Question Number: 22107

League Specific 9/29/2009

RE: Rec Under 19

Fred Valdez of Wingham, Ontario Canada asks...

Can a league convenor or other league official step in and stop a game if the players are in physical danger because the ref has lost control of the game?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Fred the issue of us trying to inform you of what a league specific organization allows through policy modification is rather difficult!
I can imagine it could incur dire consequences to take such drastic action and submit that when or if there are issues, proper monitoring assessing and training must be adhered to, agree to disagree and remember we are all on the same side which is the benefit of our youth.
The Ontario federation of school athletic association use of a convenor is a teacher registered within the school who is co-managing or co-coaching the team playing and are responsible for the conduct and ensuring the school is playing under the guidelines and policy of their OFSAA administration.
You really need to contact them to obtain the answer you seek!
I contacted them and they requested you do so immediately if there are problems of this nature!


It is a sad commentary to blame a referee as the sole reason things are out of control when you add in the conduct and attitudes of EVERYONE on the pitch and touchlines as gasoline on a fire!
If a referee is in a match where he is having control or foul recognition problems the coaches and players need to adjust as well and place some of the fault on their own conduct as it applies to fair play. It is not that a referee is doing good or bad but to remember as neutral official he gets to decide not be coerced or intimidated into doing what others think or perceive as correct. After the match you record and send in the issues as you observed but in a match it behooves all to support the referee to the extent we agree to disagree and move on.

http://www.ofsaa.on.ca/site/index.cfm
Ontario federation of school athletics associations
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Fred
Once the game has started the referee is in sole charge of the game. It would be a highly improbable situation where a League official would step in and stop a game as he would have no powers to do so. He could however walk on the field of play, disrupt the game and force the referee to abandon the game, which in effect would amount to the same thing. In that scenario the league official would want to be pretty certain that disciplinary action will not be taken against him for acting unilaterally and outside of his/her powers.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Under the laws of the game, no one has authority over the referee during the match.

In practice, however, league officials can be pretty persuasive. If the league president asked me (as referee) to stop a match for reasons of safety, I'd honor the request. Of course, that assumes I recognize the league president.

If folk barge onto the field, claiming to be league officials, and demanding anything, the referee should suspend the match until they leave the field, and terminate the match if they refused to leave. Referees have no power to make nonplayers leave; only the power to terminate the match when they do not.

I reject the premise, however, that players are in danger because of the ref. Asserting that 'the ref lost control' is like saying the police are responsible for crime. Referees have an important role in managing the game, but referees don't commit fouls or misconduct. Coaches decide which players play, and which sit on the bench. The players are responsible for controlling their emotions, and alone are responsible for what they do on the field.