Question Number: 17999

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/25/2007

RE: Competive Under 15

Joel of Fallbrook, California USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17992

[Reference 17992]
well how is that you talk to refs because i went up to a ref during a game after calling a foul even though a foul never exsisted and gave me a yellow card. besides i couldnt even go talk to the ref that game because the other coach got mad cause we beat and wouldnt sign the game card and they were busy taking care of that and the screaming between our fans and their poor sports

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Joel, no one said talk to the referee. What was said was talk to the assignor. Just reading your comments regarding nit signing the game card, mad coaches, who won, screaming fans and poor sports it would seem you have more problems that just referees. You need to know Football is a game. Your fans need to know that. Your coaches need to know that.

To your statement "even though a foul never existed". The referee whistled and pointed for a free kick opposite you. That makes whatever you or your team mate did foul play and because the referee had that opinion then whatever he said happened actually happened. Retire the required distance and get on with the match and keep your mouth shut. The match is better with your silence.

Now if you feel you know more than the referee take his job. Qualify as referee and join the club. So, are you part of the solution or part of the problem...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Joel,
Did you ever wonder about why the words *FAIR PLAY* are the centre piece for FIFA in the world sport of FOOTBALL?
It is time to agree to disagree DURING a match and continue. It is not, lets take 5 and discuss this situation that you got wrong or I perceive you are wrong or I am wrong.
Imagine at EVERY shot you miss or pass that goes astray I say to you Joel what are you doing? Why are you playing so bad? That is so wrong! That stinks! You should do this or you should do that.

To some extent that is what a referee could endure the entire match. I tell you straight up even if a referee is in too deep or flounders amid uncertainty it is still yours and others to act responsibly and remember what fair play actually means. Obviously they were few enough at this match who acted responsibly and adhered to fair play principles, correct?
BE the example! Tough break lads lets get on with it!
SET the example! No arguing, no abuse, no trying to get gamesmanship points by stalling or venting. Get ready to play. Calm down those who are not cool and liable to do the things that could get them or your team into trouble
The referee makes a decision to stop play or let play continue, we could disagree but it is his match, his decision, his reputation.. Whether he is correct, partially correct or completely wrong,. Whether the referee is beyond his skill level or simply missed the call or saw it different then you, YOU respond by playing the game and adapting.

Write down and record the issues as you see and feel them. Turn them into the league. ALL leagues and associations should have seminars and get together to discuss and sort out issues without malice or a need to simply vent! A point raised in question can be answered intelligently and with a degree of lets co-operate to make the game better because we must STILL be on the same side even if we agree to disagree for the good of the game and the benefit and safety of our youth!

I will not say you are correct in your perception of the events. I was not there, did not see it! You could have a valid observation the referee/crew needs some assistance. The fact you choose to react and comment during a match is NOT the correct assistance! Only monitoring and input if consistently obtained reflect trends and could be used to make the official a better official. If the coaches are better, the players are better, then so too will the quality of the referees be better.

Referees are a match condition; some are easier to play under then others. Those of us willing to take a moment to explain or even admit a mistake are out there but WHETHER we will is entirely dependant on the actions and comments of those who want us to answer. Remember as neutral officials a referee and crew have no interest in the outcome that can not be said for all others! Remember, you are but one of many, who is to say those who commented before have not laid the no communication barrier for this referee in this match? I use my captains to request the referee when and if the referee is approachable. I set this in the game beginning at the coin flip, We do it with respect and only if the referee is willing to engage us
Cheers.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Joel, my colleagues have sage advice. Your question asked how you talk to a referee during a game. If you must do so, know that "talking" will be heard if it is done with respect - talk about what is going on in the game - not what the referee is or is not doing. The referee's response will often not be obvious - remember our job is to be neutral - what Laws we apply for your team (or against your team) we apply to the other team as well. But we are listening to players' complaints and compliments - both valid and invalid. Sometimes we hear things we need to know, like we've set the contact level in this match too high. Or, we've given the players too much credit for skill level (or too little). We (generally/should) ignore things we don't need to know, as long as they are not public, personal, provocative or persistent. Think about how you would receive the message you are sending the referee - how would you react? This should improve your ability to communicate, and the referee's ability to hear what needs to be heard. Help us out, we want to do our best job out there just like you do.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

In the previous question which regarded an AR who may have been making poor offside calls, I suggested talking with the referee *after* the game if possible. You would ask, "Hey ref, can I ask you something about offside calls? It seems like the AR was penalizing our team, and I want to find out what we were doing so we can fix it for the next game." At that point the referee may agree or disagree with your interpretations of offside, and then you let it go at that. If based on what you were saying it appears that the AR had been making poor calls, the referee now has the option to talk with him privately so he will learn the correct way to call offside.

Speaking with a referee during the game to try to change his mind is at best pointless. A ref is not going to change his opinion on whether an action was a foul or not. As you found out, it ended worse than pointless for you with a caution for dissent.