Question Number: 28020

Law 5 - The Referee 11/20/2013

RE: Rec Under 12

Nikolas Fantocone of Fontana, CA USA asks...

Is it right to send off a coach/parent for arguing a call. If so, then after how much arguing?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Coaches can be dismissed for not behaving in a responsible manner. When dealing with dissent from coaches, refs are instructed to follow Ask...Tell...Dismiss:
-- Ask the coach to behave responsibly
-- Next time, tell the coach to behave, and that his behavior will be reported
-- And if there's a next time, dismiss the coach.

For infractions more severe than simple dissent - for example, abusive language or threats - the coach can be dismissed directly, without going through Ask and Tell.

Spectators cannot be dismissed by a referee, unless your local competition rules give that responsibility. Instead, the referee can suspend or abandon the game for outside interference, which includes parents' bad behavior. The ref stops the game, and tells the coach that it will not resume until the person or persons leave. If the coach cannot or will not get the parent(s) to leave, you abandon the game and report it to the league authorities. You should also inform your ref assignor and your local ref association.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Nikolas
If every coach /parent that argued a call was to be removed there would be no one left at games.
I tend to deal with this in the same way as on the field of play. If the coach simply disputes a call and it is left at that then no action is required. However once the behaviour continues with an effect on the game then the referee should warn that the behaviour will not be tolerated. That is akin to a warning / caution with no card shown. Continued irresponsible behaviour will require that the person is asked to leave which is the dismissal part. In respect of a parent / spectator the responsibility to deal with the person rests with the home club.
How much arguing / dissent depends on your personal tolerance levels. I have a pretty high tolerance level but once it gets personal or abusive I have zero tolerance for that. The game can be passionate at time and some coaches get carried away. Discerning between being abusive and dissenting can be learned and managed properly.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Coaches are required to behave responsibly, and should be dismissed if they cannot. The recommended approach is a three step process. (a) Ask. Quietly ask the coach to correct his behavior. (b) Warn. Formally inform the coach that her conduct is irresponsible and that the coach will be dismissed if it continues. (c) Dismiss. Inform the coach that he has been dismissed and that must leave. Sometimes the conduct is so egregious that the coach should be dismissed immediately. (e.g., the coach strikes an opposing player). Coaches

My experience is that most coaches will respond to the first or second steps.

Spectators present a different issue. The issue usually is whether the spectator's actions are affecting the match. (An idiot in the stands arguing every call should be ignored. Someone shouting next to the assistant referee's ear cannot.) If they are interfering with the match, the referee should suspend the match until the person leaves. If the person refuses to leave, the match should be abandoned.