Question Number: 15485

Mechanics 5/15/2007

RE: 3rd division competitive Under 15

Don Mogorit of Fort Colllins, Colorado USA asks...

The girls are 13 and 14 years old in a 3rd (lesser skilled) division. We had what initially appeared to be an experienced Center that was unsure of his calls this day. Not dangerous or game changing mistakes, but several clearly off both ways, and it got worse, not better. Spectators from both teams were grinding on him and the players started mouthing off at each other, although the play was not physical. He did not address the increasing verbal abuse. The coaches were working at quieting down the players. The Center over-ruled his assistant on a simple and obvious throw-in decision, and suddenly made a rather angry and dramatic display of sending off a player. She and some teammates burst into tears and a couple of them went to him asking why. The spectators were screaming. It was an emotional mess. While getting my players attention to calm them down, I was at the center line (off the pitch) and asked the referee what had happened. He refused to answer, sending me to my bench. I returned to the bench with my player and again asked, he again refused, and pointed at her and yelled "get her out of here". She burst into tears again, and several players were crying at this point. I did not say another word to him, but inside I was very angry and frustrated. The other coach said he saw nothing. As I retrieved our passes afterward I calmly tried again but he refused to answer, telling me to "just get away". I did. I found out later from the player that she had made a sarcastic comment about the call that he overheard (a poor decision on her part). Is there responsibility and protocol as to coach-referee-youth player communication, especially in a booking?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Don you have taken time to relate a serious matter and ask what a referee should do when he administers discipline. The answer is simple though teaching referees this simple thing is near impossible. Send-off and show the red card is how Law 12 describes the action. That means talk to the player, explain why, ensure the player understands and show the card so everyone else knows. When the player arrives at the bench and you ask, she knows because the referee told her.

Right, now to the other thing. Could it be the referee was reacting to the parents and not the players? You say the parents from both sides were "grinding on him" but don't say what you did to prevent, stop, or reduce it. I ask you Sir: what makes your parents think their saying anything to any authority figure that grinds on him is going to make things better? Their behavior is a fine example for how they desire their young ladies to behave. Imagine a young lady having to walk to a touch line inhabited my 22 screaming parents after she has been sent-off.

In sure the parents "feel better" when they are yelling as I am sure the referee "feels better" when he abuses a child. Referees are professional, or should be, and there are ways to do things that, by the way, this referee didn't do. Want to try something -- have a match with the parents gagged or in their cars watching from the parking lot. Watch how much fun the girls have, win, loose or draw.

Regards,

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 15505