Question Number: 30865

Law 5 - The Referee 10/6/2016

RE: Intermediate Under 14

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 30858

I usually ignore the spectators & coach complaints. However, as a center referee, I won't let them abuse my ARs, especially when they are youth ARs.

But as an AR, I'm unsure how far to let it go when they are complaining about the referee. I've heard things like 'he must like the other team...he's always calling fouls in their favor' or similar. When a coach says that, it gets the parents to join in.

How would you handle that? With an experienced ref who didn't hear that, would you call him over? And with an inexperienced ref, how would you handle it?

(I have responded to the coach, as an AR, 'how many parents from your team have volunteered to referee?')

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
I have done games with large crowds both as a referee and behind me as an AR. The shouting and abuse at times can be hard to take yet the best approach is to ignore it all and blank it if one can. Some matters cannot be ignored such as racial abuse and must be dealt with. As an AR I watch the field of play and do my best to blank out the shouting from behind. At times it can be hard to take and if I am running out towards half way at a leisurely pace it is difficult not to make eye contact with the offender/s.
For me the only persons that I focus on is the technical area personnel as once the abuse there gets unacceptable the referee can remove the offenders.
Some teams position *shouters* behind the fence line to do the shouting in favour of the team with the express intention of absolving the technical staff from any action that the referee may take for abuse that would result in the coach etc being removed. It can be hard to ignore yet total blanking can be the best medicine as reacting can be a reward.
At underage and with young ARs once the shouting gets abusive and insulting then it is time to speak with the home team. If it cannot be resolved then the game ends. I abandoned one underage game a few years ago due to aggressive behaviour from the coach. If he was removed there was not enough responsible adults present to look after the team so I just said the game was over. I let the league deal with it and it sent out a message that the behaviour was unacceptable and it had consequences.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Phil,
First off kudos, you are 100% spot on, no CR worth his salt would stand for ANY abuse directed towards his ARS, ESPECIALLY, youth or inexperienced ARs. IN fact, at the start of EVERY match, I point this out in no uncertain terms to the two teams.
While it is in fact a trial of fire by sorts when individuals choose or are forced into a referee uniform. Their ability to deal with abuse is in fact the deciding factor whether they 'weather the storm' as part of the character and develop the thick skin you require to do it effectively.
You can as you surmised ignore a GREAT deal of useless chatter but there are LIMITS! Each of us must expound those limits as uniformly as we can. Safety can NEVER be compromised. NO RACIAL or BIGOTRY taunts are acceptable.! NO foul or abusive tirades directed personally at the officials. Those who do should be held accountable and it is a poor soccer community or organization that does not follow through or have bylaws dealing with such issues.

As AR you can certainly inform the CR in case he is out of earshot. I certainly recommend using the captains to deal with on field players if they are reacting and with coaches to deal with the technical area and supports particularly the parents or relatives of the kids themselves.

I have as AR spoken directly to supports along the edge of touchlines who were harassing the opposing players. Usually in a, SERIOUSLY you think that is a wise course of action? OF course when I am acting as a referee coordinator for tournaments. it was an easy fix as I wryly pointed out if they chose not to desist they would be removed from the fields and not permitted to watch. Most ARs do not have such power , best to bring it to the CR attention when there is a safety concern. It is a big step to abandon for aggressive or foolish behaviour but when those who decide to step over the line and affect the play there MUST be consequences, they need to be held accountable.

When you ask how to handle an unpleasant situation it is the age old conflict resolution syndrome. Is it better to deal with the problem as it is a critical match incident or ignore it and not let it become a bigger problem of critical mass and thus unstoppable.

An experienced CR should advise his ARs about what to do if they are hearing or seeing things he might be missing. As AR in the pregame ASK about how the CR wants you to deal with the technical area or events unseen? I use about 3 subtle hand signals, a thumbs up all good, a finger wave come here lets talk or a throat grab. If the CR is inexperienced and say is allowing too much where you can see the game unravelling I use a grab the throat gesture, this means get a grip, the game is moving away from you, tighten up ,watch the close in pushing and pulling, why are no cards being shown. etc ? This of course is in conjuncture along with the usual thumbs up and eye contact that I try to ensure even if the CR is not yet fixated on this important communicative procedure.

I might even yell out in a dead ball situation, 'Hey Phil can we talk!', if I felt it was critical or use the flag to get play stopped, but that is a big deal. If I can just get the CR attention and wave him over so much the better. Prying eyes and big ears flap about when you do one on ones, so be careful. I also tap back and front pockets when dealing with card colour or a step into or off the field for in or out.

New CRs are often not yet into the eye contact and thumbs up before every restart so it is important to try and teach that as the main communicative method to avoid mistakes or ignoring ongoing issues. We do not want to undercut the CR authority as AR but to some extent that is dependant on how confident and authoritarian the CR is in relation to their experience. If you are mentoring the CR while being AR pregame communication is vital. If you are simply following the CRs lead then again establish that in the pregame as to their preference.

Often we get plenty of mail from CRs who moan how ARs overstep and ARS how CRS ignore their input. Effective communication, egos checked at the locker room, safety, fun and the games and players best interests before all.
Meet for coffee, beers or drinks and discuss. Only by effective mentoring, training, monitoring, talking, comparison and evaluation can we hope to do what needs to be done when it needs to be.
Cheers