Question Number: 15517

Character, Attitude and Control 5/18/2007

RE: Rec Under 12

Kristin Love of Pittsburgh, PA USA asks...

When refereeing a U12 Division C game, if a penalty kick is going to be awarded, should the referee explain why to the players or the coaches? [what rule was broken?]

Keep in mind these are young referees at a recreational soccer league.

The center ref called a pass back to the goalie on a ball that was deflected off of one of my defenders. I confess to yelping in surprise, but not arguing, as even though it was the wrong call, no big deal, right?

But then he proceeded to call a penalty kick for it -- only, he never said to the players "this is a penalty kick". He just started arranging people on the field. When I tried to attract his attention to explain what was going on, he refused even to acknowledge that I existed (making me think he didn't hear me, since when I call for subs, the same thing happens). After several "Ref, please, what's going on? Ref, what was the call? Ref, please, I'm not mad, I'm just really confused", he finally came and explained to me that he wasn't sure if it was an indirect kick or a penalty kick. [He then realized he was wrong, and changed the call.]

The ref commissioner says I embarrassed the kid because I made him change his call, and says that "The referees don't have to tell the coaches what the call was. Period."

I'm worried about that statement. I think it's extremely frustrating to coaches not to know what's going on [even if it were the right call]. And how does it help the players if you don't tell them what they did?

I think the referee should let the coach/players know what the call was on a PK. And other times when asked. Am I off base?

Also, what would be appropriate response of a coach who is also a ref in this case when a PK is called instead of an indirect kick? It devastates my goalie's self esteem when she gives up goals on PKs. [rec girls - hard to find goalies!] Any other bad call, I can let go, but that one, I have an awfully hard time just staying quiet.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

I understand your frustration, but you are not entitled to know why a call was made or not made. You may ask and you may or may not get an answer. If you ask in the wrong way, you could be asking for a ticket to the parking lot.

If you want to know the outcome of every decision in the match and why it was made, become a referee.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Wow...part of me understands your point of view when you know that it should not be a pk. As a coach, I would have a hard time not saying something if the referee screwed up a huge call like that. I have seen referees award pk's on a IFK infraction such as the one you describe. It frustrates me to know that referees make mistakes like that. Arguing over whether or not a player pushed another player is one thing, but that is a screw up within the Laws of the Game. In my opinion, it is the referee that embarrassed himself here. To answer your original question, no the referee need not ever explain a call to anyone - players, coach, or even captains.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

While the referee has no obligation to tell the coach anything, this is one instance where I'd hope the coach would vocalize something short and to the point as the referee was about to do something in obvious disagreement with the law. In the future if this happens again I'd not harrangue the referee but yell a quick "Passback is NOT a pk".