Question Number: 16960

Mechanics 9/28/2007

RE: Competitive High School

Dave of Portland, OR USA asks...

I have been told that how tightly a game should be called should depend on the players. i.e. if they want to play rough, let them play rough. If they want you to call more fouls and keep it calmer then do so. But what do you tend to do when you have a mix of both (on both teams)? Do you call a tight game and the bruisers get mad cause they're constantly getting whistled? Or do you let them play and the other players are mad that they're getting roughed up? Split the difference?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

That's why we get paid the big bucks, Dave, to make difficult decisions like these.

If both teams have a similar style of physicality, it's easier to decide what to do. You call a few fouls and here comments, "C'mon, ref, let us play!" and you can lighten up. Or if you get complaints about why you didn't call THAT, you can tighten up. Realize that the comments from the sidelines are not the ones you are to be listening to - you take your cues from the players.

So if the teams have differing levels of foul acceptance, what do you do? Use your experience to compare how this game is going to others you've done at similar age and competition level. This will help you decide whether the team is a bunch of thugs and bruisers, or a physical team. Or on the opposite end, a group of wimps and whiners, or a finesse team. Neither the bruisers nor the whiners will get special treatment. If it's physical vs. finesse, then you have to search for a happy medium.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

My husband was once complimented (actually the first of many such) after doing a game between an English style team and a Hispanic style team. Both teams came over and thanked him for the game, and both commented that he seemed to be calling two different games at once. In other words, he would let the English style guys play through fouls when they wanted to and call the type of offenses they expected to be called, with plenty of advantage, and the Hispanic team wanted calls for too much rough play, clips at the ankles, etc. and got them where warranted. It's not easy to do, but if you are watching the teams, listening to them, and have some experience with each type of play, it can make for a great game for all concerned.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

When you catch one of these matches the test is finding out how each player wants the match called for him. Talk to they and find out. When the referee does that he asks things like "Well done lad, you rode that fairly well, do you like that or would you rather have the free kick". When he answers go with what he says when you can. If he says a free kick is better for him go with that when you can. Before 15 minutes is gone you should have talked to just about everyone that is going to be a major player in that match.

When they answer you they are trusting you to do what they ask [say]. Now it is up to you to trust them to do as you ask when you actually give a free kick because you are doing exactly as they want [or so they think]. That takes care of the big stuff.

Now you must tend to the little stuff, where the throw-in is taken from, substitutions, point of the free kick, safety issues. In doing this your "pay attention" to the small stuff shows you're paying attention. It shows you still are looking out for things. Advantage is another BIG thing to use in showing the attention you pay to things, call it out when #2 is thumped and he is one of the guys that wants to let his skill and cunning to win out over their bump and crunch. Every once in a while you might ask if someone still wants the advantage to run, it shows you haven't forgotten. Your position on the field is most important in a match like this, proximity to what is happening lends credence to you allowing a fair bit of crap to happen. After one of "those" thumps a quiet "that's gotta hurt" and a "sorry, did I miss a free kick you wanted" will go a long way to remind players of previously made bargains.

Another way to let them know you are paying attention is when you see a boot lace loose, a shinguard uncovered or a shirt tail blowing in the wind DON'T mention it until they are 50 yards away. When you can see that stuff at 50 yds, you CAN see everything!!

Be close, be firm in what you do and be alert to a "I've had it with that crap warning light illuminating". When you can do that you'll wonder how you ever refereed a match without those abilities...

Regards,