Question Number: 27356

Law 5 - The Referee 4/25/2013

RE: Competitive (Semi-professional) Adult

MM of Chicago, IL United States asks...

Mr. Ref,

First of all thank you for your site and for taking questions from people. It is an unbelieveable resource to have.

So, my question is not about game play, but more about the off-court interaction that happens between refs and players or coaches. I am specifically interested in tournaments, when you have a well organized structure and people running other aspects of the tournament.

In your experience, what is the best way to deal with criticism or 'feedback' from the players or coaches before and after games? Would you recommend complete isolation, where the tournament director has to deal with that, leaving the refs out of it, or would you say that it is better to have the refs deal with the communication directly?

Thank you so much!! I look forward to your answer.

MM

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
In the heat of 'tournament' it is best for referees not to engage with players and coaches. Immediately after the game it is best to ask players / coaches to walk away when they are intent on criticism. Ongoing debate /comments can be made that can result in misconduct which the referee is then obliged to deal with. If someone is intent on an explanation I tell them that I will give that when matters have calmed down say after 20/30 minutes.
Also some referees think that by engaging with players / coaches for feedback can help change their opinion. That rarely happens. I know some managers who I have met outside of the game some days later and their opinion is rarely changed even after an explanation.
So referee will never win a popularity contest among players or managers particularly after a loss. The referee makes decisions based on what he sees from his unique viewpoint. That is and will be at odds with someone who sees it differently and who is biased. The only feedback or opinion that counts is that of an observer whose role it is to evaluate fairly and without bias. By all means try to interpret what is being said and perhaps seek opinion from colleagues or a trusted advisor on the 'feedback'. If there is a 'trend' perhaps seek out a 'mentor' to help improve performances. Look at other experienced senior referee performances to 'see' how they handle games. It is a learning journey and the best tutors are those that know refereeing not those with bias or who wish to influence referees in their favour.
If the team has a gripe then they should convey it to the appropriate authority such as the tournament director. The director may explain some point in law or if possible may even have first hand knowledge of the gripe.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Direct intervention seldom produces good results. After all, both sides think they were right: the referee or else he would have made another call, and the coach or else she would not be complaining.

Referees should 'hear but not hear' criticism during and after games. During, the ref should pay some attention to what is being said, because maybe she's missing something or maybe she misread the players' expectations for what is and isn't a foul that day at that level. But she shouldn't necessarily respond to what was said, especially verbal responses.

Sometimes after the game a player, coach or spectator can engage in a friendly conversation to clarify some point of what was or wasn't called. There may be some confusion on what the Laws of the Game state or how they are interpreted that can be cleared up. But at a tournament this may not be possible, because of the tight scheduling. Refs only may have a couple minutes to themselves before the next game, and they have to decompress and relax for those few seconds.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

During the game no referee should engage players or coaches other than with a brief nod or quick statement like 'I'm not discussing this now'.
If approached respectfully and calmly after a game, most of us are happy to explain any decision we made during the game. If approached by a screaming or yelling and abusive coach or player, things are not going to end well.

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