Question Number: 29432

Mechanics 5/20/2015

RE: Adult

Andy of Burlington, Vermont USA asks...

A referee instructor at a clinic of ours yesterday recommended while teaching us game control techniques to employ what he called 'little lies' when dealing with dissenting players disagreeing with your foul line. According to him, players have a short memory and don't care about thinking of decisions that have gone in their favor previously in the game, those away from their position in particular, and that they are likely to accept an answer like 'you had a soft one 5 minutes ago over there', 'I let one go for them that was just the same' or 'the other team felt the same in the first half' ('You're making every call against us, ref!')

I feel quite uncomfortable with employing this strategy on the field for the simple reason that I don't want my game control to be based on lies. While I can absolutely see the point and it being an effective technique, I fear that it would ruin the pleasure I get from refereeing, and I am not that good at telling lies - imagine if the players realize I'm lying. My game control won't be helped by that, to say the least.

Is this a technique that is widely used, and is it one you recommend?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Andy,
can not say I am on board with it either. A referee with integrity sees what he sees. I start off every match with, I am fair not perfect! How we each interact with the players, the fact we deal with the wee ones, youth, adults, recreational, semi pro or pro, skilled, unskilled, house league to state championships, no two matches are managed exactly the same. This techniques has more to do with a suggestion than a feasible control model. As you have reiterated you are not comfortable, thus it is not something you should employ. I communicate with players of all ages and both sexes quite easily but keep the exchanges reasonable and time appropriate. I do this because it is within my nature to do so. Be it a one liner attempt at humour a gentle reminder or a simple GET OUT of my face bark.
Players and coaches appreciate effort and you being consistent in your approach, throughout the match. If you are too far from play, if you are always out of position, if you are hesitant and appear flustered they will hold you accountable for everything that goes wrong whether it is your fault or not because they can sense non confidence as a weakness,.

I can smile , be hard nosed , admit I missed something without going to pieces if taken to task by those dissenting a call. Dissent can be informative as it tells you something you could be missing. Reasonable crabbing over a decision is not something that bothers me much. Players are disappointed because they are so heavily invested emotionally in the outcomes. I tend to think players that try to rattle referees observe what irritates then tries to press those buttons.
While your decision making and your actions taken on the field of play are the source of your reputation, your reaction to their reactions adds or takes away credibility. Stay focused and find the path of your comfort zone. Watch others, listen to the exchanges, TALK to players and coaches, ask for input.

You be surprised at those who RECOGNISE your efforts on the pitch. I was doing a adult Div 3 match as a single official. The one team had no substitutes left, playing only with ten players and knew how to move up effectively to trap offside players . Midway through the second half a long ball put up the middle, tired defender's trying to work the offside trap in my opinion are a bit late and get no call. One starts to complain, the others say, shut up this referee is the best we had all year, he busted his butt to get into position to try and see the offside all match, no way we are going to get every call.

Put a smile on my face because I HAD worked hard to get back, knowing this was a key tactic to hold off the opposition's attack. AND at the beginning of the match I used, I am fair not perfect! As a single official do not think raising your hand will get you an offside call. Look where I am when the ball is played. Play the whistle. I only call what I 100% know to be true ! lol
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Never heard this strategy before, and I don't like it.

The problem with lying is what happens if you're caught out? You talk about a foul, and if the player starts screaming 'when?? When did we get a foul?' and they had nothing....well, you've just lost all credibility.

That, and lies, by their very nature, are compromising your integrity.

I also don't believe it's an effective technique. I've never tried lying, but on a number of occasions I have mentioned previous fouls that have actually occurred; ie using pretty much the same technique, but speaking truthfully instead. The player simply doesn't care, he's not interested. By all means, try it for yourself - but try it for incidents that have actually occurred. That way you get to try the technique without compromising yourself.

Personally, I don't think this is a strong technique - but different things work for different people.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
I have no doubt the instructor was well intentioned. The meaning of communication is the response you get and I suspect that the meaning was not to be deceitful or lying or unprofessional yet rather to look at communication with players as a method of match control. We are told body language counts for 55% of the total communication; tonality – 38%, and the actual words only 7%. So I'm not sure what the instructor had in mind and this technique would not be widely used or instructed. I would not agree with little lies but rather little one liners or communications that remind players about actual incidents in the game that shows consistency, fairness and consideration and delivered in a confident, calm professional manner that show that the referee is in control.
What I have used on occasions with players who are questioning a decision is a one liner such as
** It works both ways. It was a push at the other end x minutes ago and it is a push here as well** It is entirely truthful and reminds the player that you are being consistent. Or on an offside call that is debated ** It looked offside to me the same as the last tight offside call at the other end** ** Of course it is a foul. Its a foul all day long**
In general I don't think it is a good idea to engage too much with player verbally. I recall some time ago a player misinterpreting what I said and he made a big deal about it. So much so that it went on for quite a while. Had I said nothing that would have been the end of it. Anyway it reminded of me what I should not be doing. Also in a recent game I asked a player to be more careful after contact on a challenge that was no a foul. He and his coach got very annoyed about this on something that as they felt as it was not a foul should have been ignored and in hindsight I was sorry I said anything. My effort to be helpful was rebutted and I would have been better to have dealt with any subsequent action by the player rather than trying to head it off. So do not engage too much with players as the circumstances does not allow for lengthy debate / discussion and the player/s are not listening too much anyway
Now what I tell referees to do is bring their personality to the game not anyone elses. Yes there can be little techniques that can help referees and most are not personality based. For example if the referee does not want to encourage dissent then if possible move away quickly to the new restart position. If a player is say questioning a goal kick decision and all he sees is the back of the referee sprinting some 30/40 yards to half way he is less inclined to get involved. Hang around close to him and he is likely to give his opinion.
So do what is comfortable for yourself, meets your personality and gives you the most pleasure. If you are not comfortable with one liners to player then don't do it. Personally I think referees can easily say. ** Settle down 8 ** ** Walk away 5** ** NO MORE**.
Experience is a great teacher and learn what works well for YOU in game control. It might not work well for anyone else. I have been with referees who are extremely loud, aggressive and rule with an iron fist, a sort of a drill sergeant approach. That's not my style. I might pick out something from him that I can learn such as positioning or something that I think that will work for me.
I have been with referees who are extremely quite and placid. I try to get somewhere in the middle that suits me and thankfully it has worked for me.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

For the most part I agree with the instructors idea that players have a short term memory on fouls that went there way. I do not however like his technique and am not convinced that it should be taught to anyone - especially inexperienced referees. I believe that a much better strategy is to just talk to the players and use phrases like 'great play' or 'you were both going at each other a little there' or 'nothing there' or 'no foul' or 'play clean' etc. I find that is a much more effective way to manage players. Sometimes if you talk too much that can get you in trouble too. I have had players tell me things like 'then call it' or 'blow your whistle then' etc. It is up to you on how you want to manage then game using your personality. As you move up and improve your skills, you will want to use your personality more and more as a way to control the game.