Question Number: 17804

Character, Attitude and Control 11/9/2007

RE: Recreational Under 9

Erin Consorti of Santa Maria , CA USA asks...

We have some very dedicated entry level refs who are coming out to ref our games. I am all for there learning enviroment and helping them to become better referees. We are having a problem with a lack of confidence regarding their calls. They will often times make a call, and they lack to confidence to explain to our under eight girls what the call is. I would like to know how you would go about helping these kids to gain the confidence that they need to excel. Whether their calls are right or wrong, they need to be able to direct the game so it flow correctly. Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

You're right, a referee does need confidence. If you *look* like you know what you're doing, that's half the battle sometimes.

The only way for a referee to gain confidence is for her to be able to practice her craft at a level where the mistakes don't matter - for example, at U8 soccer. The players make plenty of mistakes and hopefully learn from them; the referee should be given the same opportunity. Unfortunately far too often, referees are expected to begin at perfection and steadily improve from there.

The new refs must have a game atmosphere of respect and calmness. As a coach, do all you can to convince your fellow coaches and all the parents that yelling at a referee is not the way to make them improve. That's the way to make them quit. If you allow the refs to grow in their abilities along with your teams, you will be pleasantly surprised at how good the refs are when your team is playing U12 or U15. But if the refs quit from abuse, you will continually get new referees every year, and when the team gets to the upper levels there won't be an experienced referee corps to serve them.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

I would only add that a referee isn't required to explain their calls, so don't expect that, please. Especially for new referees - they may "know" something wasn't right, and correctly call an offense, but because their terminology is still brand new, they may not know exactly how to explain it. Asking them to do so will only underline their lack of confidence. I would suggest asking your referee assignor to come and watch and/or send a seasoned referee or assessor to watch the new guys and provide useful feedback they are more likely to listen to and learn from.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Football referee is the only profession where someone just entering it is expected to be perfect and steadily improve there after. Expectations aside, it takes a very long time to develop the skills necessary effectively manage a Football match. Granted teaching some things is expected from referees but aren't coaches better suited to do this because they are with the children for hours instead of the minutes a referee is present. Again coaches teaching is an oxymoron to some degree but I'm sure some actually know a lot more than it sounds like when they scream and plead their cases.

Regards,