Question Number: 22755

Law 5 - The Referee 1/24/2010

RE: Grade 7 High School

Dan Sheppard of Brea, CA USA asks...

Can a high school referee caution a coach because of spectator activity?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Spectators are the job of the administrator on duty. Stop the game, and have them attend to it.

If there is no administrator on duty, then the coach of the home team is responsible for the spectators. If the home coach does not do his/her job, and the referee is of the opinion the game cannot continue due to the outside interference, then the game is abandoned, and a report is filed.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

NFHS rules do not call for a caution to the coach for spectator activity. Instead, the referee may ask the home school's administrators to address the spectator issue or to suspend play or terminate the game if the spectator conduct continues.

Answer provided by Referee Tom Stagliano

Referee Sheppard

Referees Maloney and Wickham are correct. Let me expand upon this subject.

In no level of soccer, per the published laws or rules (FIFA, NCAA, or NFHS) does the referee have the authority, nor should the referee have the authority to caution or 'book' a coach due to the actions of Spectators.

However, local youth leagues in the USA (the town leagues that control the fields), in a means to establish a level of sportsmanship and to encourage the parents to watch the game and not scream and yell, have asked the referees to hold the coaches responsible for the actions of Their spectators (home team for their spectators and visiting team for their spectators). Usually a quiet word with the coach will get some action. But in these cases it does behoove the referee to work on their People and Game management skills.

Once a referee advances to working high school sub-varsity (including middle school), varsity, college games and open division adult amateur, the referee has no authority to caution or book a coach or team official for the actions of the spectators.

However, the referee does have the responsibility to try and protect the safety of all of the players and the referee team. If the actions of the spectators appear to threaten any of the players, substitutes, bench personnel or any of the refereeing team, the game should be halted and the people responsible for the security of the field and its environs should be asked to take care of the problem.

Given that, a calm and professional demeanor of a referee can go a long way to preserve calm at a public park with a bunch of rowdy spectators that are there with one of the teams. The team will usually control their spectators. However, if you find yourself at a public park and bunch of drunk and rowdy people not associated with the game are bothering the game, don't ask any of the teams to deal with it other than to call the local police and await their arrival.

Enjoy the high school subvarsity soccer, it is a lot of fun, even with the vociferous fans.

As several famous officials have said: 'I love it when they Boo...'

- Stag