Question Number: 18906

Character, Attitude and Control 4/28/2008

RE: Rec/Competitive Adult

J Stanovcic of Kanas City, Missouri USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 18123

If a refere belittles players with hurtful comments based on their appearance, stature (height/weight) or play, and does so continually over the course of several seasons, what sort of recourse do the players have to suspend this referee's license or sanction him in any sort of way? It is scary to think that someone like that could referee youth games and I would like to know what does it take for ref's license not to be renewed.

Thanks very much!

J Stanovcic

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The players and coaches have no abilities to choose their referees or affect the certification status of referees. They certainly should complain about demeaning remarks made by the referee to the proper authorities. Your league or the local referee association would be the place to start. If a league gets enough complaints about a particular ref, they could ask the assignor not to send that referee to their league anymore. If the assignor continues to send sub-standard or abusive referees to youth games, the league should look for a new assignor. If no remedy can be found at the local level, the State Referee Administrator or State Youth Referee Adminstrator (if the state has one) would be the next place to appeal.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

If a referee has no integrity and by their actions it becomes apparant they do not have the best interest of the players at heart a monitored and recorded submission by those so affected are best submitted to league authorities at each incident. Now it could be a percieved problem or actual problem but the fact is only if it is addressed properly is there opportunity to correct it. Whether the insensitive referee understands what he has done can no longer be tolerated and changed or whether to remove a bad apple from the barrel is neccessary is reflected on how any association has in place proceedures of grievance and how good and fair those actions are set in motion.

I have watched overbearing parents and coaches and even other players do much the same as you describe this referee is doing and yes it is and always will be a pathetic display of human indignity

It is UNACCEPTABLE for ANY referee in fact ANYONE to verbally or physically embarass or seek to upset players with unneccessary words or actions as you have described. Yes referees can and do say things that will upset players in the NORMAL performance of thier duties . Just by demanding a team actually follow substitution proceedures or showing yellow and red cards or administered a verbal tongue lashing to players who become upset or even burst into tears and stood accused of being heartless, ruthless or over reacting. Any referee brought forward to a review action is entitled to defend themselves and state their side of the story. Here video and documention by those affected could be submitted as evidence.

I suggest a preseason meeting to discuss codes of conduct where all parties are in attendance to answer and suggest ways to make the season work well when conflict arises. Policy only works if those who stand behind it understand why it is neccessary! Referees, coaches parents managers administration officials must always be on the same side even if we have to agree to disagree once in a while for the benifit of our youth.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

A referee with so little common sense and lack of professionalism needs to be gotten rid of. Occurrences such as you itemize must be documented (video with audio would be wonderful!) and presented to the local Leagues referee assignor and board. Another letter should be sent to the state youth soccer association which you can find online. Also send one to whomever is listed in the referee section online. Do this quickly if this guy has been allowed to act like this for 2 years!!