Question Number: 17379

Other 10/18/2007

RE: Select Under 15

John McCain of Semmes, AL USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17345

Not to belabor this too much, but I think sports culture in the US is reflective of the overall mindset.

When I spoke of bad calls/ no calls, I didn't mean they were necessarily objectively bad, but were bad from one's perspective. And yes, there is no objectivity from a partisan, be it coach or parent. The partisan sees what he sees, and the ref sees what he sees. The nature of the beautiful game is that the ref is called upon many times to make an interpretation, and that interpretation is what drives a partisan crazy.

When I coached U little, there were times that those interpretations made me insane. One instance, where an opposing defender, seeing the ball come his way, but was out of position, stuck his arm out and changed the direction of the ball away from his goal. Naturally, as a partisan coach, I saw this as a deliberate handling of the ball, and when no call was forthcoming, I expressed my disatisfaction. After the game, the ref presented me with a copy of the rule on handling, particularly the rule about interpreting intention. I not so politely told him his interpretation in that instance was less than stellar.

Older and wiser now, I realize that we pay referees (not much, and not always) to keep matters of contention from becoming shouting matches between participants and partisans. Their function there is to keep the game moving and settle disputes quickly. I honestly believe that no referee in any match I have personally witnessed has been biased toward one team or another. (I cannot speak for European pros) Having said that, I think most have a bias toward a certain type of play, some want to keep the game moving, some will stop play at ANYTHING they see, trifling or not. The best approach, from a partisan perspective, is to look upon that as a field condition both teams are playing under.

Finally, what we have is a BIG field with, in most conditions, 3 officals, 2 of whom are limited in what they do. In every game I have ever seen, the refs have made what I would consider bad calls. Is my perception of the call colored by my bias (when I have one)? Yes. Am I sometimes objectively right? Sure. What difference does it make? None.
See above, we pay these men and women to keep it on a sporting level. In our more honest moments, we see calls where we think "our side got away with one". We tend to forget those quickly. Heck, sometimes when we think we got a break on a bad call, we were wrong about the facts.

At the level I watch, the referee has little to no influence on the match. Throw ins are usually a big fight for control, ditto corners and goal kicks. Calling it one way or another generally does not affect the outcome.

Thanks for your responses.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Words of wisdom, John. I would add these words of wisdom from one far smarter than I: "Referees do not influence the outcomes of games, players do." While we as referees certainly do influence matters to a degree, it is far, far less than players actions. I can't tell you how many times I've been told the penalty kick I awarded Team A caused Team B to lose. When I point out the 6-7 missed shots on goal that I remembered things usually quiet down. I agree with you that each referee is biased towards actions. I'm particularly concerned with elbows and pushes from behind. Others see every trip as a foul. If the referee is consistent and unbiased and trying to do the best he or she can do, that's all anyone should ask for. I'm sure Ref Fleischer will agree that if the participants were gentlemen and ladies, there'd be no need for referees. That said, you can agree to disagree with a referee but it should be kept to yourself.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

I can agree if you argue from the premise that breaking the law is not a bad thing unless you get caught. I will agree with your argument if it begins with "oppose authority" is a good thing. I can understand if you argue children will always sink to the level of their parents no matter how low the bar is set. What I will never agree with is wrong because you believe him so.

The referee is skilled or not skilled based on many things ,not the least of which is experience. Due to the very nature of things, testing, 18 hours of instruction, referees know more than parents or coaches not having benefit of that training. Granted some parents, coaches do KNOW and understand the Laws of the Game and The Game but, in that, they also know the referee is right, right or wrong he is right and yelling displeasure, disagreement, or anything else is simply using air that can be put to better use doing something else.

I leave those folks to baseball, American football and basketball where that behavior is expected and accepted.

I will admit to being wrong in what I say to you if 99% time you pass a speed limit sign your speedometer is equal to or less than the posted speed. I'll retract what I say if 99% of the time you come to a red and white octagonal sign your vehicle ceases all motion [stops completely] before proceeding.