Question Number: 25386

Mechanics 9/2/2011

RE: Competive High School

Randy Bell of Ann Arbor, Michigan United States of America asks...

This hasn't happen to me yet (knock on wood)
if there's a mass confrontation during play what are we as referees suppose to do? I remember hearing something like the three triangle or something like that. But I'm not sure.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Randy
The triangle you refer to is the Control Observation Triangle. It refers to the positioning of match officials in mass confrontation situations. This or variations of this should be discussed in the pre match discussion and there are different levels depending on how serious the situation becomes.
The referee will normally be first on the scene. As the referee approaches the incident, he should blast the whistle as loud as possible. This action reminds players that the referee is here and that action will be taken. It does refocus the minds of angry players and its use has been proven to quell further problems and prevent escalation.
The first official on the scene should try to position himself so as to separate the protagonists. As I said that will usually be the referee who should ensure that there is no personal danger to himself in doing this. It can be an assistant if it happens close to him.
When three or more players enter the scene and the mass confrontation escalates, the referee and the nearest Assistant Referees should now step back, seperate and observe the situation from a safe distance (10-15 yards away). The senior assistant on the technical area should try to prevent those off the FOP joining in. The task now is to observe and to make mental notes, and not to attempt separating the players by re-entering the affray. If the officials enter the affray at this stage, they will lose the wide angled observation advantage point and some of the perpetrators will be unseen.
The other assistant should simply watch all this from a distance and different angle as that of his two colleagues so that when it all settles, which it will, all three officials can confirm as to what was seen such as Red 9 punched Blue 10 and then Red 9 was struck by Blue 5, Blue 6 tried to stop the melee etc.
That's the theory behind it and it is doubtful if it can be implemented as per the advice. The important part is that the three officials each has a different view of what happened and that all VC is dealt with. Good team work and positioning will ensure that happens.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The USSF Directive can be hard to find on the web. It's here:
http://www.ussoccer.com/Referees/Resource-Center-Deactivated/Zone-3.aspx

Particularly for high school, the pregame is a great time to discuss how to handle mass confrontation.

The referee should focus on the two combatants in a fight. Starting with voice and presence, there are times when the parties separate. In that moment, the referee can usually isolate and separate them.

The nearest assistant can prevent a fight from turning into a brawl by making sure that it remains a private party between two actors - - once a third person joins the frey, everyone will. The near assistant focus should be on that third person (sometimes a third or fourth person). Use voice and presence to keep them back.

The furthest assistant has two jobs. Initially, to keep the benches from joining. (In high school, a coach or administrator likely will be doing that as well since NFHS rules provide for a termination of the match when bench personnel join a fight.) Secondarily, the furthest assistant is the record keeper - - taking color and numbers of others who commit misconduct during the incident to inform the referee when calm prevails.

Referees should not touch players during a mass confrontation, particularly kids.
Use your voice and presence, and remaini calm and professional.