Deportividad y violencia en el fútbol base: un programa de evaluación y de prevención de partidos de riesgo

Abstract

This studys primary objective was to evaluate sportsmanship and violence in soccer matches. In order to do so, all the trainers and referees in one of the feeder teams categories of the Zaragoza and Vitoria Football Clubs took part as experts and judges in drafting a football match evaluation checklist. Two trainers and a referee used this checklist after each match to evaluate the degree of sportsmanlike/unsportsmanlike behaviours that had taken place. The results of the evaluations of all the matches in the 2005-2006 season show that parents and spectators displayed the most unsportsmanlike behaviours, followed by the same types of behaviour in players and trainers. There was a lower incidence of violent, unsportsmanlike behaviours. This studys second objective was to evaluate a protocol to prevent violent incidents during high-risk matches in the leagues second round. This process consisted in signing a collaboration agreement with the training staff of teams that had displayed violent behaviour in the leagues first round. The trainers of these teams were trained to hold meetings and conduct specific exercises during team training sessions to encourage parents and players to behave in a sportsmanlike manner. The results show the positive contribution of these protocols, not only in the absence of violent incidents during high-risk matches, but also in the higher scores on the football match evaluation checklist achieved by participant trainers during the leagues second round, compared with non-participant trainers in the same category.