Question Number: 26388

Law 5 - The Referee 5/26/2012

RE: Rec Adult

Steve of Perth, WA Australia asks...

I became a referee late in life (53). I have refereeing for about eight months now and am just starting to get the hang of it. I usually take adult ladies games, which I find much easier as they try on the whole to play fairly and not 'con' the referee. But this itself can lead to problems. A few times I have given calls for throw ins or goal kicks, only to have one of the ladies of the team I had just given it to, tell me that the ball actually came off her and that it ought to go to the opposition. While this has always been in cases where I was doubtful anyway (I have never changed my mind on something I was sure of) and I have smilingly thanked her for being sporting and changed the call: I do wonder if this is the best thing to do...does it undermine my authority and should I stick with what I decided at first?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steve
If you are unsure and the player is genuine then there is no reason why you should not change your decision based on the sporting gesture of the player. The only part that I would caution on is perhaps it can be done to 'undermine' your decision making showing you to be wrong. That can only be determined by you based on the nature of the game and the spirit in which it is being played in.
Also I have seen players think that the ball did not touch them when in fact it clearly did or vice versa.
Unfortunately it is a reasonable rare event and something that referees don't have to worry too much about. The more common situation is dealing with dissent from those that believe the referee has made the wrong decision.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

When a player 'tells on herself' and there is no reason not to believe her, then take her at her word and change the call. If you don't, you'll look like an unbearable hardass.

For 2 years I did primarily U19 Athena games and I can tell you ladies can be even more ruthless than their male counterparts. In fact, since they are not so blatant, they have to be watched by the entire referee crew.

I'm sure you saw the you tube video of Elizabeth Lambert that went viral a few years ago. I find testosterone laden boys easier to deal with as they usually go ahead and get it over with. Girls may wait a half or more to get even.

You are fooling yourself if you think nothing is going on behind your back so be sure to instruct your ARs to watch carefully what you can't see

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Players (of all ages and genders) appreciate a referee who is willing to admit making a mistake and changing it to the right call. Once, perhaps twice in a match. Beyond that, the players will believe that you can be swayed by complaints, and you will then get lots of them.