Respect my Game - from Softball Ontario

New Resource Available: Respect My Game Report Card

Toronto, ON- Softball Ontario is pleased to introduce a new resource for local softball association to use with their own Respect My Game program, the Respect My Game Report Card!

In 2008, Softball Ontario developed the Respect My Game program to address the abusive situations that were taking place on the diamonds amongst the game’s participants, players, coaches, umpires and other stakeholders of the game. The creation of the Respect My Game Program brought to life to raise awareness of abuse in softball and to encourage fair play and respect.

The Respect My Game Report Card is like a comment card that is completed by Umpires immediately after a game. The Softball Ontario umpire is to rate the level of respect on that they witnessed on the diamond. By completing the Respect My Game Report Card it will help determine the effectiveness of the whole Respect My Game Program within your Association.
In 2011, Softball Ontario piloted the Respect My Game Report card at six (6) major Provincial Championships (male and female) and local league play in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.
Below are some highlights from the Respect My Game Report Cards Results:
144 of the cards completed were evaluating Rep Level of ball (Fast Pitch and Slo-Pitch)
47% of the games that were evaluated for Respect My Games principles were at the Minor level (U19)
Officials overall satisfaction rating of compliance with Respect My Game principals with 55%
For the 2012 season, Softball Ontario will pilot the Respect My Game Report Card at the Slo-Pitch Ontario Eliminations to determine the effectiveness of the Respect My Game Program within the game of Slo-Pitch.

Other free downloads available for the Respect My Game Program include:

• The Respect My Game Card- to be distributed to various stakeholders within your Association (i.e. League Executive, Members, Divisional Coordinators, Coaches, Players, Parents, etc.)

• The Respect My Game Umpire Card-each Umpire who registers with Softball Ontario will receive a laminated copy of the Respect My Game Umpire Card which was designed to be included in the Umpire’s Place Conference prior to each game

• Respect My Game Posters- available with both Female and Male players. Ideal to hang these posters in your League Clubhouse and at Tournaments to promote the Association’s participants in the Respect My Game Program

• Respect My Game Guide for Parents and Guide for Coaches- is a resource designed to help parents or coaches identify whether their behaviour is abusive and help them better understand the (ten) 10 most misunderstood rules in the game. It also contains the Parents’ and Coaches’ Code of Conduct

• Respect My Game Code of Conduct for Players of the Game- use the Respect My Game Player’s Code of Conduct to encourage respect amongst players as well as towards the people in leadership roles (Coaches, Umpires, League Executives, etc)

• The Respect My Game Clinic Manual- to be used for in all of Softball Ontario training opportunities and provides strategies and gives exams of how to build mutual respect between Umpires and Umpires, Umpires and Coaches, Players and Umpires, Players and Coaches, Parents and Coaches
• The Respect My Game Brochure- promotional material that provides an overview of the Respect My Game Program

For more information about the Softball Ontario’s Respect My Game Program, please contact Steph Sutton @ ssutton@softballontario.ca or 416-426-7150.

Softball Ontario is the governing body for the sport of softball in Ontario. Our goal is to promote and develop the sport of softball for its athletes, officials and volunteers by providing programs and services at all levels of competitions.