Question Number: 18120

Character, Attitude and Control 12/12/2007

Gil Acedo of Pasadena, CA USA asks...

I read with great interest the thread of e-mails (#17863, 18061, 18076, 18109) discussing the referee who refused to call any fouls in the U9 game.

The coach mentioned that he attempted to discuss it with the ref post-game, and I am sure it was in the same calm, polite manner that coaches always approach referees with when they disagree with something the referee did/did not do. And I am sure that the referee was eager to accomodate the request for a dialogue because the coach exemplified outstanding good sportsmanship during the game and never once crticized the referee's actions during the match, and I am positive that the coach posed polite questions to the referee and quietly waited for the referee's responses.

Yeah, sure.

The worst time to ask a referee for explanations (if there ever is a good time) is directly after the match when tempers and emotions are still running hot. Besides, a coach is not entitled to any explanations before, during or after a match. It just doesn't work.

I would like to make 2 points here. First, one of the persons in the thread mentioned that the youth games in Houston, TX were turning violent and the refs were not handling it correctly. I have a question for him: WHAT ARE THE COACHES DOING??? Why aren't they teaching the players to conduct themselves in a sporting manner. Asking the referees to deal with this bad behavior is the same as parents expecting the police to teach their children the difference between right and wrong. It gets done, but nobody likes it. Step up coaches. Players under your tutelage when all is said and done should leave your team as better persons, not just better players.

Secondly, someone mentioned that this referee was on that game because there simply was no one else to put on that match. Why? Where have all the good refs gone?

Referee retention is probably the biggest headache of referee adminstrators and spectators, coaches and even players, who all feel it is their God-given right to yell at refs, have no idea that the blame lies right at their feet. Their refs are bad because there is no time to train a volunteer to become a good referee before they throw their hands up and say, "Why should I subject myself to this abuse?", and chuck their whistles in the garbage. Referees are inexperienced but leave our ranks before they become competent.

Coaches and spectators, this is a situation that will never correct itself as long as referee abuse continues. If you are looking for better results, then respect is the word, for the referees, and the game.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Gil

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Gil,
we appreciate your support and know you work hard at trying to make the game better!
Perception and frustration are two sides of the same coin. It is only those who understand this that convey integrity or a belief of well intended rightousness. Obligations of a higher calling, the welfare of those entrusted to our care is a noble virtue but as in any undertaking those who live in glass houses should not be chucking stones at the officials only to forget they too infect as well affect the outcome of choices those on the pitch DECIDE to make! Forget pointing a finger of blame, fix the problem by working with those who are TRULY interested in doing so! Those here can lay claim to that intention and back up it with actions and advice to those who wish the same. Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

A concern in my area would be that most U9 games are reffed by youths. There are too many youth refs who unfortunately have fallen into a trap, where they find that it is easier to not blow the whistle and let it go than it is to take the heat for calling a foul. This gets reinforced whenever a coach or parents object. And attempting to talk to these refs following the game makes them even more scared of doing "something wrong" in the future.

If all coaches would not allow their teams to get away with dirty play, there wouldn't be a problem. Oh wait a minute, I think that's how the game was run more than a century ago - players didn't foul their opponents, and if they did by mistake they called it on themselves. Then bias crept in, and we had to have someone to "refer to" when there was a difference of opinion - enter the referee. Still, we can hope for higher standards, right?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Gil, as a long time reader and poser of questions you should have come to the conclusion that we espouse teaching referees how to conduct a match. We prefer a referee start out by blowing everything he sees that looks funny. The reason for that is he starts blowing the whistle and it becomes part of his game. He can always stop blowing when he realises what he sees is not foul play or he can play off an advantage if blowing will do as a foul player wanted to do but was not skilled enough to do for himself. The converse is not true, once a referee finds not blowing is easy he is stuck there for the rest of his time associated with The Game.

Just look around at your local guys. The ones who allow "lots of play" do so because that is how they learned. The ones who trust the players to play within specific parameters after "setting the tone" do so because they learned that way as well. Funny thing, a "tone setter" can always blow some foul play and cool off miniature mayhem or air out his plastic bits to settle arguments before the blood is flowing. The "lots of play" guy usually has the fights or injuries just slightly before the players realise they have to calm themselves. Funny thing, that...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hello again Gil and thanks for your input. I agree that referee abuse must stop. However, I also feel that young referees are being put on games with little training and support. Locally, we went to small sided soccer a few seasons ago. This means at U 10 we only have a center referee. U10 was the one place we had to train young referees. This is the age group I started with and used to spend time as an AR with a young center. Now, we have young referees working their first center with not only no supervision but no ARs much less an experienced one. The young referees get intimidated by parents and coaches and first thing you know, they're calling nothing in the hopes of not receiving more abuse. It's a mess. The system is set up so where we need experienced referees on young games, we get just the opposite.

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

See Question: 18170