains meet the referee. Managers should use the opportunity to calm their players and spectators.
The match only restarts when the referee decides it is appropriate to continue.
Importantly, the guidance states that there can be a maximum of two cooling-off periods. A third means the match is abandoned.
3. Captains Only
The Captains Only approach is intended to reduce dissent and prevent groups of players surrounding or confronting referees.
Only the captain should enter the four-metre zone around the referee. Where the goalkeeper is captain, an outfield player should be nominated to fulfil this role.
Other players entering the zone risk being cautioned for dissent.
Managers and coaches have an important part to play by explaining the rule beforehand and reinforcing it throughout the season.
4. New Respect Marks
Respect reporting is also changing.
Players, coaches and spectators will be scored separately from 1–5, helping the league build a clearer picture of behaviour across its matches.
Managers should encourage everyone associated with their team to maintain high standards. Respect isn’t simply about what happens on the pitch – the behaviour of coaches and spectators contributes to the matchday environment as well.
The aim is for reporting to be fair, accurate and consistent, allowing the league to identify where additional support or intervention may be required.
5. Report, Support, Act
Finally, managers have an important responsibility to help the league deal with serious incidents rather than allowing problems to go unreported.
Cooling-off periods should be reported to the league, while discrimination and serious misconduct must be challenged and dealt with appropriately.
The message behind all five parts of the guidance is straightforward: everyone involved has a part to play in creating a safe and respectful matchday.
What Park Regis Managers Should Do
Before the first league fixtures of the 2026–27 season, Park Regis Junior FC managers should familiarise themselves with all five parts of the guidance and make sure their players and parents understand the key points.
In particular, managers should brief players about Captains Only, nominate the appropriate player, explain the cooling-off procedure, remind spectators about positive behaviour and make sure everyone understands the importance of respecting referees – particularly young officials.
These measures aren’t simply about avoiding cautions, abandoned matches or disciplinary action. They are about creating the sort of football environment we want at Park Regis Junior FC: children enjoying their football, referees being able to officiate without abuse, coaches setting the right example and parents positively supporting their teams.
Please help us set the standard from the very first game of the season.
