Question Number: 23891

League Specific 9/9/2010

RE: Under 17

donna of syosset, ny usa asks...

Where do public schools on long island get their referees from. It seems like the level of aggressive play is high and typically not controlled. Is there someone I can contact. Donna

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I would suggest contacting your school athletic director.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

For school sports, the most effective contact for parents is at your own school. The athletic director will be able to investigate any issues with the coaches and with then address them with the league and with the referee association(s). While a letter from a parent may be enough, a letter from an athletic director WILL be investigated.

While every community is unique, it is common for the league/conference to work with a local referee association that trains and assesses the referees it assigns to various schools. In other areas, the home school works with an assignor who selects referees for each match. The badge worn by the referee likely will indicate if there is a local or state referee association involved.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Donna
Referees come from a wide cross section of community. Some will be have zero tolerance to aggressive play while others may see it as 'physical' rather than aggressive. I would be surprised that the total referee group will allow uncontrolled aggressive play. In our own Leagues there are a number of referees, who played the game at the highest level, who accept 'strong' challenges as they have become accustomed to that. However when it moves into the serious foul play or the use of excessive force they are as opposed to that as every other referee.
Also the teams themselves have a responsibility in this matter. No matter how strong the referee is, he/she can be relatively ineffective in match control if both teams do not want to play in a controlled manner. The ultimate sanction is a dismissal and a referee that say dismisses a large number of players in a game may not be supported by the school teams in his decisions.
Coaches have an important part to play in this matter and what gets coached is played out on the field of play.
So I suggest starting with the coaches to get their views. If the behaviour is not shown in the game the referee does not have to deal with it.