Question Number: 20261

Character, Attitude and Control 10/14/2008

RE: Open Adult

Adam of Wilmington, NC United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 20236

I don't know how follow up questions work but I'll ask this as if it's an independant question in case it isn't tagged to the previous.

I brought up the issue that officials are unapproachable and the reponses I got seemed to indicate that when approached the refs were being asked about individual calls specifically. 'Why was that a handball' 'That went out on him' etc. etc. I feel I need to clarify that when we approach an official it is about an issue that CAN be positively addressed to affect the safety of the entire match.

The most important specific problem we run into is officials standing at midfield trying to make calls up to 60 yards away. When approached we are begging the officials to actually get themselves in position to see what is happening NOT to call the game our way, but to ensure that any dangerous contact, harsh/threatening words, or other incodents are seen and heard. Fairness aside, the safety of the players is dependant on the official being in the correct position.

Our league is in a difficult position where it is very difficult to get and keep officials. Many times they are forced to officiate multiple games in 90 degree weather and it has to be extremely difficult for them. But there has to be a way to get these officials in the correct positions to see what's happening.

The problem we continue to face is that the official blows the whistle, occasionally runs to their quadrant on corners and properly watch PKs or some freekicks. Most of the open play, however, is casually watched from the center circle at a walking pace.

The approachability issue comes in when we have players catching elbows, women getting fondled, and threats flying around that the official is simply too far away to hear or see. I was arguing that our captain should be able to address this concern.

I'll conceed these points:

Some of the issues I brought up previously were probably presented as more of an arguement against a specific call rather than the overall issue of the official simply not moving into position. Specific calls probably shouldn't be bothered with.

Debate during open play is impossible but when a ball is smashed out of play and a long chase after it will ensue I think the captain should be able to come up and have a quick word.

The officials consent should be a requirement. I feel it should be granted if a player approaches the official in a respectible way at a reasonable time but I was certainly not in anyway asking the centers to accept a 'designated dissenter'. It shouldn't be dissent, in retrospect, I can understand why the officials may have percieved one of the issues I brought up as dissent, I should have approached it differently.

Here's where I'm still unclear:

I realize the captain isn't in the Laws of the game, I mentioned that it isn't a law I'm speaking to. Is it not good game management to communicate with the captain as long as the discussions are productive and non-obtrusive?

If a team pays its money and the officials are simply not doing the job they are paid to do, who should speak up? To whom should they speak to? If the officials won't listen, if the league won't listen, who could we go to? If my players are hurt it could mean their family loosing money. A couple of my players would not be able to perform their jobs with an ankel injury and could seriously effect their family's ability to bring in income. They want to enjoy the sport and this particular sport has so little representation in this country that in order to play they are subject to whatever is available in their area. If that's lazy officiating... What else can we do?

Thanks for reading and your responses.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

I too coach, occasionally play and often referee so when you witness less than stellar performances, be it true or perceived as any opinion one might draw upon, we act on our beliefs. A league is only as good as those who involve themselves to make it better. The neutrality of an official, albeit integrity intact, does not prevent mistakes from occurring.


There is no guarantee the ARs or referee will be up to the task but as we are fond of saying here, a referee or AR is a match condition that you must adapt to. You can not change either their knowledge or their eyesight to your view of the way things are to be. No matter how correct you are or perceive you are!

Most referee errors are compounded by a lack of communication! Lack of many things can contribute to the demise of a good referee performance: a lack of fitness; lack of knowledge; lack of understanding; lack of experience. These are correctable deficiencies but lack of effort is not fixable, it is a fatal character flaw for referees. Focus is not just a perceived necessity; it is the only way a referee honors the game and the players with true effort!

Better officiating is not achievable unless we provide a framework of effective monitoring and training. Only with focused efforts to dedication, quality assessing and mentoring do they have hope to become better officials.

Young aged referees or inexperienced ARs or referees of the older persuasion some who are parents never really played or are there for nothing more than fulfilling the requirements for a team to supply a referee to be allowed to play in the league at all. The players and coaches suffer the pains of learning their skills while the official's learn theirs as well.

We here at AskTheRef try to encourage all to look, act and be as professional as a paid/volunteer referee can be, and with due diligence strive for excellence instead of just mediocrity.

My suggestion, grit your teeth and reflect on the reality of making things better long term not in the immediate match. Dissent, interference and sanctions are likely the only thing that is likely to occur short term. If you record and offer input in the form of comment cards which leagues if they are proactive should make available to EVERYONE in the league. If those who THINK they see fault at least record things EVENTUALLY the amount of information collected serves a purpose if it highlights a consistent theme.

The difficulty in any given match is your immediate views are simply not going to change the reality of the decisions.

Trying to point out flaws in the midst of a highly competitive or emotionally charged match is simply in my opinion a bad idea.

Soccer associations are often full of well meaning but essentially opinioned people often with a chip on the shoulder when challenged as to their efforts being sincere since most of it is volunteer and they crave recognition or hope to be respected for their stepping in and making it possible for the league to function. It is at times a thankless task to their surprise and the burn out rate is high for some but as in all politics, some animals thrive under conflict, lord knows how or why. Egos are in play as few enjoy being held accountable if they feel under appreciated.

Effective calm, post game reviews in an comfortable stress free situation with video review and a sense of let's make things better not find fault and blame. What is essential is a willingness by ALL the participants to come together. To develop reasonable policies and procedures those effectively address concerns. To look at all sides of the equation to find that there are various aspects about each other as yet unknown. Things change because someone decides to do something about something at some time.
So perhaps you are the someone and this is the time. Good luck!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Adam, you bring up some good points. There are many areas in the world where it is hard to get enough qualified referees, so the assignor subscribes to the 'any warm body' theory. If I see a fat old man patrolling the center circle, I'm appalled. (When I see a fat old man running around to the best of his ability, I think, "Hey, another one like me!") We get questions from referees doing premier-level games that embarrass me because it is such a basic concept that I can't figure out how the referee got his badge.

Studies have shown that the number one cause of referee attrition is abuse. If you don't like the inexperienced referee you have today, yell at her a lot and you'll get a new inexperienced referee next season after she quits. I'm not saying that's the problem in your league, but it is the norm.

You also mention that your league is not responsive to your appeals. Perhaps it's time to look for a better league - again, something that isn't always available. We get a lot of questions about things that happened in tournaments, say for instance where a team with the lead deliberately wastes time and the ref allows it. The ref is only following the rules of the competition. The tournament felt it was more important to schedule games so close together that no time can be added (and, just coincidentally I'm sure, allows them to accept more money-paying teams). Well, if you don't like how a tournament is run, don't go back.

Finally, the way to get more referees, ones who could become good referees, is to encourage players to take the referee course and sign up for a few games. Referees don't just drop off of trees somewhere; they have to be nurtured from existing sources. Someone won't be passing a soccer field some day and think, 'Hey, I could be that referee.' No, the ranks of referees come from team members, coaches and family members.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

As to where to direct your complaints, start with the league assignor, and from there go to the state association. Send video tape and names. If that doesn't get what you need, you'll need to become a force in creating new referee ranks. Talk to your state director of instruction and see what can be worked out.

As Ref Voshol notes, we don't unwrap new referees off a shelf whenever needed, and we can't train them any faster than they are being run off.