Question Number: 20273

League Specific 10/15/2008

RE: Competitive High School

Dave E of Clarkston, Washington USA asks...

I had the unfortunate duty of disqualifying a coach for a second caution in a high school match (both for dissent).

What is the significance of the coach notifying the referee of the intent to appeal? Why must the referee send that information in the misconduct report?

Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The coach might be under the illusion you give a rats ass or the league requires notification of any appeal within a given time frame and by telling you and you including it in the match report it is on record.
Coaches who act irresponsibly will often reverse the blame on the referee for the same conduct in the, (I only did what I did because of what he did!) Referees are not infallable and errors or lapse in judgement do occur but unless there is blatant misapplication of law the misconduct of the high school coach MUST be sanctioned for what it is, a failure to set the RESPONSIBLE example youth sports demands .
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Our regional select league has a checkbox on the game form, 'Is this game being protested?' I've never used that box; I presume it is the coach's perogative and responsibility to mark it when he signs the sheet confirming the score and any misconduct.

Perhaps your HS Athletic Association has the requirement, as part of referee reporting duties, that the referee include a statement from a coach that the game is to be protested.

I'm not sure how a coach expects to win an appeal of a disqualification. The referee has decided his behavior is irresponsible; the referee's opinion on facts of play are final.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Some state associations require that the coach notify the referee at the game site, before leaving the field, of their intent to appeal a decision made by the referee.

All you have to do is note that in the report, so when the coach officially files the appeal, it will not be immediately rejected for failing to protests at the time of the incident.

Just include the facts of what happened in your report. Like... 'In the 15th minuted I cautioned the coach for dissent. In the 78th minute I cautioned the coach for dissent and then I disqualified him for receiving a 2nd caution in the same game...' or whatever you want to say.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The entity in charge of high school soccer here doesn't allow any protests of a referee's decisions in games. At all. I would suspect the coach wished to try and save some face and/or intimidate you with his statement.

It is totally different from the USSF version, where most associations have a means to challenge or protest a game, if they can show the referee misapplied the Laws of the Game. If the referee's decision was one of opinion, then there can be no protest.

Example: If the referee called a foul at mid-field, then marched all the players down for a penalty kick, he has misapplied the Law, and the game will be replayed. But if a referee decides a ball entered the goal, and calls a goal, that is final and not appealable, because it is an opinion.