If you would have a problem with an opponent, another club or coach or with a referee, and you feel that the OKA should be informed or contacted, then don’t do that yourself. Always contact your team coach first. Your team coach can then contact the coaching coordinator and the chair. If they agree that the OKA should be contacted, the club can do so.

In addition, the BKA (British Korfball Association) have developed a ‘set of beliefs’ which it would ask players to follow. They are the following:

• The control of the game is the responsibility of the appointed referee alone
• Even if assistant referee(s) or assessors are present the appointed referee is the person in charge during the game
• Players must respect the ref and his/her decisions, which are final, even if they believe them to be wrong
• Players and coaches are responsible for themselves and their actions before, during and after a game and must expect that any unacceptable acts, whether verbal, physical or expressed in any other way, will be punished through standard BKA procedures
• Giving ‘advice’ to the ref and questioning his/her decisions during the game, even without using offensive language, is not allowed under the rules – only the captain may ask for an explanation and this must be done in a respectful manner and not on an excessively regular basis.

All players are requested to remind themselves of these regularly. It is also worth remembering that referees are human. In this context it is worth noting that:

• Complaining to or about the referee during the game either directly, or to other players, should not be tolerated
• The more pressure your team exerts on the ref, the harder you make his/her ability to make good decisions
• All players ought to be acutely aware that unless standards of behaviour improve more formal warnings with their associated fines, and bans for repeat offenders, are likely in season 2005/6.

Referees have been given guidance about what constitutes a yellow or red card offence and have been asked to enforce this code of conduct this season.

Basically, an environment should exist for all referees to learn their trade in a ‘conducive’ atmosphere. Some referees may welcome constructive feedback, starting with praise where it is due. However, this type of approach may not be appropriate in all circumstances and if a referee does not wish to enter into a debate after a match this wish should be respected. Where a discussion is considered appropriate by all parties it should be conducted in an open and polite manner after sufficient time has passed after the end of the game to allow any ‘heat’ to have gone from the situations to be discussed.

The Guidance Notes issued to National League referees can be found at the BKA website:

http://www.korfball.co.uk/refs/discguide2005.pdf