Question Number: 18176

Character, Attitude and Control 12/27/2007

RE: Select and Comp Other

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

This question is a follow up to question 18117

I would just like to make a comment regarding Keith Contarino's answer:

I think Keith hit upon a major issue. Players are pushing the bounds of fair play. but this comes from on high. Watching professional games and allowing fouls because it makes good t.v., then the kids think they can get away with it as well. i.e. the play in Denver (I think it was Denver)

Recently, in the NCAA championship, there was a high kick that kicked a defender in the face... stitches, blood and all (metal cleats as well). The player barley received a yellow card (just watching the ref, it was only the fact the player was bleeding did a card come out).

As we as refs, board members, players, coaches and parents allow the bounds to be pushed back, more opportunities for problems will develop as "we lose some of the good ones."

This is not just a soccer problem, it is a little league, softball, football...youth sports problem.

We have a coaching director, and he hates to admit it (he is really good with the kids and coaches and we are lucky to have him) but, he has to teach the kids some "pushing the bounds" due to other teams doing it...he does this to show how to defend themselves. He is also a coach...his kids do it...they are pulled ASAP.

Escalating of parents on the sidelines and "youthful" refs have a hard time dealing. There must be a continuing education program for refs. Yellow and red cards must not be afraid to be used, and we must find a way to quit losing the good ones. Maybe, just maybe then we can take this game back and have it played the way it should be...with good sportsmanship.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Jay you're right, Keith has a good idea where the problem lies. But it doesn't come from on high it comes from the referee that day and the referee on the matches that player or players have seen in their playing careers. That referee has conditioned the player his rough and foul play is perfectly acceptable because it is in the professional leagues. It is not.

In the professional leagues referees have thousands of matches, except In America where there can be a referee on the match with less than 1000 matches because of what is called the "Fast Track Program". Regardless how many matches the referee has to his credit on a professional match he is usually more accepting in what the players seem to expect in the way of "Fair Play". Because of this and the lack of training for the Saturday afternoon bunch those referees, instead of doing what they are supposed to do, try to emulate the referees they see on TV. This is just like the players find themselves doing because coaches teach what they see on TV!

What we have is a whole bunch of unskilled folks trying to do what the professionals do, it doesn't work. Then enter the screaming parents who what to see the crushing tackle as long as it is their offspring doing it. When their little darling is in the least bit "done to" they scream for a whistle.

The new guy referee doesn't have a chance to develop his skills before he just quits. Then you have to start again, a new guy referee trying to figure out what to do and doing wrong in the eyes of players, coaches and spectators with no support from those needing him the most -- the club board of directors who, without referees, can have no lofty perches from which to gain a modicum of prestige and soothe egos.

Last month we offered training in the event none was available to your club through normal channels, we await your board's decision...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

In the reality of football or life in general, there will be those who will see only what they want to see allowing nothing that could change that perception to influence their thoughts! These individuals fail to grasp that humanities greatest assets or strength often comes only when things are at their worst! Thus the best is tarnished by the deeds of those who lack the willingness to see beyond their own tiny bubbles of expectations, hopelessly mired in limitations of both spirit and truth. Great things and great deeds do arise amid the dark and turbulent destructive attitudes of the fanatical or obtuse. Just as when clouds cover the sun some will know that light still shines and can appreciate a break from the spotlight. Others will only see a cloudy day!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Chuck makes an excellent point. Too many of us see referees allowing a tremendous amount of pulling and pushing at the pro level on television and subsequently allow the same or similar on a U14 rec game! The most difficult thing for a youth referee to learn is to how to watch the players and THEN decide how much contact is allowed. What is considered Fair Play at the U19 Select level is vastly different than that at the U14 Rec (or Select for that matter) level. Some referees don't even try and call nothing or everything not really doing the game a service. Others call all levels of play exactly the same. All that said, when it comes to things like enforcing the 10 yard requirement on free kicks, I really wish the professional referees would do as FIFA has instructed us to do over and over and start cautioning those that don't drop back. I get tired of watching high level soccer and seeing an opponent set himself up 3-4 yards from the ball.