REFSPECT
The REFSPECT campaign promotes a positive and encouraging approach to competitive school sport where the participants can perform and learn in a fun, safe and supportive environment. The campaign aims to remove any negative, abusive or unsupportive behaviours from all those involved.
By improving the environment for those performing, coaching and officiating we hope this will further develop their ability, commitment and interest in sport.
We actively encourage all schools to offer continuous support of the campaign and its importance as a safeguarding tool, both within their own school and at all sporting events.
Safe and Positive Environment
All children have the right to be able to take part in PE and sport without abuse, in a nurturing, growth mindset environment where they feel confident to make their own decisions and learn from their ‘marvellous mistakes’.
Coaches should do their best to prepare players for their performance in advance, offering guidance, coordination, strategies and support whilst allowing children to make their own choices in the moment, during the game or performance.
If there are concerns that an official is unsure of any rules or expectations then the school staff should approach the MSSP team to put forward their concern so that, if appropriate, MSSP may work more closely with the official to help them to develop and learn. Officials should not be questioned or approached directly by anyone else, in particular when they are young leaders who are also at the event to learn and develop.
Our ‘Code of Conduct’ for staff and accompanying adults must to be adhered to and will be actively reinforced for the safety and welfare for all officials and players. It is vital that our young people enjoy participating and officiating at our events and programmes in order to keep them engaged in sport and physical activity.
Schools are responsible for the behaviour of their adults and children and any concerning behaviour will be reported to the Head Teacher for that school as part of our safeguarding protocol.
While we have long promoted positive spectating through our REFSPECT programme, feedback from our Pupil Voice Survey 2024-25 alongside incidents at some of our events highlighted the potential risks linked to adult behaviour. To prioritise physical and emotional safety, after consultation with our network and Steering Committee, MSSP introduced our policy, prohibiting spectators at all school-day events in public or open/accessible spaces.
This decision was not taken lightly. We understand how fulfilling it can be for parents to watch their children participate in sport and in-turn, how much children can value their parents’ support and interest in their development. However, during school-day events, the duty of care for the students lies with the schools. With the resources available to MSSP and our Primary/Special Schools, we reviewed and amended our procedures to ensure any potential risk to the welfare of students is minimised.
REFSPECT Awards
Within schools, staff are encouraged to raise awareness of REFSPECT and the ‘School Games’ Values of Respect, Determination, Passion, Self-Belief, Teamwork and Honesty by using our REFSPECT resources. Our Codes of Conduct posters and Award certificates can be used to promote expectations and encourage children during PE sessions as well as for individual achievements and group recognition.
At our events, all adults, officials and players will be reminded of our expectations. Teams and young leaders will be encouraged to use their REFSPECT vote to nominate a team or individual who have played in the spirit of the REFSPECT campaign or have displayed outstanding moments of fair-play and sportsperson-ship. These votes will be tallied and an event winner will be announced and celebrated on the day. All teams who are voted for in each event will accumulate points across the academic year for their school’s overall REFSPECT score.
Our annual leader-board will be updated termly to promote the initiative regularly around the borough. Our 5 Cluster winners and overall Borough winner will be announced and celebrated at the end of the year and schools will be presented with a REFSPECT celebratory trophy and certificate to recognise their efforts and commitment to the campaign.
We provide an inclusive platform for young people to excel and achieve their personal best. Ultimately, we want our young people to lead healthy and active lifestyles, experience various opportunities where they can express themselves, showcase their talent and compete fairly in an environment that promotes sportsmanship, professionalism and good etiquette.
We can all play our part in achieving this.
Don’t X The Line
We are proud to be working in collaboration with Don’t X The Line’s national ‘REFSPECT’ programme. Headed by Mal Lee at Don’t X The Line, their national REFSPECT programme seeks to raise awareness and eliminate problems experienced by referees at all levels of the game of football, in particular at grassroots level. DXTL have kindly allowed us to promote our Merton based programme under their National REFSPECT banner. For more information please visit their website: http://www.dontxtheline.com/refspect-2/
2025/26 REFSPECT
The current table is below (Points in brackets) – Correct as of December 12th 2025
- 1st – St. Thomas of Canterbury (14)
- 2nd – Holy Trinity (10)
- 3rd – Poplar (9)
- 4th – Pelham, Sacred Heart (8)
- 5th – Garfield, Haslemere, Liberty, Wimbledon Park (7)
Our Previous Annual Winners
- 2025 – Overall- Poplar
- Clusters – Lonesome, Holy Trinity, Liberty, Pelham
- 2024 – Overall – Poplar and Holy Trinity
- Clusters – Sacred Heart, Singlegate, Liberty
- 2023 – Overall – Poplar
- Clusters – Joseph Hood, Wimbledon Park, Liberty, Lonesome
- 2022 – Borough : Lonesome and Pelham
- Clusters : St. Teresa’s and Hatfeild
- 2021 – Virtual Competition Winners : Poplar
- 2020 – (To March 2020) : Poplar
- 2019 – Wimbledon Chase
- 2018 – Links