Question Number: 17123

Law 5 - The Referee 10/6/2007

RE: REC to HIGH SCHOOL

Franco of Bloomington, USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17078

I have to say Chuck Fleischer is spot on with his response! It is the number one attitude that turns me off about all sports at all levels.

AS A COACH- I have had referees come to me to ask me to calm my parents down. I as the coach feel like my authority as a coach is with games, practices, safety at these events and the behavior of my assistants and players at these events. I do not have authority over the parents or fans either.

What I always tell the ref is, that I understand your situation and if you need to abandon the match because of fans on the side line or a hostile situation I will not protest or object in any manner and will support your decision regardless of the score or the status of the match.

I understand why a ref asks this, but as a coach I do not have authority, they may value my requests, but I do not have authority over fans. I have asked them to calm down or we will quit playing, but once again I was viewed by some as a traitor because it appeared I was siding with the ref and not taking up for my team. I felt like I was leading by exmaple, but that was just my opinion.

As a coach I have asked for an explanation after the game of a certain call, but not in front of my players and not to argue. On rare occasions I have shouted out that an action of a player was dangerous or that a player is getting out of hand, but I felt like the integrity of the game or safety was in jeopardy.

AS A REF- I usually say to the guilty fan or coach, the refs will not continue with your mouth. Then if it continues, I say to either the fan or to field monitors, that a certain fan must leave or the ref leaves. The coach, I usually just say your done after I have warned him and I have had enough. If he uses profanity or a threat, there is no warning. Players are treated the same.

I have seen times that refs do need to be a little more deaf at times, but I know its hard.

AS A FAN- I never yell bad calls or yell out disagreements (NEVER) even if I do disagree, but what I have seen in the stands by fans is down-right disgusting and after the person or persons calm down, at least publically, they act like what they did or said was totally justified! My opinion even if you are correct the ref is wrong, you must respect the authority and act with dignity. I hate that attitude and my response earns me the Benidict Arnold award around my home town teams. My bottom line answer is always the same, there is only one opinion that matters on the field.

AS A COACHING DIRECTOR- I always instructed coaches that I did not want to hear about them getting throwed out of a game. If it happens then I will need an explanation and arguing about a foul, offsides, posession, PKs, outcome of a game is not going to be a good enough reason since there is only one opinion that matters. If it happens you may not be selected as a coach again. Now that I know longer do that job, I hear some coaches sound as if they are braggin about being thrown out or how they watched from a far in the car, hillside, or how they wore a different jacket and watched from the sidelines. You would think they are 16 years old and sneaking a beer or out their bedroom window.

Is the way I handled it as a ref okay in your eyes?

Franco

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Nice to see a coach who understands the reasonable responsibilities of those who participate in the beautiful game! Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

As a coach I have told my BEST player he is no longer a member of the squad BECAUSE his father told him to go after an opponent's knee. He usually did what his father said even though he was nearly 19. The referee, a US National, heard me say this "Abraham I need a stoppage instantly" I got it. I too k my best player off the field and asked Abraham for his pass. I got that too! I cut it up and told him and his father they were no longer welcome at practice of matches and they could leave now.

Why don't you have the courage to do that? Is it because you would rather not be a traitor?

Me, I have an OBLIGATION to The Game and my integrity will not ever allow me to wilfully allow what that parent advocated. AND I don't give a rat's arse whether other people think I have the authority to do that or not.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

You might check your league rules. Many have provisions in them that the coach is responsible for keeping the fans in line.