Question Number: 20079

League Specific 9/26/2008

RE: high school Under 17

Marie Berry of Johnson City, TN Washington asks...

during a recent local high school tournament referres consistently missed pushing, hand balls, and shirt holding fouls...it seemed to be a one sided refing game. even the coach of the other team addressed it after the game on what a shaft. however, one parent was voicterous and told the referee to open his darn (the other word was used)eyes for once. nothing else was said. the ref. asked this parent to leave the game. now i know many parents get unruly but this was a case of the ref. attempting to misuse his authority. please advise where this rule is goverened so I may look this up. Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Rules on how to deal with spectators are left to the local competition authority. In most places, the spectators are to be controlled by the coach of the respective teams. In some tournament settings, there are field marshalls who will deal with crowd control and behavior. Other local rules may give the ref direct control over fans.

In the absence of any definitive rules, the referee should not deal directly with a spectator. If the fan's behavior is getting out of line so that it is beginning to affect the game, the fan has become an outside agent - just as if he had run onto the field and kicked or grabbed the ball. The ref would tell the coaches that the game is suspended, and will not resume unless that person leaves.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

i don't know about high school but everywhere else the referee should refrain from dealing directly with a parent unless absolutely necessary. proper procedure is to go to the parent's coach and let the coach take care of it. some referees are more thin skinned than others and their abuse level of acceptance is much less. Remember that on every call half the parents think the referee got it wrong

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Generally in high school, the school itself is held partially responsible for the conduct of its fans and parents. The coaches and the team officials are expected to take a proactive role in restraining such conduct.

Sorry foul outbursts are not a proper way of showing respect for the game or the youth or others regardless of a referee's performance being sub par from their biased perspective.

Referees have good and bad performances same as any profession so I can not defend every wrong decision but as an opinion I find singling out an official as a deliberate cheater is rarely true.

The referee authority at the high school level begins 15 min. prior to start of game and ends when officials leave the field and its immediate surroundings. While the referee can show cards and caution/ send off the coaches or bench officials and can terminate the match or apply disqualification policies.

It is a dangerous condition to directly confront a spectator.

The team could try to intervene here and calm things down or request a security presence of some sort to escort an individual away who is disrupting the match. Having a thick skin helps but when ALL those who watch get on the back of the referee for whatever reason I rarely see ANY improvement in the match or in fun level. The confrontational attitudes that continually escalate do nothing to enhance the reputation or stature of the individuals who continue rude behavior or help the school they support.

Referees need mentoring training and evaluation by those who are competent to do that job. If you witness incidents or a referee who appears to have issues, then record and report to the proper authorities. If there is a problem or misapplication of law these things if highlighted by reasoned people will make things better, in the context of an overall performance in a season rather than a single disappointment in time. To join in and flay a human on the field serves no valid purpose except to satisfy the emotional need to vent at disappointment. Which, in my humble opinion, can be done in less harmful ways.

Cheers