Question Number: 18244

Mechanics 1/14/2008

RE: Competitive

scott of phoenix, az usa asks...

Could you detail the duties of the head referee after the game has ended? As in, when is the technical end of the game, when are the duties of the referee over?
If the coach is not present after the game and a parent confronts a referee - can the coach still be held responsible for the parent's actions? If yes, please detail?
What responsibility or duty does the referee have after the whistle has blown to end the game to remain on the field until both teams have left the field? Are there any suggestions, if not written, to this situation?
Since the referee controls the player passes, when does the coach have the right to retrieve the player passes from a referee? Does the referee have the right to hold all the passes after a game has ended? If they do, at what point are the passes to be handed back to the coach? In regards to this question, assume there have been no cards or diplomacy actions or situations during the game that would require the referee to hold anyone any particular player pass, by either team?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The referee and his assistant referees shall meet after the game and supervise the walking off the field of the teams. The referee may leave once all competitive activities have ended. The referee must submit a match report to the league detailing all major events. Referee can report parents actions and then the league takes action. During the game, the referee can stop the match and request the coaches deal with the parents. If not, then the referee can terminate the match. Typically passes are kept by the referee until after the match has ended. Then the referee hands passes back to the coach. Some leagues require referees to send the passes into the league if a player was red carded. In this case, that pass is kept by the referee.