Question Number: 13358

Character, Attitude and Control 7/17/2006

RE: Competive

Moe of Newcastle, CA usa asks...

Coaches conduct,

In a championship game yesterday, a coach decided to not continue after 15 minutes into the game. His reasoning was that he did not have any substitute and he was afraid that some of his players were going to get hurt. I obviously ended the game and simply reported the incidence on the game card. I was told by the assignor and the District referee coordinator that I should have red carded the coach!! This was a USSF sanctioned game. I do not recall seeing anything in regards to red carding a coach for refusing to continue with the game. Could you please direct me to a proper position paper or article that covers such directive.

I personally found the decision by this coach as totally uncalled for. His team was a good team and at the time of withdrew the score was 3-1. The players wanted to play and everyone of these young boys had tears in their eyes at the end of the game. The players simply wanted to play. During my coaching days, I signed up for District Cup and it was going to be played 3 hours away from our home town. Some of my parents forgot about the game and made other commitments. I had only eight players. We went to this tournament knowing we were going to have our behind kicked and we did. Those boys still up to this date remember the meaning of commitments and are now some of my best referees. Enough preaching.

Thanks as always.

Moe

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Moe,
as a referee if the coach pulls his team or there is less than 7 players you do exactly as you did. Report the match was forced into abandonment and state the reasons. The coach stated he was worried they would get hurt? Because they were tired or was it a shot at you for not calling a less physical game?

I know this idea persists that cards can be shown to coaches but this policy is not what the cards were intended for nor do I belive the USSF follows such a policy?

My counterparts from the US will no doubt weigh in here but it sounds like a sorry situation and I feel empathy for the players who likely wanted to continue.

If this is a added feature into that league's policy where a coach can be shown a card they might require you to officiallyl send off the coach for this unwarranted walk off but if you report what occurs the league can add additional sanctions later!

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Sounds like you did the right thing. Make sure you write a detailed report and turn it in to the head league director. Cards are generally for the players only and not to be shown to coaches and spectators. Since it was a league, the league may have had special rules that required showing a card. I do not understand why this assignor and district coordinator wanted you to show a card. What justice would have been served by showing a card? Absolutly nothing! Obviously this coach was upset with you for not calling enough and wanted to make a statement. I have seen this before. Still, I do not see a purpose in creating a larger fire by showing a red card. I say just report and let it rest. As Always,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

USSF game, you CAN'T red card the coach. Who told you this nonsense? He refuses to play and that's it. Write Jim Allen at his site and then show his official answer to whomever said you could red card a coach in a USSF sanctioned match.

http://www.drix.net/jim/

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Cheers Moe. As I sit here reading this crap from another assigner in CalNorth at of my home away from home in I wonder why I'm thinking about renewing a refereeing career.

The coach had his reasons for doing what he did and you did what you were supposed to do. Abandon the match and file a report.

At that point the competition authority may deal with the coach and they should. If you considered his action insulting you could have expelled him for not conducting himself responsibly. You could have expelled him for a violation of CYSA By-Law 3:08:06 and addressed your report to CYSA not the competition authority. You could have done a lot of things but what you did was done by you as a fact connected with play and should be irrefutable by everyone except the assessor assigned your match. The picking apart of your decisions regarding facts connected with play is typical of the mindless accusations from the "Better-Than-You" folks that seem to always get their two cents worth in.

I am reminded of someone saying that the Laws of the Game require the referee to show the card and caution or send-off and stating that was US Soccer policy. I am reminded of someone saying a mandatory caution for entering the field without permission is something you should not do in leagues he assigns. I am reminded of a group of referees who seem to think calling 4-6 fouls in each period of play is just good refereeing. I am reminded of parents who don't want the referee to stop their little darlings from fouling opponents yet are aghast when the slightest touch on them is not dealt with. I am reminded of an assignor who thinks when a goalkeeper yells and demands the referee, in the other half of the field, give him a [insert disgusting word beginning with the sixth letter of the alphabet] card the referee should only caution. I am reminded of the night I was told It was district policy for a dropped ball there must be two opposing players present. I am reminded there is no requirement in our area for a referee to attend training beyond the entry level.

Who was that coach, where was he from, who were those who critiqued you. Crap, just Crap.

Regards, C.