Question Number: 16861

Mechanics 9/24/2007

RE: College

Mike Owens of Kentwood, MI USA asks...

My question is for advice / philosophy regarding game management.

I am wondering how experienced refs would handle a "rivalry" game. Do you call things tighter? More early yellow cards?

This past weekend my family went to a local college soccer match game between two intense rival schools. Game started out well, tight play but several hard fouls from the visitors. "Blatant" (to the home fans) foul not called. No cards given out in the first half.

Second half things turned "chippy" (to borrow a hockey term). More hard fouls, and one player from the home team got 2 yellows and a red in one incident, team yellow against home team with match nearly over, etc.

Is it the referee's responsibility to keep the game "under control"? I know that if a player wants a red card or 2 yellows then he'll get them, but should the ref try to prevent the players from doing something dumb?

After I go to ref certification class this winter I will lean heavily on the wisdom I have gained from your terrific site.

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

No. I don't walk into a match calling things tighter....I call the match as it unfolds. If the players are all behaving, there is no need for me to involve myself, if they aren't, then I will step up and deal with it. Having the background knowledge that this is a rivalry is very helpful, as I can be better prepared to step up as needed. It is not the referee's responsibility to keep the game under control...that is the responsibility of each of the players. It is the referee's responsibility to punish serious offenses and provide discipline for misconduct as needed. Each and every player in the match is solely responsible for the choices they make. It is however, incumbent upon the referee to guide the players into making better choices. And yes, the referee should do as much as possible to prevent problems. This is where "game presence" is very important. If you have established yourself as one who is aware of what is going on and better still, have sent that message to the players, then you are in a better place during this kind of ugly game. There are times when two teams didn't come to play, but to kick the stuffing outta each other and you just have to figure out a way to get thru the mess. Hopefully, at the college level anyways, coaches are very often knowledgeable and professional enough to actually help you out by settling their team down.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Mike. I agree with Ref Hoelscher. One shouldn't go into a match looking for things that may not be there. I've done enough local games over the years so that I am very familiar with many of the teams and players and will certainly watch for things but a card comes out only when I think it's deserved. You don't gain control of a match by handing out cards that aren't earned. We have all seen referees try to do this and you invariably see a game out of control yet many, many cards are flying. Game management and control is an important part of the referee's job but control and giving cards are not synonomous.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The referee should treat every match he does as the most important match in the world because the players do! When a referee studies the two teams before a match he will learn of any rivalry, any bad blood between individual players, the history of previous matches and he should consider forewarned is forearmed. Gathering intelligence is an iffy thing, at best, because the source of your information is always someone or some thing that adds an opinion to the equation. This can alter the facts significantly. You don't need this and shouldn't act on it. Forewarned is forearmed but armed with the wrong information is deadly and leads to bad decisions.

Knowing that I approach each match with an open mind, or at least as open as my mind can be. I can feel tension in the locker room or during warm ups. When I check credentials and uniforms I hear things that add to the intelligence I have already gathered and I am better informed. When the two captains are close by during the coin toss I can sense their feelings, again more information.

This is all before I whistle to start. The instant I blow it's a new match but I have some ideas how things might go. I do not expect anything bad will happen but I KNOW that if there is bad blood players will try to get their paybacks in during the first few minutes, of this I can be sure. I expect the unexpected! I must deal with that as it happens and I must not hesitate to convince the players their desire to conduct themselves in any manner but gentlemanly is intolerable. I remember someone once told me to get the cards out early because it shows everyone three things: you remembered to bring them with you, you know which pocket you put them in and you aren't afraid to use them. He also said don't go searching for a reason but if the players demand discipline who are you to refuse their demand.

Right, know sort of what to expect, be ready for their hello's, deal with what they do and ESTABLISH your desires early. Then trust them to behave and play within what you have established. They will. Of course if they don't play nicely with others standing around doing free kicks isn't making you run around and get all tired and sweaty. Thank them for that! Sometimes they'll get the message and stop the foul play and that's a good thing. You're out there to enforce the Laws of the Game, in that you ensure a player is able to demonstrate his skills without the fear of getting hurt. Do your job and have fun. These matches are really the best you can get, they test you, they show the assignor has supreme confidence in your ability and reflect you are the best man for the job because you got the assignment! Prove it!

Regards,