Question Number: 18061

Character, Attitude and Control 12/4/2007

RE: select and ref. level 8 Adult

Jay Ramey of El Dorado Hills, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17863

Re: Referee not calling penalties...

I must disagree with the referees answers to this question [17863]. I as a coach and referee understand both sides of the question.

First, as a referee...we must abide by the laws of the game and do our best. Referees are not perfect.

Second, as a youth coach. I believe I have no higher priority than to ensure the safety of the players. I realize injuries happen, but if the referee (in this case) is allowing a game to get out of control to an extent where players are getting hurt, then I have a moral obligation to protect my players. If that means I must pull my team from the field, then so be it. Let the "chips fall where they may" and suspend me as a coach.

I understand the purity of the game and kids do get hurt playing the game. But in the example attached to this question, there is no excuse. I understand my responsibility as a coach and parent...those responsibilities supersedes anything a referee chooses to say.

My conscience is clear.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Jay in disagreeing with the referee's answers to this question you are, in fact, disagreeing with Law 5. Further, in disagreeing with the referee's answers to the question you disagree with them saying basically the younger a player the sooner the referee stops things. This is contradictory to good judgement.

In stating the referee has allowed the game to get out of control you miss the obvious fact, the players have lost control of what they are doing BEFORE the referee looses control of the match. This is indicative of the players not being taught how to play and the referee not being taught foul recognition; also it suggest the referee yielding to the screams of parents to "Let Them Play" Ever hear that one? Ever said it yourself?

Think just a moment, shouldn't the goal to "Let them play fairly"? Of course this is counter to other games played by children in America where it is expected that they collide with each other, for example gridiron football, the base runner and catcher as in baseball. Is it not possible the referee in question was not offered sufficient training and lacked the skill to ensure fair play and lacked the fortitude to ignore the screams of parents wanting their little Johnnie to cream the other little Johnnie? If you disagree with that you disagree with the point the third referee tried to make, training beyond the entry level is nonexistent in the city listed in the question.

Are you sure you disagree with the referee's answers??

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

As a coach, the safety of your team is paramount. If you feel a referee has allowed a youth game to get out of control to the point that the children under your authority are endangered, you should pull the team from the field. And as you note, let the chips fall where they may because there most likely will be reprecussions for you.

But you said, "First, as a referee...we must abide by the laws of the game and do our best. Referees are not perfect." The problem in this particular instance was that the referees were far from perfect, and unfortunately they were not taking advantage of any opportunities to improve so they could do their best. Ref Fleischer noted in the original answer his efforts to improve the referee corps, and the lack of interest in such improvement. As a coach, it is your duty to demand that there be sufficient referee training. As a referee, you can see whether or not such training is available and is being used. If leagues are unsatisfied with the quality of their referees, they must look for a new source, and begin to use a new referee assignor. Some league officials are content to let a bad situation continue, because to change it would require work - so maybe you need new administrators who are willing to go the extra steps.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Jay, although I didn't answer the first question, I have read the answers and am very surprised you find anything wrong with what my fellow panelists had to say. They agreed the referee in question was doing a poor job and Ref Fleischer went to great lengths to describe a deplorable situation in that area, and things he has done to try to correct the situation. No one here will disagree as to the importance of player safety. As an aside, the referee in question was not calling "fouls" although some of them may have resulted in penalty kicks if they had been called.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 18076

See Question: 18109