Report Writing

An ABC Guide to Misconduct Reporting

Before leaving the ground, make sure you have all the following facts for each incident:

	The full name of the player or individual concerned, along with the name of their club. If the player or club fails to give you the name, then accept this and report that they failed to do so when you come to write your report
	The time of the incident
	How did you restart play (if applicable)
	Jot down some key points of the incident on the back of your Match Record Card as this will help you to recall the incident when you come to write the report later.

For example:

	How far away were you from the incident and your position?
	Where did the incident take place?
	What was actually said/done?
	Was contact made and to what part of the body?
	Was there any sign of visible injury and did the opposing player require treatment?
	Was the opposing player able to continue to play in the game?
	Did the player you sent off make any comment to you?

Accurate, Brief and Clear

Writing the Report

First, you must ensure that the Introductory Section of the Report Form is completed in full. Be careful here as this is where a lot of mistakes are made and a really good report is often let down by some inaccuracies in this section.

Use the information you recorded after the game to help you draft the incident. The following descriptions of sending off offences will help you when compiling your report. When writing your report it is always best to give the disciplinary commission the following information in all your reports:

Time of the incident
Where did the offence occur?
Your position and distance from the incident.

Please follow the links to Sending Offs and Cautions pages for help and guidance on ensuring your Reports are ACCURATE, BRIEF, CLEAR

Be ACCURATE – in reporting the incident, avoid confusing or conflicting statements. Make sure the offence matches the incident described. Double-check the player information.

Be BRIEF – you are required to report only the incident leading to the caution or sending off. Information about the state of the playing surface or climatic conditions should be included ONLY if you feel they play a part in the incident described.

Be CLEAR – stick rigidly to a description of the incident, e.g. a kick in the groin, a punch in the face, etc.; it is not for you to pass judgment. The Disciplinary Committee will make a judgment from the information you provide. In the presentation of your report, try to make sure that what you write is legible, correctly spelt and punctuated. It is often wise to seek approval of what you have written from a more

All the information provided here and on the "Sending Offs" and "Cautions" pages have been reproduced with the kind permission of the FA Learning Department.