Question Number: 24635

Character, Attitude and Control 3/1/2011

RE: Rec U11/U12 Under 12

Melissa Vardas of Denton, Tx USA asks...

I have coached a group of girls for a few years. I have a solid team after last season. We are technically U11, but U11/U12 are combined due to participants. After the fall season, a coach chose to leave her team. She coaches younger ages too. Her father who is extremely high up on the 'board' took over her team (his grand-daugher, ex-coach's niece plays on this team). Spring season is in play, we are the team hot on their tails play the 'team' with new coach, the HEAD referee is THE EX-Coach, Daughter and Aunt of the opposing team. (Both teams are somewhat rivals and both teams have sisters on each team).

Of course we were being beat in the first half. No calls were made against either team. Second half my girls came back full force. Hand balls were made by their team, no calls, several rough plays were made, no calls. We score, and then the penalties begin. Three within last 7-10 min of game. We were at their goal quite a bit. A slide tackle was made with ball contact by my team and penalty was called on us. First half, their team had a slide tackle with NO contact and no penalty?

My question is there rules against family Head refereeing family games? (There was another game (boys) U9 or U10 playing at same time. Should head referees switched games so that this would not be a question.

I am looking to see if I can find by-laws. I wanted to know if this has ever been an issue. I know this is rec., but I have had several complaints from parents on this.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I am sure Texas has rules prohibiting what occurred here. In Georgia we have the following guidelines:

230.1 Every team has the right to a neutral referee and assistant referees.
230.1a No referee or assistant referee shall officiate a game in which a relative is coaching or
playing unless both coaches provide their specific prior consent by signing both game cards.
(U-06 and U-08 are exempt from this rule.)
230.1b No referee or assistant referee shall officiate a game where they were a recent (within 1
year) member or coach of either team unless both coaches provide their specific prior
consent by signing both game cards.
(U-06- U-08 are exempt from this rule.)

The USSF official guideline is as follows:


should not referee in any match where there is a vested interest. ?Vested interest? is defined as when the referee or a member of the referee's family (spouse, child or parent) or that person?s team may be affected by the outcome of the proceeding or match.

The problem is perception becomes reality. What you see as unfair calls may actually have been correct decisions but since you know there are relatives involved, no power on earth is going to convince you the referees were unbiased.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Melissa
It is never a good idea for referees to officiate games where there may be a potential conflict of interest.
There is advice given to referees on these matters and assignors usually are aware of potential COIs when assigning games.
The COI can also be covered in competiton rules and referees have to pay particular attention to those rules to prevent any protest. Unfortunately it does happen at all levels which can open up the referee's decision making to questions on impartiality which is never good.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

In a competitive league affiliated with USSF this would be improper (at least, in the absent of consent by both coaches before the match).

This, however, is a recreational league. The choice for many regulation leagues faced with a shortage of referees is to use a family member or not play the match. I began in AYSO where every referee is a volunteer. It was likely that the U8 and U10 match had a referee who was a parent of someone in the current match (or the match scheduled just before or after their child's). The referee doing the U10 was often brand new and not ready for a U12 match - -switching field assignments wouldn't do.

Frankly, I hated with a passion doing my children's matches. I would much rather be the dad, cheering for my kids, than be the referee. I made lots of mistakes, but they were due to inexperience/incompetence - not bias. I suspect that if there was any bias, it was hurt my kid's teams as I was keen to remain neutral.

Ten years later, my children cannot remember the results of a single match that they played in AYSO. The trophy for participation and the medal for winning are wrapped in the same box. What they all remember is that they had fun. They also remember their coaches with fondness.