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Dallas Pro Clinic
Recently, the
USSF conducted a Regional "Pro" Clinic in Dallas, Texas.
The clinic is part of the U. S. Soccer Federation's National Program for
Referee Development. It is open to National Referees, National
Candidates, Grade 5 referees who may be future National Candidates, and
State Assessors. The purpose of this clinic is to ensure that all of our
professional referees have a consistent approach to their calls in
matches at the professional level.
Arkansas was well
represented thanks to the work of Bill Nelson, the State Director of
Assessment. Bill organized the trip to Dallas for a group of State Assessors
and two of our young referees who have been identified as potential
National Referee candidates.
Director of
Advanced and International Referee Development Esse
Baharmast, and Director of National
Assessments, David McKee were the instructors for the clinic. They, along
with Manager of Referee Development & Education, Alfred Kleinaitis
conducted a fitness test Saturday morning for the National Referees, and
National Referee Candidates who attended the clinic. The remainder
of the day was spent in the clinic reviewing video and discussing
situations from games that addressed the primary points of emphasis that
will be made to the FIFA Referees who will be working the World Cup this
year.
This quickly begs
the question: Why is this important to us in Arkansas? Are we expected to referee
exactly the same? Obviously the level of
games we do are different than those of the World Cup or the Professional
level. However, we must make sure that as much as possible our
decisions are consistent. What we learned as assessors and referees
will be put into information which will be used in assessments, for
in-service clinics, and at the Intermediate and State Camp
Here are a few of
the high points from the clinic that apply to every game we officiate
here in Arkansas!
ESSE'S RULES TO
LIVE BY!
Referee every
game as if it were a professional match
· Judge the skill
level of the players and make appropriate calls
· Protect all the
players
· Especially
protect the impact players
· Know the differences
between careless, reckless, or excessive force.
· Control dissent
· Completely
eliminate violence from the game
Be forever
professional
· In your dealings
with players
· In your dealings
with coaches
· In your dealings
with other referees
Monitor your attitude
at all times
· Be proud to
accept any type of assignment
· Give your best
effort no matter the caliber or level of the game
Make sure your
fitness is at the highest level
· Ask yourself, can
you really keep up with the players on the field?
· If you cannot,
then do something about it!
Always remember
good referees prepare themselves very well to do the job; they accept the
opportunities provided, and then they ultimately have the good luck to
have the best game of their lives! In addition, every game should
be the best game that has ever been done!
(to the top)
YOUR ASSIGNOR AND YOU - Pathways to the Pitch
By
George Anderson IV - State Assignor Coordinator
Too often we do not take the road less traveled. OK, now
what is he talking about?
As referees
we get into a habit of picking up the phone and calling our regular
assignor to cover a few games Saturday morning, make a little spending
money and still have time to catch a game on the tube or more likely a
nap. Or maybe we’ve waited for that call from the
assignor to cover a game. We’ve helped, right?
As assignors we
know what games we have to cover for the week. We make a few phone calls,
get a few e-mails or even send a few e-mails and get about 75% of the games
covered. We’ve
helped right?
There is no
doubt that everyone in these scenarios is trying to help to cover games.
But, are these pathways to the pitch the best for all concerned? A
suggestion might be to take a path less traveled. Referees and assignors develop habits
and routines that develop a well-beaten path to often inadequately
covered games. No one is really at
fault, they are all working, but the job isn’t really complete.
Referees:
no one knows what times you are available or for how much time you are
available unless you let someone know. It is
incumbent upon you to communicate with assignors. Not just
your regular assignor, but take a path less traveled and contact a different assignor. There is a
list of assignors here on the SRC website under the Referee tab. Get out
of your comfort zone and go help a different assignor from time to time. You get
tired of seeing the same teams and quite frankly they get tired of seeing
you! Let the assignor know the block of time you are
available. From XX:00 am to XX:00 pm. Pick up the
phone and call, send an e-mail or sign up on line. Do your
part and communicate with the assignor. Do NOT sit
back and wait for a call. Be proactive and help your assignor. At some
point your assignor will be there to help you. If you want
games go out and get them. You would be amazed how your game count can pick
up. You might even be inspired to upgrade!
Assignors, you too can take a path less
traveled. Often you know the games
you need to cover for the season.
Get your info out there for the whole season. It is difficult to do in a phone call
but a mass e-mail lets referees know very easily. Send it to all referees statewide. You are
helping yourself in the long run.
A referee might not be able to work
this week or the next but will commit 3-4 weeks out. Referee commitment, referee retention,
and games covered. Everyone wins!
Assignors, be sure to follow up those long-term commitments with a
confirming e-mail or phone call.
Use
your referee data- base. Contact those referees in your area that you do not
usually use. Do not give up on them. If they won’t commit this week get them
for next week or the week after.
Be sure to follow up as well. Lastly, see
and be seen. Get out to the fields. Let the
referees know who you are and get to know them. Everyone
then has a face to put with the phone call or e-mail. You will be
amazed at how far that can go to getting return referees.
None of these ideas are particularly innovative or
earth shattering. Communication is a two way street that each must
travel to success. However, should you choose to take a path less
traveled, you might just find some new friends and faces along the way in
helping to achieve 100% coverage of games, the ultimate goal of assignors
and referees. With apologies to
Robert Frost, while taking the path less traveled and you come to a fork
in the road, PICK IT UP, you are on a soccer field after all!
(to the top)
COURAGE - CHARACTER - CONSISTENCY
By
Jim Green, State Referee
Courage
I think any
referee would agree that anytime we step on the field to referee a game
it takes courage. In any given game, we are at risk to incur the ire of players,
coaches, and even parents. So how do you develop courage? First, know the
laws of the game. Don’t just study the laws once a year when you are
getting ready to recertify. Review the laws on a periodic basis so that
you are always fresh on their content. Pay special attention to the laws
related to situations that rarely occur in a game, so that when you do
encounter those situations, you are certain of the right call. Second,
take to heart the feedback you receive from assessors and other referees.
Remember, assessors are trying to help you improve as a referee, so if
you ignore their feedback, then you are missing an opportunity to become
a better referee. If you are a new referee and haven’t yet received an
assessment, don’t worry, your time for an assessment will come. When you
do get that first assessment, see it as an opportunity for you to get
better, not as something you need to dread. Third, be fit before you step
on the field to referee a game. There is a saying in referee circles: “be
fit to referee, don’t referee to be fit”. On days that you do not have a
game, hit the road, track, or treadmill. You will find that you gain a
lot more respect from the players and coaches when you are in good
position to make those critical calls. If you are not fit, you cannot be
where you need to be. So what do these three points have to do with
courage? If you know the laws of the game, you implement feedback from
other referees and assessors, and you are fit, then when you step on the
field, you can have the courage to know that you are prepared and ready
to do a good job.
Character
What does it mean
to have character as a referee? First, I think it is a mindset that you
take with you to every game. It’s an attitude that you are going to give
your best no matter the age group or level of competition. Second, it’s
having a focus to never let your performance be influenced by who you
know among the players, coaches, and even the spectators. Of course, the
best rule is to never referee a game where there are friends or family
involved, or for some other reason you have an interest in the outcome of
the game. However, as much as we try to avoid these situations, chances
are that you will at some point be called on to referee a game where on
some level you have a connection to a player, coach, or you have some
other affiliation with one or both of the teams. The challenge here is to
call the game as you would any other game. Never give in to the urge to
make a call that would help the team you have an affiliation with. At the
same time, don’t go overboard in an effort to show you are not favoring
that team by being too harsh on the team where you have a connection. I
have often said of myself: “if I get to a point where I would let an
affiliation with a team affect how I call a game, then it’s time to turn
in my badge”. Finally, character
to me means always maintaining your professionalism. Never give in to the
temptation to retaliate to a coach or player verbally when you are being
attacked. This doesn’t mean to never raise your voice or issue cards at
the appropriate times. Certainly, these are necessary elements that you
need in your referee toolkit in order to be effective. Be as firm as you need to be to
effectively manage the game, just never lose your professionalism. . The
best way I can say it is to remember a phrase from an old anti-perspirant commercial: “never let them see you
sweat”.
Consistency
Ask a player or
coach how they judge the performance of a referee and I would bet more
times than not you would hear the word consistency. So what do we need to
do to be consistent? First, work hard to call fouls consistently for both
teams. In other words, if a certain action is a foul for one team, make
sure it’s also a foul for the other team. You don’t have to referee many
games before you hear the phrase: “call it both ways”. We joke about this phrase among
ourselves; however, in reality, a coach or player is usually trying to
communicate the fact that they believe a foul called on them was not
called on the other team, or, a foul not called for them was called for
the other team. Secondly, be consistent in issuing cards. If we allow a
hard tackle with cleats up and only call a foul, with no card, and then
later issue a card for a play that is virtually identical to the prior
play, then we have a problem with consistency. If a player tackles an
opposing player from behind, with no intent to play the ball and we issue
a yellow card, then we must ask ourselves, “if that’s a yellow card, then
what would it take to get a red card”? You can bet the players are asking
themselves the same thing. If players believe you are not consistent in
how you manage a game, then they will often take matters into their own
hands and certainly that can spell disaster for us and the players.
Finally, be consistent in your appearance. Arrive at the field early,
with your socks pulled up, shirt tail in, and shoes clean and/or
polished. These may seem like small things; however, your appearance lets
the players and coaches know that you take your job as a referee
seriously, and that you are there to do a good job for them.
In summary, I
take a lot of pride in being a soccer official and I am
sure you do too. We communicate that pride to players, coaches, and other
officials by our courage, character, and consistently.
(to the top)
RAISON
D'ETRE
By Mike Bossler,
State Referee/Assignor/Instructor/Assessor
Literally
translated from French, this means “reason to be.” In the last
few months I have given some serious thought to why I am a referee. These thoughts have revolved not only
around my own career, but also around my life in general and casual
observations of other referees.
I
have noticed that some of us are working very hard to become “super-refs”
and are on a quest to become perfect. Some of us even believe that we
have already reached this goal. We
memorize every law and every piece of advice that is officially released
to us. We expect the players to
behave perfectly and punish them vigorously when they step out of
line. We feel that displaying a
sense of humor on the field is unprofessional and unnecessary. Basically we are hard at work when we
referee, and have no patience for fun.
The players and coaches cringe when they see us coming.
Some
of us do this purely for the money.
We travel as little as possible.
We avoid assistant referee assignments because they don’t pay very
well. We do not do youth games
because they also do not meet our financial criteria. The players and coaches recognize our
greed.
Others
treat it as a big joke. We show up
late. We don’t keep up with
changes in the laws and tactics.
We are sadly out of shape and do not give the participants of the
beautiful game any credit for their knowledge or skill and even ridicule
our fellow officials. The players
and coaches are well aware of our lack of professionalism and commitment.
The
common thread here is how we are perceived by players and coaches. Isn’t this important? I do not mean that we should strive to
be liked by every coach and player.
This is improbable if not impossible. They are, however, our customers, so
let’s treat them as such by trying our best to earn their respect.
More
often than not, players and coaches have legitimate gripes. I am not talking about the habitual
complainers. I am talking about
individuals that approach us in a serious and respectful manner with real
concerns and/or suggestions.
Sometimes they are very frustrated, and their concerns are blurted
out a little less respectfully.
Either way, we do not have the right to be disrespectful in
return. We are, after all,
professionals.
I
am not suggesting that we have drawn out discussions with players in the
middle of the game. A quick, genuine
and disarming smile along with the promise to give their concern(s)
serious consideration is often enough.
Players are human, and sometimes it is enough for them to know
that we care and took a moment in time to acknowledge them. Don’t make the mistake of agreeing
verbally and not following up with action when it becomes necessary
though. (e.g. A player tells you
“Ref, they are hacking the heck out of me, so I would rather take a foul
than the advantage” and you agree and then yell “play on” after the next
assassination attempt that he or she miraculously plays through.)
I
guess my raison d'être is to listen.
Listen to my fellow referees.
Listen to the coaches and players.
And most importantly listen to my girlfriend. And of course I
cannot forget to act on what I heard.
See you out on
the pitch.
(to the top)
ADVICE TO NEW REFEREES
By Brian W. Caldwell
Becoming an
effective referee is more than knowing the laws of the game. It is more than knowing where to stand. It is more than foul recognition. It is more than mechanics. It is more than fitness. All these things are important….very
important……verrry veeeerrrry
important. But they are not
enough. There is an extra
dimension to becoming an effective referee. What follows are 15 things to think
about. Most of these things are
done unconsciously by experienced referees. However, these things are what new
referees struggle with MOST. Read
them, think about them, and use them if they are helpful.
1.
Blow your whistle loud
The purpose of a whistle is to get attention. Sometimes you want to blow it louder
than other times, but you always want to blow it loud enough to be heard
by people within a ten to twenty yard radius (at a minimum).
2.
Sell your calls
Always act with certainty.
Even if you realize you are wrong, act with purpose and authority
in reversing your position. The
surest way to lose respect is to be uncertain.
3.
Be on time
If you are late, the game is late because of you. If you are early and the game starts
late, it starts late in spite of you.
Do your part to make the game start on time.
4.
Have a sense of humor
Don’t laugh at anyone or make jokes where it is
inappropriate to do so and don’t be silly. But wearing a yellow shirt and carrying
a whistle doesn’t mean you aren’t a human being. Humor is a way of humbly accepting our
imperfections. Send a positive
message about yourself and your attitude about life.
5.
Have a presence
Every player on the field needs to know that you are on the
field and that you are dealing with things that need to be dealt
with. The most effective
enforcement tool you have as a referee is your presence on the
field. Be where you need to be
when you need to be there and do what must be done.
6.
Politeness matters
Nice guys may finish last?
Who knows? Regardless,
rudeness is a sign of weakness. It
takes a strong person to stand your ground and respect even those who are
rude to your face. That person may
not ever respect you, but all those around you will. Those people will see that you have a
strong backbone and great dignity because you are polite.
7.
Professionalism is important
You are being paid.
Earn your pay. At the vast
majority of the games you do, you will be the only person at the game who
is paid to be there. You must set
the standard of professionalism.
If you don’t do it, then who will?
8.
Be who you are
Don’t fake it.
Nobody likes or trusts a phony.
Every kid on earth can smell one.
An artificial person lacks the ability to honestly present themselves
to the players. If you fake it,
the players will not trust you because they will believe you are
insincere.
9.
Hustle is more important than talent
A talented person who doesn’t hustle diminishes the
advantage of the talent they have.
A person with lesser talent who is willing to hustle magnifies
their talent beyond the level of the talented person. A person who hustles is remembered in a
good way. A person who doesn’t hustle
seems lazy.
10.
Open your mind to alternatives
Listen more than you talk is another way to say this. Realize that you may know more than any
other person at the game but you will not know more than all the people
at the game and you always have something to learn. Sometimes from people who know less
than you. Being the expert does
not mean you are perfect.
11.
Be prepared to back up what you say
If you say to a player, “take it easy”, be prepared to
give a card next time. Tough words
are easy. Tough action is
hard. If you aren’t willing to
back up what you say, you will lose respect from the players, the
coaches, the fans, and other referees.
If you back up what you say, you will build a good
reputation. If people know you
mean business, next time a card may not be needed.
12.
Open your eyes
Expand your field of view.
Don’t just look at the ball, look around
at what else is happening on the field.
Don’t just look at the feet, look at the waist and use your
peripheral vision to see the whole player. Change your focus, look at the
eyes. A player’s eyes will tell
you what is important to the player.
Don’t always immediately look downfield, check back to where the
ball just left and make sure there isn’t more to do.
13.
A good personality really does cover up a lot of
ugly
Just because you aren’t on the field to make friends
doesn’t mean you are on the field to make enemies. It is easier for players to accept
negative comments from someone who is likable than it is to accept them
from someone who is a jerk or a robot.
Barney Fife is funny on television and not funny on a Soccer
field.
14.
Don’t stop play without a good reason
Nothing destroys the rhythm of the game more than constant
whistling for trifling fouls. Yes,
sometimes you do need to stop play for trifling fouls. Such as when a pattern begins to
develop or when players begin to take matters into their own hands when
you don’t stop play. But those are
good reasons to stop play.
15.
Be confident
No one ever accomplished anything by believing they
couldn’t do it. Don’t be a fool or
step into water you’re certain is over your head. But be willing to challenge yourself,
if you don’t challenge yourself, you will limit yourself.
There they are - 15 more things to think
about. Like learning the Laws of
the Game was not enough. Think
about this, becoming a referee is like trying on a new style of
clothes. At first, you feel
outlandish or silly or out of place.
That’s okay and normal.
Don’t fret about it. Relax,
think about this list. You are not
alone. Every referee struggles
with these things, even those that have been around a long time and even
those that referee at the highest levels.
Work on these things and you will become a more effective referee.
(to the top)
FOUL
RECOGNITION FROM A COACH’S PERSPECTIVE
By
Mike Bossler, State
Referee/Assignor/Instructor/Assessor
How
many times have you heard, said or thought: “Do they think this is the
World Cup or something”? How many
times have you heard from senior referees, assessors or instructors that
every game should be treated like a World Cup match? I cannot count the times…
What does this mean exactly? It means that the players, coaches and
fans, deserve 100% of our attention and effort 100% of the time. Of course they want you to call a fair
game, but the main reason for this is that they want to live to see
another day as a soccer player. If
we, as referees, allow unfair and unsafe tackles to go unpunished, we may
as well not even show up for the game.
As a coach, I would rather not play a game than risk losing one of
my players to an unnecessary injury.
Can we, as referees, actually
prevent unfair and dangerous tackles from happening? Can we really control what players do
to each other out on the field? To
answer these questions we need to first address the differences between
“reactive”, “complacent” and “proactive” referees.
The “reactive” referee knows most
of the laws and the penalties for breaking those laws. He follows the players around the field
like a cop, waiting for them to “mess up” so he can blow his whistle or
use his cards. He can’t wait to
prove that he is in charge and how well he can “read the game” by calling
every foul and infraction as soon as it happens.
The “complacent” referee tries to
give every participant the benefit of the doubt. He tries to make friends with everyone
and subscribes to the “It’s all good” point of view. Whatever happens, happens because it
was meant to be that way. It’s
karma, baby…
The “proactive” referee actually
does “read the game”. He sees the
way players react and adjusts his positioning and the way he calls the
game. He takes mental notes
regarding fouls on key players and pays close attention to body language
and expressions. He uses all this
information to anticipate the reaction of players and uses verbal
encouragement and acknowledgement to discourage players from making
unhealthy decisions. When a player
ignores common sense and commits a serious foul, he takes it as a
personal affront and deals with him swiftly and severely.
Complacent and reactive referees
obviously do little or nothing to change future actions of players. They either punish players after the
fact, which may make the player think twice if he thinks he will get
caught again or they simply do nothing and basically watch just the game as
it happens.
A proactive referee, on the other
hand, does influence the path of the game in a positive way, but he can
only do this if he is (1) paying
attention, (2) is a student of the
Beautiful Game and (3) is able to
effectively and professionally interact with and influence the
participants.
Because he can anticipate the
reaction of the participants, he is able to position himself in such a
way as to discourage crazy behavior.
Players can sense when a referee is a step or two ahead of them,
and will adjust their behavior accordingly most of the time. That said, even the best referees
cannot prevent every nasty foul.
Sometimes players are just in a crazy mood, and other times they
have a specific reason for committing an egregious foul, and are willing
to accept the consequences if we as referees have the courage to dispense
justice. I would like to talk
about three of these types fouls in particular.
The cleats up slide tackle can be
legal if it is executed perfectly and safely. The problem is that too often it is late
or high. So how high is too high,
and how late is too late? If the
player’s foot comes over the ball it is too high and if the player misses
the ball and makes contact with the opponent instead it is too late. Basically if the player makes contact
cleats first with the opponent and there is no ball to cushion the
contact, we have a very dangerous situation. This kind of behavior is reckless and
unsafe and should be dealt with in a very serious manner.
A tackle from behind is always a
foul. The only question is whether
to show a yellow or a red card. I
am not talking about a player poking the ball away that his opponent is
standing over; I am talking about a real tackle. So what is “from behind”? A good test to use here is whether or
not the player with the ball had a reasonable chance to see the tackle
coming. If he did he would have
had the choice to face the tackle, take evasive action or let the
opponent have the ball. If not, he
had absolutely no chance to protect himself. We wear shin guards on the front for a
reason.
Elbows used as weapons have no
place in the beautiful game. As a
coach I teach my players to protect their space by using their arms in a
straight position. If the elbow comes
out even unintentionally, there is a chance an opponent could be hurt and
become angry and retaliate against my player or his teammate. Even if the referee does not recognize
and punish the elbow foul, it is not a situation that I want my players
to be in. Some referees look for a
closed fist when the elbow is up to determine whether or not there is
intent to injure the opponent. I
say beware anytime the arm is bent and the elbow is exposed in an
unnatural way. Most of us have
played the game or at least been around it long enough to spot an elbow
that is not where it is supposed to be.
In closing I want to talk about
the perceived importance of players.
How many of you know how much a college scholarship is worth? 80,000?
150,000? 250,000? A “full ride” to my Alma Mater, Messiah College (7 time D3 National
Champions) is worth about $130,000.
That’s not the least expensive university, but also not the most
expensive. I have at least 3
players on my team that will earn full scholarships starting next year.
If a player is good enough to earn
one of these scholarships, he will save his parents a bunch of money no
matter where he goes to school. If
we allow that player to sustain a career ending injury because he was fouled
from behind or with the cleats over the ball two or three times or even
just once, his parents will now be responsible to pay this money. There are a lot of Pro’s in the MLS who
make less than that. Would we
allow those kinds of tackles to end their careers
(to the top)
THE ROLE OF THE REFEREE
By
Brian W. Caldwell
Three things are
required for a soccer game to happen.
Those three things are a ball, players, and a field. If one of those three things is not
present, there can be no soccer game.
For quite a long time, that was all there was to it. Two teams got together and agreed on a
few things and the game happened.
You will note that a referee is not one of those three
things. A referee was not
essential for a soccer game to occur.
If that is so,
then why are referees on the field of play? Why are referees, now, considered to be
essential to the game? Referees
have become essential because they have been asked by the players (the
owners of the game) to be arbitrators of disagreements on the field. That means that we, as referees, were
invited to be a part of the game by the players to do something specific
for the players. The players
invited us, the referees, onto the field to do three things;
1.
to manage chaos
2.
to minimize conflict
3.
to eliminate confusion
If you, as a
referee, can understand the implication and meaning of those three
things, you can comprehend the “old timer’s” statement that the laws are
not what refereeing is all about.
Refereeing is using the laws and activities to manage chaos,
minimize conflict, and eliminate confusion. If you, as a referee, do those three
things, you are a successful referee.
1. Manage Chaos
·
Chaos - a state of utter confusion or disorder; a
total lack of organization or order.
Chaos is inherent
in every human activity. It is the
most attractive part of soccer, at least to me. Almost every other sport has a reset
button of sorts that stops the chaos of the prior event and starts the
process all over again many times in every game. In football, it is the down. In baseball, each pitch is a
reset. In basketball, the size of
the court, ease of scoring, and shot clock are resets. Because of the size of the field, the
infrequency of scoring, and the desire to limit stoppages, soccer is
often in a state of chaos. That is
what the players want, and that is what we, as referees, need to manage.
We, as soccer
referees, manage that chaos by enforcing the boundaries (the Laws) of the
game consistently and effectively.
We ensure the continuity of chaos by allowing advantage, by not
constantly whistling for trifling fouls, by controlling time wasting, and
by encouraging quick restarts on free kicks. We establish ourselves as the manager
of chaos by arriving on time, being properly uniformed, checking the
field, and demanding that players be properly uniformed. We wear a badge and a special uniform
that are the symbols of our position as chaos manager.
When we don’t
follow effective pre-game procedures; coin-toss, team inspection, arrival
on time, checking the field, etc, we show ourselves to be ineffective and
disorganized. Those are not very
attractive traits for a chaos manager.
When we are not properly uniformed (or we are otherwise
unprepared), we are symbols of chaos and not symbols of order. When we are overzealous with our
whistle or otherwise too rigid in our application of the Laws, we
constrict chaos and strangle the game.
When we fail to get play started quickly after stoppages, we
further stifle the flow of the game.
Remember, our job is to manage
chaos, not to allow it to run rampant or to constrict it.
What are some
simple things we can do to be more effective chaos managers?
·
Be on time…. Be on time…. Be on time
·
Be properly uniformed
·
Follow effective pre-game procedures
·
Review laws five and six regularly
·
Hesitate whenever possible before stopping play
·
Talk to other referees about techniques for
restarting play quickly
2. Minimize Conflict
·
Conflict – to come into collision or disagreement;
be contradictory, at variance, or in opposition; clash.
In simple terms,
tempers will be lost and players will act inappropriately. The conflict of disagreement cannot be
eliminated. Players are just not
going to play nice (do you really want them to?). Conflict detracts from the game when it
becomes excessive. Anger and
disappointment are the normal consequences of being overcome by an
opponent. The temptation to
retaliate and seek retribution is something else. That must not be allowed on the
field. Anger must be recognized
and checked before it escalates to retaliation.
Responding to
significant fouls effectively and quickly, delivering cautions and
send-offs in an appropriate and timely manner, preparing the referee team
through effective pre-game procedures, and effective communications with
players and coaches are all ways that referees work to minimize
conflict. Being present at every
possible point of conflict is probably the best tool for minimizing
conflict. That means being fit,
being aware, and being able to anticipate and react to hot spots.
When we are fail
to recognize fouls or fail to respond to misconduct, players begin to
take matters into their own hands.
As the saying goes, if the referee will not enforce the laws, the
players will. When we fail to
prepare ourselves through a pre-game conference, we are failing to make
sure everyone is on the same page.
Assistants may be unsure of what to do if conflict arises or the
referee may have expectations that the assistants are unaware of. What isn’t covered in the pre-game will
happen.
To minimize
conflict, you must talk. Talk some
more. Talk often. Make sure you use your voice as a
tool. A whistle has specific
meanings and should be loud. A
voice can be quiet, personal, and very effective. It can also be more descriptive. Enough is a strong word and can be
quite useful. But, don’t just
talk. Listen. Listen to coaches and players and moms
and dads and assistant referees.
You may not like what they are saying, but you may need to hear
what they have to say to be able to minimize conflict. Make sure the players know where you
are and be where you need to be when necessary. Traffic on the freeway slows down when
a policeman is present. You aren’t
a policeman, but your mere presence can greatly reduce conflict. As stated earlier, your presence is
probably your best tool for controlling conflict.
What are some
simple things we can do to be more effective conflict minimizers?
·
Have a pre-game conference that includes a
discussion of conflict
·
Be fit enough for the game you are refereeing
·
Talk…. Talk some more….. Talk often
·
Vary the intensity of your whistle to signal your
feelings about certain fouls
·
Review law twelve often (Review it again)
·
Watch soccer games at every level, train yourself to
recognize conflict signals
3. Eliminate Confusion
·
Confusion – (in this context) a lack of clearness or
distinctness. Perplexity;
bewilderment.
One of the
smartest things a coach ever told me was this;
“All I ask is
that you be consistent. I can
coach to the level of play you allow.
I can coach around your mistakes.
I cannot coach if you are inconsistent.”
Make sense to you? It makes sense to me as well. The first step in eliminating confusion
is learning to be consistent. Is
that easy? No, absolutely
not. We are human beings. We are notoriously inconsistent. But we must try. You should stop play in the last minute
of the game for the same things you stop play for in the first minute of
the game. If you issue a caution
for persistent infringement to team A; you better be willing to issue
that same card to team B. If you
signal for a Penalty Kick for a foul in the Penalty Area; you better be
willing to do the same thing on the opposite end of the field.
What else can we do to
eliminate confusion? We can work
as a team. We can adhere to proper
referee mechanics. Effective
signals are an important means of eliminating confusion. Assume nothing. Discuss mechanics in your pre-game.
Candy coating cards
creates confusion. Cards are
boundaries. Cards signal your
limit to the level of violence you will tolerate. You should never be rude, but a card
(yellow or red) is serious business and something you want the players
and coaches to take seriously.
Never give a mixed signal by apologizing for a card. When you give a mixed signal, you make
that boundary hazy and essentially useless. You have to then reinforce the boundary
by additional cards.
Make sure coaches and
players understand your procedures for substitutions and injuries. Stick to whatever procedures you
present to them (remember - consistency).
Make sure the coaches agree with you on the length of the halves
and the number of players on the field.
If there are any unusual circumstances regarding the game, clear
it up with the coaches before the game.
For example; if competition rules require shortening the halves,
if there are overtime periods in the event of a tie, or if water breaks
are mandated, go over the requirements with the coaches before the game
begins. Keeping the coaches informed
can save you a lot of pain and discussion later on.
What are some
simple things we can do to be more effective confusion eliminators?
·
Review special circumstances with coaches and
referees before the game
·
Become familiar with the Guide to Procedures
·
Include a review of mechanics in the pre-game
·
Get assessed and ask questions
·
Attend training opportunities whenever possible
·
Arrange to work with referees you look up to and
emulate them
What is the role
of the Referee?
1.
To manage chaos
2.
To minimize conflict
3.
To eliminate
confusion
After every game,
ask yourself these questions;
Chaos Management
1.
How effectively did I manage chaos?
2.
Did I add to the chaos?
3.
What will I do next time to better manage chaos?
Conflict
Minimization
1.
How well did I minimize conflict?
2.
Did I contribute to the conflict?
3.
What will I do next time to better minimize
conflict?
Confusion
Elimination
1.
Did I eliminate confusion?
2.
Did I add confusion?
3.
What will I do next time to eliminate confusion?
Good luck in your
next game. Make it the best game you
have ever refereed.
(to the top)
DEALING
WITH DIFFICULT PLAYERS
By: Shaun Harms
A game for the referee can be won or lost by a battle by a
disruptive player. I consider the situation
as a disease that spreads to infect the entire game. Controlling that player or players
makes the difference in a great game and a disastrous game.
A disruptive player can have some of the brightest
referees second guessing themselves on the field of play. Perhaps the worst example of a
disruptive player is that of a fellow referee, who believes that they are
right and you are wrong.
I personally have played the game for almost 25 years, and
have been a referee for over 13 years.
I have seen a lot of disruptive players and the loss of game
control that goes along with them.
As a referee, I feel like patience is a virtue. However you can not become too patient
for the player, but have the timing as to assert your control over that
particular match.
In my experience, I tend to be more of a “player’s
referee”. If I see that one player
is causing more distraction to the other players, I try to first deal
with the situation on a one-to-one basis.
When the ball is in-touch I will approach the player and assure
them that I have the game in control and to play ball.
With these types of players, it is common for the dissent
to come after a “foul” that was not given due to an advantage or even a
fair play in the eyes of the referee.
In this situation I approach the player and assure them that “I
saw the foul but your team continued on an advantage,” or “Hey man, there
was no foul there you’re doing what you are doing and keep continuing to
play well.”
This has proven to be a great approach for me in dealing
with these types of players. This
is due to:
1.
The player knowing you are in control,
2.
The player having more respect for the official,
3.
Other players seeing that the situation is being
deal with.
But what if the player persists on being a problem to the
game? Well, if you as the referee
feel like you have done everything in you power to combat the situation,
handle it with a caution and a firm “no more”. Remember players are out there to win
advantages both in the game and with the referees. Don’t put yourself in
a situation to determine a game by reacting too quickly (expulsion) or
not at all (game management issue).
I have been in both situations, but as a player I have
always sensed the referees who tended to second guess themselves and used
it to my advantage. When you are
on the field the referees demand the utmost respect. Make your calls with confidence and do
not ever let a player affect your game.
The key is for you and the players to have fun out on the field
playing the greatest game in the world.
As I always tell my AR’s in pre-game, “If we’re not having fun,
then they’re not going to have any fun.”
This just means don’t let them control the game and take away fun
for the referee. Blowing your
whistle every second and giving multiple cards is never fun for the
referees, players, or coaches.
(to the top)
COMMUNICATION
- Why It’s Important & How to Use It
By: Joel Smith,
Assessor
Communication will not prevent you from making mistakes! After all, we are human. However, good
communication can reduce the possibility of a major disaster.
How many of you have ever had a post game talk and one of
your assistants told you something that you felt you felt had you known that
during the game, you would have taken a different course of action than
you did.
Perhaps they said “that guy clearly handled the ball” or
“both players hit each other, not just the one” or “no one touched that
guy; he was faking it”. Or, the
ultimate would be, ‘you gave him two yellow cards but not a red”
(personal experience). All of this information would have been useful in
making a decision on a course of action.
But how do we communicate to each other in an environment
that could be heated or hostile and the focus at that point in the game
is on what you as the referee are going to do?
First, there are two kinds of communication, verbal and
non-verbal. The referee “Guide to
Procedures” instructs you on the proper flag and arm mechanics for making
a call or mirroring a call the center ref has made. This is the non verbal form. However it
is impossible to convey everything in that manner. Additional non-verbal
communication involves eye contact and slight hand and head movement.
There are four segments of communication:
Pre-Game
Game Time (both halves)
Half time
Post-Game
Your verbal communication should begin with a thorough
pre-game talk. Too often, we get out on the field and the pre-game goes
something like this; “Ok, the second to last defender is yours. If you
see a foul, call it. Just do your job.” Then Murphy’s Law is describing
your game. What can go wrong, will go wrong.
You failed to tell the AR’s to back you up on the cards
and numbers. You failed to tell
them how to signal you if something has taken place that is important for
you to know before you make a decision. You have issued a card to the
wrong player, not enough players or issued the wrong card. As the AR, you
failed to ask how the center ref wants to be communicated with or how to
handle a specific situation that may occur.
A good pre-game talk will eliminate confusion on your
team. The following items are some of the things you should take the time
to discuss. This is not all
encompassing but a guideline to help you be more successful.
4th
Official (if there is one)-Duties and responsibilities
Offside Instruction
2nd to
last defender
If I miss the
signal-stay with position-flag up
When to lower the
flag?
Goals- Follow TLC
Method of recording
Cards- If issued-who
records what?
AR feels a card is needed-tap front or back pocket
Touch Line-Watch all the
way down the line.
What signal
to give?
If in my quad and
I look at you-what signal to give?
Substitutions- All Subs will be
at halfway
Who will
handle subs?
Bench Area- Who is responsible?
If you need
help…
Fights-Responsibilities
of each AR
What do you
want recorded?
Ball- In and out of touch line-what signal?
In and out of goal-what signal?
Out
of bounds-your quad-what signal?
PK’s-Your responsibility.
AR
position and responsibility.
AR
signal for keeper forward movement.
Walls-Who sets them
and when?
Fouls-AR sees a foul
you don’t. What to do?
It
occurs in the Area. What to do?
Proper
signal for fouls in and out of area.
Misc-How to signal
the center if you need to speak to me.
Let’s
make eye contact-when? How often?
Follow
all balls to the goal line.
All
corner and goal kick signals will be made from the goal line.
Watch
keeper coming out of area on releases.
If you are the center ref, these are topics for you to
cover. There may be more depending on the level of game you are doing. If
you are the AR and you are unsure what to do in any particular situation,
ask. There is never a dumb
question before the game.
Communication during the game is mostly non-verbal. The center ref is using the whistle to
communicate to everyone to either stop or start or to get someone’s
attention. The center ref and the AR’s are mirroring each other with
their arm/flag signals.
However, not everything is always clearly seen by the
center. This is when a good team can use communication to enhance their
performance. A center ref doesn’t
know who kicked the ball out and it is in his quadrant. How does the AR
let the center ref know? Your
pre-game should have covered this. But if it didn’t, there are two ways
you can let him know. Move the
flag to the hand for the direction the ball should go while keeping the
flag at your side. Or put your
hand across your mid section and point with your index finger. Both of these movements are slight and
typically go unnoticed by players and spectators. As an AR, you have now
made the center referee look good and in control. As a center ref
receiving this support, you have now gained confidence that your AR is on
your team and is there to support you.
Let’s suppose the center has now made the call and then
looks back at you. How do you
support him? How about a thumbs up or a quick
head nod to indicate it was the right call?
What if you are the center and you just received this help. A thumbs up
also goes back to the AR.
Sometimes when you are running the line and the defenders
are holding their line tight, a striker will make a run. The defenders, trying to put the
striker offside hold until the last second before they break with
them. Now the striker has received
a pass. We all know the signal for
offside. But if it is a long pass
over the top how can you signal to the center that the striker is not
offside? Why not a quick point with your right hand to the corner as you are
running down the line? This lets
the center know, the play is good, no offside, keep up with play.
There are other non verbal signals that can be used
briefly during the course of a match that will help the flow of your game
and keep things from getting out of hand.
Most all of this can be covered with a good pre-game. When non-verbal communication fails
however, as a center, blow the whistle and back up to your AR and get a
clear understanding of what they are trying to tell you. Be brief in your comments and as an AR
only give the short necessary information needed so that play can be
resumed quickly, i.e. card, color, team, player number and reason. When speaking with each other, don’t
become animated. This draws unnecessary attention to the officiating
crew.
The best form of communication though is eye contact. At every possible situation, not only
should the center referee be looking at the assistants, but the
assistants should be looking at the center as well. Consistent eye contact will help you
avoid bigger problems in a match. It is easier to signal to each other if
there is constant eye contact.
At the half time of a game, the center ref should review
with the crew all scores and cards issued to ensure proper accounting of
players numbers. In addition, any
situations that may have caused confusion or dissent should also be
discussed so that if similar situations come up, they are handled in the
same manner for consistency.
When the game is completed, and before your crew leaves
the field of play, review the score sheet for accuracy of all
numbers. Resolve any issues at
that point. This will keep you from having problems later on if a coach
disputes any score or card issued.
Your team has communicated and agreed on the outcome and no
discussion will then be needed.
Communication will either help you or hurt you. It will
help you if you use it. It will hurt you if you don’t.
(to the top)
YOU CAN'T PAY ME
ENOUGH FOR THIS!
By Cole Farris
Ah, it’s a
beautiful spring day. The birds are chirping. The flowers are
blooming. You’ve recently received your referee certification and
the game is going smoothly. The young ones are going about their
business of encircling the ball wherever it goes. Everyone’s
yelling at you. The wind is in your face….stop (rewind). “Why
is everyone yelling at me?”
You just
called a foul on their little one, and they’re not happy. The problem
is, when you call a foul on the other team, now all the “other” parents
are upset. You’re thinking “What is wrong with you people, I’m just
doing my job!” It seems like every other call you make, someone on
the touchline comments on your inability to referee. A strange
feeling in your gut starts to rise. Now you’re actually mad at the
parents for questioning you.
Stop….breathe…relax
You’re
experiencing what every referee is subjected to, parent bias (coaches and
players too). Actually, it’s all part of being human.
Everyone is biased to some extent, and when it comes to sports, it
surfaces quickly. “But I’m a certified referee, I know the
rules!” That’s the problem, you “do” know the rules….they
don’t. Put yourself in their shoes. They see a foul called
against their team that they don’t understand, and they’re naturally
upset. Okay, even if they understand the call, some are mad anyway
(they’re parents, and not quite as fair-minded as you).
“I didn’t sign up
for this!”
It’s okay.
Their anger really isn’t directed at you. They are emotionally
caught up in the moment. Your job as a referee is to stay calm and
focused on the game. You’re the official. If you don’t stay
relaxed, how can you expect anyone else to? Remember, once you let your
anger get the best of you, it starts to cloud your judgment, and “now”
it’s affecting the game.
“Where’s my
light saber?”
Now, how to deal
with these aliens who decided that “your” soccer game was a perfect
location for their invasion of planet Earth. Below are a few tips
from the Galactic Council (also known as older referees who are in the
same boat as you):
- Mentally prepare
yourself before the game.
No matter how good a job you’re
doing as a referee, there will always be some complaints. It’s going
to happen. It’s the natural world. It’s one of the laws of
physics…
The law of gravity
The law of thermodynamics
Parents and coaches will complain
- You are not
alone in the universe (this happens to all referees)
The same folks that are griping at
you, are also griping at every other referee
that does their child’s game. And no matter how long you’ve been
doing this, there will always be complaints. Go watch a game
sometime where the official is an older, more experienced ref. Sit
on the touchline with the spectators and listen to their comments.
Believe me, you’ll feel better about yourself in no time.
- Talk to other
referees.
Let your frustrations out on
someone who can relate. See how they handle it. Other
referees are your best source for helpful tips (they’ve been there, done
that).
- Game’s
over….turn it off….go home.
Realize that everyone (except you)
wants their team to win. Parents get caught up in the moment,
coaches are using gamesmanship to make calls go their way, and players
are pulling every trick in the book to gain an advantage on the
field. But it’s a game, not a personal attack on you. Be like
a boxer after a prize fight. When it’s over, it’s over (there’s no
hard feelings). You may find that the same guy who was screaming
earlier in the game comes up and shakes your hand afterwards (“Good game
ref, thanks for putting up with us.”).
- Become a
better referee.
No, this doesn’t mean you’re a bad
referee. It means you’re doing a good job, but have the potential
to be even better. A wise man once said “knowledge is power”
(better words were never spoken). Attend additional referee
clinics. Listen to what they have to say. These are some of
the top people in their field and can “relate” to your situation.
And one thing my referee instructor pushed on us when I was trained
“become a student of the Laws of the Game.” The more you know, the easier officiating will become. It’s hard
for a coach to complain when he realizes you know more about the Laws
than he does. Remember, your certification isn’t the end of your
training, it’s the beginning.
Ah, it’s
springtime again!
It’s another beautiful day.
The birds are chirping. The parents are yelling…..
It’s SOCCER SEASON!
(to the top)
WHEN DO YOU RELAX
OR HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR REFEREE LOVE YOU AS AN
AR?
By
Brian W. Caldwell
There are few
things that can distract a referee more than an assistant referee that is
not performing well. I don’t mean the situations where a referee is
just having a bad day in spite of his or her desire to do well. I
mean those times when it is clear that the assistant is totally
unprepared to travel the touchline. We have all been there.
Sometime in our lifetime, we were clueless on the touchline. We had
more to learn than we thought we knew. Performing as an assistant
referee can be confusing and difficult and requires some thought to
perform well.
So here are some
things to think about that may get your referee to smile next time you
run the line.
1. Show up on time -
Be ready to work when you get to the field. If you arrive first,
don’t just sit on the touchline waiting for the referee to show up.
If they aren’t there, begin the pre game process. If the referee is
already there and is in a different uniform from you, change.
Otherwise go to the referee and report in.
2. Pay attention to
the Pre-game – Look at the referee. Be engaged. If you have a
question, ask the question. If you are confused about something,
say so. If the referee leaves something out you want direction on,
bring it up. Make the pre-game a dialogue. Show the referee
you care about the game.
3. Stay square to
the field – Remember your first duty is to maintain the offside
position. It is a good idea to maintain a full view of the field,
the best way to do that is to be square to the field. While you are
at it, make sure you are truly even with the second to last defender.
Find some benchmarks (penalty area line, bottom of the center circle,
etc) and check them out every now and then to make sure you are
even. Move back from the field so you can see the touchline in your
peripheral vision.
4. Be attentive to
your duties – Pay attention to your field and not the next field or the
people behind you. Make sure you know where the offside position is
and maintain that position. Keep score with the referee and have a
running watch so you can back up the referee. Keep the flag down and
where the referee can see it unless you are signaling.
5. Run to the goal
line – Follow the play all the way to the goal line. Even if you
are slower than the ball or the players, run as fast as you can to catch
up. It really gives the referee a lot of comfort to know that you
will be at the goal line to help judge goal kicks, corner kicks, and
goals.
6. Position yourself
correctly on the throw in and the corner kick – No matter who does the
throw in or where it takes place, be closer to the goal line than the
thrower. Be on the goal line at corner kicks (back out of the way
of the kicker if necessary).
7. Assist on
substitutions - Either move up to check players in before they enter the
field or add your presence so that the referee can focus on what is
happening near him/her. Count the players coming on to the field
and off of the field. This is especially true in upper level games
or where the referee is far from midfield. If there are subs at the
line when you are at midfield, look them over and make sure they are
properly uniformed before allowing them to enter the field.
8. Control
encroachment in your area - Don’t allow players to encroach on corner
kicks. Take charge of setting the wall off your touch line when
appropriate. Talk this over in the pre-game and find out how the
referee wants you to handle different wall setting situations.
9. Scan the field -
Make a habit of scanning the field periodically and finding out what is
happening outside of your area. But don’t become a spectator.
Remember your job first job is offside. Watching play on the far
end of the field is being a spectator and is not scanning to check things
out.
10. Check in with the referee - Whenever
possible, make eye contact with your referee. Give him/her a good
smile. Let them know how things are going. Let the referee
know when they make a good call. Give them a
thumbs up every now and then. Even when they are the old pro, and
you are the new kid on the block, they will appreciate the added support.
11. Use your mouth effectively - Talk to the
players in your area when you need to. If a word can stop unfair
play or misconduct, don’t just leave it to the referee to handle
everything. Make this part of the pre-game discussion.
12. Mirror cross field AR signals - Mirror
flags on the far side when those flags are behind the referee. Show
the referee that you are on the ball by supporting their back as well as
their front.
13. Avoid flag flapping or ripping - Don’t
be too quick on your flag. Hesitate so you can to see how play
develops. Look at the referee and make sure they are screened
before putting your flag up. The idea is to give the referee
information he/she would not have otherwise. Even if you think it
is a foul, if the referee sees the play clearly and chooses not to call
it that is the right of the referee.
14. Match the referee’s call - When
appropriate, match the referee’s call. Be a team. If you
don’t agree with the direction keep your flag down. Work out a
signal in the pre-game for how to deal with differences of opinion where
you clearly had a better view than the referee.
15. Remember why you are there – The
assistant referee is there for one reason. To support the
referee. To assist and not to insist. Don’t be a
distraction. If the referee gives you specific instructions in the
pre-game, obey them.
16. Hustle – The referee can relax a bit
when you hustle. Not only that, but that referee that sees you
hustle will recommend you to other referee’s. You will get your
name spread around in a good way. If you don’t hustle…. Well, you
get the reputation you deserve.
Assistant
referees are important. Effective assistant referees are
essential. Just being there is nice, being there and making your
referee smile is priceless. A weak assistant referee can kill a
strong referee. A strong assistant referee can save a weak
referee. Do your part as an assistant referee to make the referee
team a winning team.
(to the top)
NO MATTER WHERE
YOU GO, THERE YOU ARE. OR, EVERYONE ELSE KNOWS WHAT YOU ARE, DON'T YOU
THINK YOU SHOULD?
By
Brian W. Caldwell
Every time you
step onto the field you bring all you are with you. This may seem
to be a silly thing to say. But I believe that without that
knowledge you, as a referee, cannot grow beyond your initial level of
competence.
Before I go any
farther, let me say that I believe that every referee should have three
goals each and every time they step onto a soccer field. The first,
and primary, goal should be to perform effectively in that game.
The second goal should be to create an environment where players will be
able to maximize their potential to perform. The third goal,
although not primary, is the most important. The third goal is that
the referee should want to learn from this game so that the next time
they step onto a field, they are a better referee.
Now you may be
asking yourself a few questions. Questions like, “Isn’t the first
goal kind of obvious?”, “What’s the difference between the first and
second goals?”, and “Why is the third goal the most important?”. Good questions, each and every one of them.
Let’s start with
“Isn’t the first goal obvious?” Of course it is and it should
be. Now, think about it again. As any experienced referee can
tell you, it is not obvious to an alarming number of referees. In
fact, some referees seem to have no goal whatsoever other than to
survive. If you do not have this as a goal, you aren’t a
referee. You are a spectator and you don’t belong on the
field. So, the next time you take an assignment, earn your
pay. Make a conscious effort to perform effectively.
Next, “What’s the
difference between the first and second goals?” They are not the
same. Accomplishing the first goal, in my mind, entails performing
in accordance with the mechanics of being a referee. It involves
being on time with your whistle, making the right calls, and correctly
applying advantage. This, to me, is the first place the assessor is
trying to get you to. It involves the technical aspects of
refereeing; positioning, anticipating play, respecting passing lanes, and
using the diagonal system of control properly. The second goal is
the next step. It passes beyond the mechanics of performance and knowledge
of the game to the spirit and essence of the game. It involves what
assessors and experienced referees refer to as man management and
more. Reaching this goal means achieving the embodiment of decision
8 of Law V. This is the where old time referees tell you that if
you ever get there, hang up your cleats. It is the goal you will
never get to but must always strive for.
Finally, “Why is
the third goal the most important?” There are a bunch of reasons
why. One reason is that it means a real commitment to
refereeing. Another reason is that it means real work toward
realizing your potential. Or, to put those two together and state
it more succinctly, the reason the third goal is the most important is
because you cannot achieve the first two goals without accepting the
challenge of the third goal. To do that means you have to be
willing to change and to grow. That’s hard. It means facing
yourself, recognizing your shortcomings, becoming aware of who you are and making a deliberate and sincere effort
to change into who you want to become.
There is one
person you never meet, you. That means it is really hard to find
out who you are because you have so many misperceptions of who you
are. Trust me, everyone on the field knows
who you are. Every time you do something or say something, you tell
them who you are. You can continue to be like the Emperor with no
clothes if you like. Or, you can work on making yourself a new suit
that will enhance your ability to perform on the field.
(to the top)
AM I A ROLE MODEL?
By
Steve Harvey, Chair, State Referee Committee
I get to see and
work with an awful lot of referees here in Arkansas and in other states. Because
of these connections, I began to think about how I am perceived as both a
referee and more importantly, a human being. I have worked with some
very, very good referees and some that weren’t as good. The one thing
that stands out on the good referees was their eagerness to help me and
others become better referees. They shared their passion for the game and
their love of helping others. I know all of you have worked with some
referees that were probably pretty good, but because they were “jerks”
you didn’t take anything from the game that would help.
I know that no
one asks to be a role model, but when you progress through the ranks of
referees, through either grade or just in tenure, like it or not, you are
one. You can accept this role by working with your assignors and doing
the games and positions scheduled for you. We can’t all work centers at
every match. You can actually help a young referee working his line more
than having him watch you in the center. You can mentor a referee by
talking of past experiences and how you corrected them. You can offer
tips or send that referee toward someone else that might know a little
bit more than you. And speaking of talking, what’s wrong with having that
referee talk to you about problems. This brings up a new form of help;
it’s called “listening.”
Another way to
help is through your attitude. We all have bad days, but don’t take it
out on someone that had nothing to do with your problem. A smile and kind
word go a long way.
Performance on
the field can speak volumes. You can provide a positive environment by
working only those games where you are comfortable. If your forte is the
U-10 and U-12, then great, be the best U-10 and U-12 referee you can be
and people will notice. Don’t accept games over your head for the money,
those people are easy to spot. When you can no longer keep up with the
older kids, help us with the younger age groups; we need referees there
also.
As I said, like
it or not, you are a role model. It is up to you to be a good, supportive
and helpful one or you can do everything with only one person in mind and
that person is yourself. The choice is yours, please choose wisely…
(to the top)
AM I A BETTER REFEREE?
By
Mark Wagner, SRA
Are you a better
referee than you were at this same time last year? Some of you may have
asked yourself this question. What does it take to be a better referee?
How do I get to do a final in a tournament? How do I prepare myself to
advance in grade or possibly be selected to represent the state at
Regionals or ODP?
First of all I think
we need to all look at ourselves. Be honest with yourself about your
strengths and weaknesses. Whatever your motives for being involved in the
game of Soccer; there is no doubt that your actions on and off the field
reflect what you feel for our sport. The fairness of the match, and the
safety and enjoyment of the players are our main concern. But to do this
properly we must always try to do your best and improve.
The following are
some things that have helped me to improve as a referee. They’re not that
hard to do nor do they take a lot of time. Hopefully after you’ve done a
few of them you’ll notice that things seem to go smoother for you on the
field.
1) Learn
everything you can about the game. Attend every in-service that you can
& every clinic that you can. Don’t be satisfied with getting the
minimum number of hours needed to maintain your present grade or upgrade
to the next level. Also read whatever you can get your hands on. I
recommend that you read the Law book and the USSF Advice to Referee’s
every couple of months. In addition there have been some excellent books
written about soccer refereeing which can help you improve. Three that
come to mind are: For the Good of The Game; Fair or Foul Play; and 33
Ways to Become a Better Soccer Referee. All of these books and others are
available through Official Sports.
2) Get
assessed as many times as you can. Ask for a developmental assessment.
Talk with your DRA, assignor, or State Director of Assessments and see if
they can have someone look at you every month or so. At every tournament
you participate in – find out if there will be assessments being done
& if so then ask to be assessed. Listen to what the assessor says.
Think about it. Don’t get upset if he/she points out some areas that you
need to work on. Ask questions. The feedback and input from these
assessors can be invaluable in helping you become a better referee.
3) Watch
other referees as they do games. If you’re at a tournament & you get
to work with someone who has a State Badge, or who you know is a good
referee; watch & learn from the things they do. What was in their
pre-game; how did they handle situations which arose in the game; how
were their mechanics – were they in position to make the call, where did
they position themselves for set pieces; what things did you notice that
they did during the game that you might want to incorporate into your
next game? Ask questions about what you observed. Most of the senior
referees in the state are only too happy to help, but you need to ask them.
4) Get out
of your comfort level. Work with your assignor to put you on a game which
is a little higher level than what you’ve been accustomed to doing. Be
sure that they assign a higher level referee with you so that you’ve got
someone who can help you during the game if you need it. If you’ve been
refereeing for the same club/association all the time, then be sure to
sign up for some tournaments, or contact an assignor from another area
and go to another city for a day and referee there, so that you’re in a
different setting. Push yourself – take on a challenge.
5) Get in
shape. Most of the teams my sons have been associated with practiced two
or three times a week. So if the players are working anywhere from three
to six hours a week to be ready for their game(s) on the weekend –
doesn’t it stand to reason that a referee needs to spend a similar amount
of time getting ready for our game(s) on the weekend? The demands made
upon you as a referee are often greatest in the last minutes of the game.
You have to be physically and mentally as fit at the end of the match as
at the beginning.
6) Give
every game you do your best effort. Every game you have as an assignment
is important to the players, and the fans. So you need to do your best.
Don’t take on too many games in one day. No matter how young you are
& how fit you are – mental fatigue will still set in.
These are just a
few recommendations to help you. They are not overnight fixes, but if you
incorporate them into your refereeing, I believe that a year from now
when you’re doing your own evaluation of how well you’ve done as a
referee – you can say that I’m a better referee.
(to the top)
ARKANSAS REFEREES AT THE
WET & WILD YOUTH REGIONALS
By
Steve Harvey, Chair, State Referee Committee
The Arkansas
Referee Delegation returned from the wettest Youth Regional Tournament in
recent history on June 30 from Austin,
Texas. The tournament
proved to be a test of nerves, physical stamina and plain ole intestinal
fortitude. The Austin
tournament had a little of everything and a whole lot of others, rain and
mud being plenty in quantity. The only things lacking were locusts and
perhaps, a farmhouse from Kansas
landing on a witch. The Arkansas
referees worked through all of this and
came out on an alltime high.
Arkansas referees worked
9 matches in the quarterfinals, 6 in the semifinals and 3 in the finals
with Matt Foerster working a line on the U19G, Gabe
McNatt working a middle
on the U17G and Roger Williams working the middle on the U16B. We were
extremely pleased with those assignments but it just got better. Three of
our guys placed in the Top 20 Referees of the tournament with Roger
Williams, Matt Foerster and Gabe McNatt taking their place at the front of the room.
Before we were through celebrating that accomplishment, Darren Bauer and
David Henderson took their place along side the others as Top 10
Assistant Referees. Our delegation went crazy because Arkansas placed 3 guys at the front
last year which was our all time high and now we had 5. As we were trying
to settle down, the Bill Schofield award was presented to the young
(under 25) referee of the tournament. The presenter held up one of the
Arkansas Young Gunz shirts and we couldn’t believe our eyes, let alone
our ears when Gabe McNatt
was called to the front. I don’t believe a delegation in attendance was
disappointed that their guy wasn’t called as Gabe
totally had the tournament of his young life. Our dream night continued
as the 9 referees chosen to attend the National Tournament were called
and once again, Gabe joined the group going to
Disney World. This is the first time an Arkansas referee has earned this honor
and our guys went nuts.
The Arkansas
delegation included Klay Babin, Mike Ferry,
David Henderson, Gabe McNatt,
Matt Foerster, Darren Bauer, Wanda Porter, Roger Williams, Doug Kelley, Rigo Chavez, Willie Whitescarver,
Tim Ross, Joel Smith, Jerry Corrigan, Jim Montgomery, Steve Kirkland,
Kris Bailey and Steve Harvey.
As bad as the
weather and conditions, the Arkansas
teams and referees showed the rest of Region III that we were for real.
What a lasting memory and we look forward to the challenges next year
brings.
(to the top)
CORNER KICK
By
Steve Harvey, Chair, State Referee Committee
As 2004 begins to
wind down and we look forward to what 2005 will bring, I wanted to give
you some of the highlights the SRC experienced this year. My first full
year as Chairman of the State Referee Committee is nearing and I am truly
excited about what the next year will bring.
During 2004, the
SRC sat down and we talked of ideas for the referee program in Arkansas. One of
our first programs, and very possibly our finest, is the Arkansas Young
Referee Developmental Program. Many of you will know it by the name given
by its members, Young Gunz. The initial group consisted of four young
referees and it quickly expanded to include six more. This group made its
debut at the Presidents Cup with their distinct burnt orange shirts.
These guys and gals represent some of the finest referees and future
leaders in our state, and probably in our Region. Six of these Young Gunz
represented Arkansas in the rain plagued
Southern Regional Youth Tournament held in Austin, Texas
in June. Several of the Arkansas teams
made the best showing ever for Arkansas
teams at Regionals. Not to be outdone, the referees banded together and
came away with their best showing ever at Regionals. Three referees made
the Top 20 referees in the tournament, while two more made the Top 10
assistant referees. Gabe McNatt
was chosen as the best referee in the tournament and was awarded the Bill
Scofield award. While he was on a roll, Gabe became the first Arkansas
referee chosen to officiate at the National Youth Tournament held in Orlando, Florida.
Matt Foerster was chosen to officiate at the National Directors Cup held
in Indianapolis, Indiana. The group didn’t stop there.
They looked at many of the younger referees in statewide tournaments in
search of the next wave of Young Gunz. They have set the bar high.
We instituted the
Grade 9 entry-level referee program. The goal is to produce enough
referees to handle the ever-increasing demand for referees in our state.
These referees fill a need for officials in many parts of the state. We
will offer upgrade courses in 2005 to bring these referees up to Grade 8
and, hopefully, beyond. While the jury is still out on the success of
this program, the SRC is extremely pleased with the response of these
referees.
We have worked to
make our Assessors, Assignors and Instructors more knowledgeable. The SRC
was able to show how each and every one of these jobs relate to the other
and how we need them all to continue growing soccer here in Arkansas. We
worked to get everyone registered and within guidelines set forth by US
Soccer for our assignors.
The SRC continues
to push the benefits of the ACE Program and the Assessor for the Day
Program. Not enough of our members have taken advantage of these programs
to date. Where we have been invited, the benefits became clear immediately.
We hope to take these programs to more members in the coming months.
The SRC also
produced a Policy Manual during 2004. This outlines the policies set
forth for the referees here in Arkansas.
It will be posted online at the referee website. We are also working to
make the website more of a tool for each of you. This has become a major
focus for us, so you should see a difference soon.
Recertification
of referees has been a big push of the SRC for this year. The DRAs are working to hold clinics across the state to
register as a referee for 2005. The in-service hours are valuable as you
get to learn from others mistakes and gain insight into the levels of
officiating. If you haven’t already registered for next year, please
contact your DRA and get it done.
The one thing
that each of us on the SRC love to do is officiate youth games. Many of
you saw us working games on Saturday and Sundays during the year. The SRC
tries to support each of you no matter what games you are working. We
understand the commitment each of you has made to become a referee.
Because of this love for the game, we count our days doing these type
matches as priceless. To tell the truth, I would rather work a U8 game
than any final match that I have been fortunate enough to draw that
assignment and I believe the rest of the committee feels the same.
We have worked to
get every part of the state involved with our activities. The SRC
traveled to most of the tournaments in the fall to lend support and
direction for the referees in Arkansas.
Hopefully, we will make even more tournaments next year.
And finally, the
SRC has worked many long hours for you this year. The success of the Arkansas referees
is our mission and our thanks. There is no off-season for the committee.
When there are no games going on, we meet to set our next programs and
exchange ideas. This is a dedicated and loyal group. I would personally
like to thank each of them for their hard work and assistance; Mark
Wagner, State Referee Administrator, Bill Nelson, State Youth Referee
Administrator, Vince Henderson, State Director of Instruction, George
Anderson, State Assignor Coordinator, Dennis Bauer, State Games Assignor
and David Leath, Special Projects for the
Committee. We will continue to offer the best we can for each of you.
Take a moment and tell them thanks.
(to the top)
PROTECTING THE BEAUTIFUL GAME
By
Steve Harvey, Chair, State Referee Committee
With my position
as State Director of Assessments, I get to watch a lot of soccer matches, both youth and amateur. One thing that has
really gotten my attention is a lack of referees taking care of
persistent infringement. For those that attended Regionals and State
Camp, you heard someone speak on this subject as well as showing video to
support his position. This person was none other than Esse
Baharmast, your boss and mine in the referee
world. I think, because of these presentations, I have become more
aware of some of the issues. Esse speaks of
protecting attacking soccer and the “beautiful game.” I recently
witnessed a couple of incidents that I feel were exactly what he was
speaking about.
Game 1: A
midfielder on Team A, obviously their best player, touches the ball for
the first time. He is immediately taken down in the penalty area by defenderB. A penalty kick is awarded, but no card
issued. I didn’t have a problem with no card, because in my opinion, that
was a judgment call. The next time the player touches the ball, defender
C takes him down in the middle of the field. A foul is called and a free kick taken. The player touches the ball again, and is
taken down by defender D. This time, no foul is called and the attacking
player, obviously frustrated, shouts at the center referee. The action
taken next is that the attacking player is issued a yellow card for
dissent. Now, I’m not saying the attacking player is not guilty of
dissent and undeserving of a card, but, do you think if the center
referee would have dealt with the fouling the second, third or even
fourth time, (yes, he was taken down again), maybe the attacking player
feels protected and doesn’t get his card?
Game 2: A striker
on Team A, gets past his defender. The defender
makes a legal slide tackle and pokes the ball into touch. On the follow
through, the defender leaves his foot in the air and kicks the attacker
in the shin. Later on, the same defender within 10 yards of the center
referee again takes down the attacker. The attacker, frustrated, gets up
and gets in the face of the defender. The center referee does not speak to
either player. The free kick is taken and as both players continue up the
field, obviously talking to each other, the referee stops the action and
red cards the attacking player. Now, granted, I didn’t hear what was
said, but I did hear the “F” word at least 3 times during the match with
the AR telling the offending player to watch his mouth. I also counted 4
other fouls that could have resulted in a card. Again, I’m not
questioning the judgment of the center referee, but could he have
possibly handled things differently? I wondered what the attacking player
could have said that was worst in the opinion of the referee than the “F”
word. In both cases, I saw a lack of verbal communication that could have
helped handle a potential major problem and turn it into a trifling
offense.
I think both of
these illustrations offer credence to what Esse
was talking about. A defender is allowed to foul to the point of the
attacker becoming a nonfactor in the match and
in the second case, the attacker is sent off. Please do not mistake my
comments to say the attacker was right in what he did or said, but open
your thinking to see if, perhaps, you as a center could have made a
difference in the outcome. I have never seen the need to know players,
their tendencies or past histories. I always viewed these things as only
needed in the highest of matches, but has become apparent to me that I
need to pay attention even at the youth level. As a referee, you must
come to each match fully prepared for what might lie ahead.
The challenge has
been issued to each of us as referees to protect attacking soccer and I,
again, place that challenge before you now. We, as referees, need to
protect the “beautiful game” for the players and fans, now and for those
yet to come.
(to the top)
THOUGHTS FROM THE CHAIRMAN
By
Steve Harvey, Chair, State Referee Committee
As many of you
know, I was elected Chairman of the SRC on Saturday, February 28th
at the Annual General Meeting of the Arkansas State Soccer Association. I
would like to thank each of you for your continued support of the SRC.
First of all, let
me start off by expressing my sincere thanks to Steve Kirkland for his
service and dedication to Arkansas Soccer and the SRC. His vision and
tireless efforts have shaped the referee program here in Arkansas to the
point at which we find ourselves today. His countless contributions will
be remembered by myself and by those fortunate
enough to serve with and under his leadership.
Let me assure you
of this, the SRC is committed to continuing to raise the bar of
excellence within the ranks of referees here in Arkansas. This Committee is focused on
bringing attention to our referees from the Region and the Nation. We
have set the bar high and have shown continued improvement within the
referee community.
The SRC has set
goals to benchmark our desires and ambitions for the referees of Arkansas. It is
through the efforts of each of you that we will achieve these goals set
for the referees of Arkansas.
Our state has shown enormous results in the caliber of referees and their
abilities in a short period of time. The SRC feels like we have turned
the attention of the Region to our state and now is our time to shine.
I ask for your
help, your ideas and your dedication during my term as Chairman of the
SRC. Feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns. We
face a big challenge, but with your support we will succeed.
(to the top)
WHAT DOES IT TAKE
TO BECOME A STATE REFEREE?
By
Jim Green, State Referee
We all have our
own stories as to how we got our start as a soccer referee. In early
1999, my oldest son, who was 14 at the time, decided he wanted to become
a referee in order to earn a little extra spending money. Since he
couldn’t drive, my wife or I would need to take him to his assigned
games. As a result, I decided to go through the class with him. Assuming
we both passed (which we did), we could referee games together, or at
least at the same complex. This worked out well; however, after one
season, he retired. I, on the other hand, was hooked. I had found a hobby
that I wanted to pursue.
After I had a
couple of seasons under my belt, I started to ponder what it would take
to upgrade to the next level. I discovered that to become a grade 7
referee, I would need 75 three-man crew USSF games as the center referee
(high school and all other non-USSF sanctioned games didn’t count). In
addition, I would need at least 25 games as an assistant referee. In the
year of my upgrade, I would also need at least 5 hours of USSF
Intermediate Level Training and would need to score at least 85% on the
USSF Referee Exam. Once I completed these requirements, I would have to
pass an assessment to advance to grade 7. With all of my other life
commitments, it took me about two years working game after game under a
lot of different weather conditions to complete the required game count.
After passing my assessment and passing the exam, I had achieved my goal
and was now a grade 7 soccer referee. Since the time I became a grade 7,
the upgrade process has been expanded to include a fitness test.
Since I was
already in my forties, I figured grade 7 would be the end of the line for
me. However, the allure of the state referee badge kept calling me and I
found myself with a new goal. Once I understood the requirements to
upgrade to grade 6 (state referee 2), I knew this road would be much more
difficult than the road I traveled upgrading to grade 7. I would need 25
additional USSF 3 man-crew centers at the level of U19 and above. In the
year of my upgrade, I would need at least 19 hours of Advanced Referee
Training and would need to achieve a score of at least 75% on the USSF
State Referee Exam, which is much more difficult than the standard USSF Referee
Exam. I would also be required to pass a fitness test and would need to
pass three assessments, two as a center referee and one as an assistant
referee.
Again,
considering my other life commitments, it took me approximately two years
to complete the necessary game count for grade 6. This occurred at the
end of 2002. I attended a two-day soccer clinic in February of 2003 in
order to complete part of the training hours that I would need for my
upgrade. I was now ready to begin my assessments, as the remainder of the
training I would need, the fitness test, and the written exam, all would
occur at State Referee Camp in the summer. In understanding the
assessment process, the first thing I learned was that not any U19 game
would do. The game needed to be competitive and would require me to
demonstrate player management skills at a level deemed appropriate for a
state referee. There were three possible outcomes from an assessment
game, only one of which was the desired outcome. First, the referee could
in effect pass the assessment; however, if the game was not competitive
or did not force the referee to display the appropriate player management
skills, the assessment would not count toward the upgrade. Second,
regardless of the level of the game, the referee could make a mistake
that was deemed significant enough in the eyes of the assessor to result
in a failed assessment. If the referee failed the assessment, two
additional assessment games would be required to make up for the failed
assessment. Finally, the third and desired outcome would be that the game
was competitive, required player management skills appropriate for a
state referee, and that the referee received a passing grade from the
assessor.
In central Arkansas, the best
prospects for state referee assessment games are Latino games or A
division games from the men’s amateur league. The first step in the
assessment process is to work with an assignor to get a game that appears
to be a good candidate for an upgrade assessment. Once an assignment has
been secured, the next step is to request the State Director of
Assessments to assign an assessor to the game.
For my first
assessment game, I was assigned to be the center referee in a Latino game
that pitted two of the better teams in the league. The game occurred
early on a cold Sunday morning in February. As soon as the game started,
it began to snow and it continued to snow throughout the game. The game
turned out not to be competitive, and as I expected, it would not count
toward my upgrade. I was discouraged as I headed home to thaw out;
however, I reminded myself that I knew with any assessment game, there is
a risk that the game would not count.
My next
assessment game pitted the two leading teams from the A division of the
Men’s Amateur League. It turned out to be a great game. The score was 1-0
at half time, 1-1- mid way through the second half, and finished 2-1.
This one counted, right? Wrong! Although the game was competitive, the
assessor pointed out, and I had to agree, that my player management
skills were not tested. Both teams played a clean game with minimal fouls
and no cautions or send offs. In addition to these two games, I also had
two assigned games for assessments during this time frame where no
assessor was available to do the game. Although I hadn’t failed an
assessment, I was in a sense zero for four and I couldn’t help but wonder
if it wasn’t in the cards for me to be a state referee.
After some
serious soul searching, I convinced myself that I had come too far to
quit now. Fortunately, my next three assessment games all counted, and I
passed each one. With three passed assessments under my belt, once as an
assistant referee and twice as a center referee, I had now completed the
assessment process for my upgrade. Once State Camp rolled around in
August, I completed my remaining training requirements, passed the
fitness test, and passed the written exam. With a great sense of
accomplishment, I finally received my very own state referee badge!
After working so
hard to achieve this goal, it would have been tempting to sit back and
relax a little. However, I realized that I owed it to the game to perform
at a state referee level at every assigned game, whether it be an adult game or a U9 recreational game. This meant
that I needed to keep learning how to be a better referee through
clinics, assessments, studying the laws of the game, getting advice from
more experienced referees, and by staying physically fit. I now train
year round as I know there is no way I can bring
my “A” game with me if I’m not fit. Have I had bad games since receiving
my state badge? You bet! However, the key for any referee, regardless of
grade, is to learn from your mistakes and keep working to improve. If we
are going to wear the referee badge, we owe it to the game.
(to the top)
HEY, KICK YOUR DOG
. . .
By
Steve Harvey, Chair, State Referee Committee
I love listening
to some of the ingenious barbs thrown out during athletic events. Some of
them show that people are paying more attention to what they can say,
instead of watching the actual event. And I have to admit, some are very
clever. This practice has been around as long as the matches have been
played.
Stop and think, “ How many times have I yelled at the officials during
a game?” Before you answer, be aware of a very important word, ETHICS.
Now, if you answered any number above 1,
then did you know you have violated the ethics policy of USSF soccer? You
see, part of the ethical treatment of fellow (or fellowette) officials is to NOT publicly criticize their
performance. This is not to say that you can’t speak to the official or
discuss their actions. I’m just saying that you need to think before you
speak.
(to the top)
FLAG RIPPING
By Steve Harvey, Chair, State Referee Committee
I have worked
tournaments in three states over the past two months and I have witnessed
something that I hope we can correct here in Arkansas. It involves the substitution
process. In the Laws of the Game, the Assistant Referee is given specific
duties. One is to indicate, “When a substitute is requested.” The correct
signal is the flag held horizontally above the head to signal the
request. Nowhere can I find that the Assistant Referee is to “rip the
flag” to gain the attention of the Center. Part of the responsibility of
the Center is to check at every stoppage for substitutes. I realize why
some people perform this “flag ripping” but please consider this,
substituting is a privilege, not a right. You, as a Center, do not have
to let a team sub, but we do so in order to be nice (yeah, right). I feel
if a team of coach doesn’t think enough to call out for a sub, why should
it fall on the Assistant Referee to make sure the team can sub? Don’t
take my word for it, check with an assessor or a senior referee and see
what they have to say. That’s all for now, keep up the good work.
(to the top)
GOAL KICKs
By Brian Caldwell, Referee Assessor/Instructor
What is a goal
kick?
A goal kick is a method of
restarting play. A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only
against the opposing team.
When is a Goal
Kick awarded?
A goal kick is awarded when the
whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the attacking team,
passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal
is not scored.
What is the Goal
Kick procedure?
The ball is kicked from any point
within the goal area by a player of the defending team. The kicking
teams opponents remain outside the penalty area
until the ball is in play. The kicker does not play the ball a
second time until it has touched another player. The ball is in
play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty area.
What are the
infringements and sanctions?
If the ball is not kicked directly
into play beyond the penalty area, the kick is retaken
What are the key
things to remember?
A goal kick is awarded when the
ball crosses the goal line, and a goal is not scored, when last touched
by an attacking player.
There is no offside on a goal
kick.
All attacking players must be
outside the penalty area.
The ball may be placed anywhere in
the goal area.
Any player on the defending team
may take the goal kick.
The player who takes the kick may not
touch the ball twice before another player touches the ball.
The ball is not in play until it
clears the penalty area.
If the ball doesn't clear the
penalty area, the kick is retaken… as many times as is necessary.
(to the top)
WHAT'S IN A
UNIFORM?
By Brian Caldwell, Referee Assessor/Instructor
More years ago
than I care to tell, I was a citizen sailor, a member of the United
States Navy. One of the first things the Navy introduced me to was a uniform and how to wear it with pride. I
must admit that I was not the best pupil, but I witnessed the terror of
boot camp and was at least able to understand that it was easier to get
along when you were willing to go along. I remember finding the
whole thing silly. I remember thinking, “It isn’t the uniform, but
who is in it”.
Then through the
generosity of American Taxpayers, I was allowed to take an all expenses
paid tour of the Mediterranean. I
encountered people (in rather large numbers) who well understood what the
uniform of the US Navy meant. And, frankly, some were not
overwhelmingly impressed by its splendor. I quickly realized that
the uniform was bigger than I was. What the uniform did was
identify me. It set me apart and established what I was in spite of
what I thought I was. What the uniform represented was every
citizen sailor. It also represented every soldier, airman, marine,
guardsman, and citizen of the USA. I relearned how to
wear my uniform with pride and did not in the least find it silly.
Today, on occasion,
I wear a USSF referee uniform. I cannot say that the uniform fits
quite as well as the uniform I received from the USN, but I can say that
I wear it with pride. I can also say that when I wear it I
encounter people who well understand what the uniform means. And,
frankly, some are not overwhelmingly impressed by its splendor.
Like my Navy
uniform, it sets me apart. It makes me highly visible, and rightly
so. That is the purpose of the referee uniform, to make the referee
stand out and separate him or her from the players. Its’ purpose is
to help the referee have presence and add to his or her authority.
When a referee wears a sloppy uniform, it diminishes his or her
authority. A sloppy uniform degrades not only the referee who wears
it, but it also degrades every other referee.
When I present
myself to the field for my first game, I try to be sure my shirt is
tucked in, my socks are up, my badge is on, and my shoes are clean (if
not polished). These are certainly small things, but they are not
trivial things. Because, you see, as with my Navy uniform, the
referee uniform represents many more people than me. When I put on
a referee uniform, I represent each and every one of you. I am proud to
be associated with you and I want you to think well of me.
When I see
someone who is not quite up to grade, I don’t admonish them, but I do
point out that their socks are drooping or their shirt is a little askew
or not quite tucked in. There have been times when these things
have been pointed out to me. Once, recently in fact, my badge was
upside down. The individual who brought it to my attention wasn’t
being rude and I was not offended. He was being helpful and I was
grateful. So, if someone says, “Hey, Ref, tuck your shirt in.”
Do it with a smile and say, “Thanks, Ref.” Because, you see, you
are who is in your uniform and when you put on that uniform you represent
me and every other USSF referee.
(to the top)
throw in
By Brian Caldwell, Referee Assessor/Instructor
What is a throw
in?
A throw in is a
method of restarting play and is governed by Law XV - The Throw in.
When does a throw
in occur?
A throw in occurs
when the whole of the ball passes over the whole of the touch line.
The touch line is the line that runs along each side of the field.
When the ball is between the two touch lines, it is out of touch and when
the ball completely crosses the touch line (in the air or on the ground)
the ball is in touch. The opponents of the player who last touched
the ball return the ball to play by a throw in. A goal may not be
scored directly from a throw in.
What is the
proper method for a throw in?
The ball is
returned to play at the point where it crossed the touch line. A
yard leeway is allowed from that point.
The thrower must
face the field. That doesn't mean the player may not stand
sideways. It means the thrower may not turn his back to the field
at the moment of releasing the ball into play.
Part of either
foot must be on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch
line. In other words, neither foot may be across the touch line.
Both hands must
be used. That does not mean the ball may not spin.
The ball must be delivered from
the behind and over the head. Not beside the head or from the face
or chest.
What are the
limitations on the opponents of the thrower?
Opponents may not
interfere with the delivering of the ball into play. An opponent
may not stand in front of the thrower. In fact, the thrower should
be at least 2 yards from the thrower. The specific wording in the
law is as follows:
“All opponents must stand no less than two meters
from the point at which the throw-in is taken.”
And
“If an opponent unfairly distracts or impedes the thrower
he is cautioned for unsporting behavior and shown the yellow card.”
According to a recent (January 8,
2006) USSF communication, enforcing of the minimum distance on Throw-Ins
should mirror the methods used for enforcing the minimum distance on
Free-Kicks.
Besides the throw
in procedure, what are the limitations on the thrower?
Regardless of
what the opponent does, the thrower may not deliberately throw the ball
directly at an opponent. This could be considered violent conduct
and may result in dismissal from the field.
The thrower may
not touch the ball again until it has touched another player even though
the ball is in play immediately it enters the field of play. If
after the ball is in play, the thrower touches the ball a second time
before it has touched another player, her opponents are awarded an
indirect free kick at the place where the foul occurred.
A player may
throw the ball to any player, including a goalkeeper. A goalkeeper
may not, however, receive the ball directly into her hands from a throw in
when her teammate has executed the throw in. If she does, the
opposing team gets an indirect free kick from the spot of the foul.
A goalkeeper may use her hands when an opponent has thrown the ball in.
What happens if
the thrower fails to property throw the ball in?
What happens if
the thrower fails to property throw the ball in?
If the thrower
fails in one of the five items mentioned above, the throw goes to the
other team.
What if the ball
never enters the field?
The throw in is
retaken.
Things to remember:
1.
All of the ball crosses all of the touch line in the air or on the ground
2.
Two hands
3.
Through the head
4.
Both feet on the ground
5.
Within a yard of where the ball left the field
6.
The ball is in play as soon as it reenters the field
7.
Opponents may not interfere with the throw in
8.
Enforce minimum distance like any free kick restart
9.
Can throw to your goalkeeper, but the goalkeeper may not use hands
10.
Improper throw in, the other team gets the ball
11. The
thrower may not touch the ball after a throw in until someone else does
(to the top)
PREGAME! PREGAME! PREGAME!
By Brian Caldwell, Referee Assessor/Instructor
I had the great good
fortune of attending the Arkansas State Referee Camp this year. I
had the even greater good fortune of receiving instruction from a FIFA
referee. As you all know, there are only 10 FIFA referees in the United States.
This was truly an honor.
The FIFA referee
was Ali Shaheli. Mr. Shaheli’s
presentation was exciting, enthusiastic, and covered a wide variety of
topics and issues. One recurring theme, to me, was the importance
of Pre Game preparation. Obviously, most of us will never have the
opportunity to be a FIFA referee and few of us will ever referee a game
that will require a FIFA referee. For the most part, we will have
to content ourselves with local soccer club games and tournaments.
Does that mean the games we referee are unimportant? Does that mean
Pre Game preparation is unimportant? Every game we referee is a
chance to teach and a chance to learn. What can be more important
than that? Preparation is not only important, it is essential to
maximize your teaching and learning.
If Pre Game
preparation is different for us, then what is Pre Game preparation?
Pre Game preparation begins the moment you become aware of an assignment
and ends the moment you give the signal to start your assigned game.
Review any special rules involved in the game for the age group or
competition level you are asked to referee. Think about the people
you may interact with. If you have refereed either team before,
think about what you might do different or the same. If you have
never refereed either team, review your previous experience in games for
that age and level of competition.
Check out your
referee bag. Do you have a whistle and a spare just in case?
Do you have a least one watch that works (two is better)? Make sure
you have your badge. Is your uniform clean? Do you have a
backup jersey? What do your shoes look like? Check your game
report and make sure you have some blanks and, of course, you must have
those red and yellow cards? Do you have a coin? Is there any
other equipment you might need? Now is the time to find out what
you don’t have and not when you arrive at the field.
It is probably
too late to worry about getting in physical shape. But you can get
in mental and emotional shape and there are still things you can do to
prepare physically. Rest well the night before the game. Eat
appropriately. Warm your body up and stretch before the game.
Arrive early if you can. Bring water or whatever fluid works for
you. Clear your mind of negative thoughts. Remember the game
is not for you, the game is for the players.
So, now you are
at the field. What do you do? Find the other referees, if
there are any. Don’t just stand around like a spectator. Show
yourself. If you are the only referee, walk the field. If
you’re an assistant referee, find the referee. If he/she has not
arrived, then you walk the field. If both assistant referees are
present, then both of you walk the field.
When you walk the
field, look for potential problem areas. Are there any holes or
excess sand or water? Check the touchlines, are they
straight? Is the field square? Is the midfield line about
right? Is there a center circle? Measure it, it will be your
guide for the minimum distance for the whole game. Check the penalty
arc, the penalty area, the penalty spot, the goal line and the goal
area. If there may be penalty kicks involved, know where the spot
should be. If it is wrong, know it before the game. Check the
goals. Are they anchored? Do the goals have nets? Are
the nets in good shape? Check the corner flags. Make sure
they are the right height (at least 5 feet for safety). Go to
midfield on the spectator side. Check the midfield flag.
Whether there is a midfield flag or not, step off a yard. Greet the
Mom and Dad’s. Ask them to stay behind the flag, for the safety of
the players.
If you are an
assistant referee, check the touchlines closely. Orient yourself to
the field. Determine what square is and decide how you will
determine that you are even with the second to last defender. Do a
quick mental check on flag mechanics while you stand on the touchline and
face the field.
Greet the
coaches. If you have found something on the field, let them know
about it. Don’t preach or visit, just let them know you are
there. Ask them if it is a good time to check their players.
Ask them if they expect all their players at game time or if they expect
any late arrivals. Tell them what your substitution procedure will
be. Tell them how to bring in late arrivals. Remind them
about the blood rules. In the lower levels where cards are not
involved, talk to the coach about how you want to deal with problem
players.
Check the
players. Don’t lecture, especially at the upper levels. If
there is some special instruction you want to give, stick to the facts
and be prepared to stand behind what you say. In lower levels, it
is probably a good idea to line the players up. If you do, get
their attention but don’t talk down to them. They are still players
(not boys and girls), even if they are seven. In upper levels, a
walk through may be more appropriate. Remember you are there for
the players and not the other way around. Remember that all jewelry
is inappropriate. Safety first. Besides what you allow will
impact the next referee. Remember the 5 S’s.
1. Shirt –
Tucked in at check-in. Once the game starts, things happen.
2. Shorts
3. Shinguards – Completely covered by
4. Socks –
Over the shinguards, not under.
5. Shoes –
No toe cleats or sharp edges.
Now is the time
for the pre game conference. Pre game conference? When you
are alone? Yep, even when you are alone. If you are alone,
get out of the way off by yourself. Watch the players. Watch
how the coach deals with the players. Get some water.
Chill. Run over the special rules for the competition in your mind.
If you aren’t
alone and you are the referee, talk to your assistants about what you
expect from them. If you are the assistant referee, talk about your
concerns and ask any questions you might have. No referee wants to
find out in the middle of the game that you are unsure about how to
handle a particular situation. It is as much your pre game as the
referee’s pre game. Pay attention to one another. Don’t
gossip, but do discuss facts about the players, coaches, and teams.
Don’t prejudge anyone, just be aware of prior
occurrences. Talk over how you will do the coin toss or any other
ceremonial duties. Discuss field conditions and any special rules
of competition involved. If you are the referee, designate a senior
assistant and discuss bench control procedures. Get comfortable
with one another and get on the same page. Become the third team on
the field.
So, what is a
good minimum pre game conference? Well, that is really up to
you. I don’t presume that my minimum pre game is that great, but it
goes like this:
1. Stay even with the second to
last defender or the ball, whichever is closer to the goal.
2. Follow the ball all the way to
the goal line, you will be the first judge of
the goal line.
3. Watch the whole length of the
touchline. On your side give me direction when needed. If you
don’t know which way, I will decide.
4. On the far end, if I don’t look
back at you, I will take care of ball in and out.
5. If I look at you, let me know
if it is in or out. If I look again, give me direction.
6. On throw-ins, watch the field
and I will watch the thrower (unless the play is a few yards away from
you). I would rather have 4 eyes on the field than 4 eyes on a
throw-in.
7. When play is in close to you,
give a little more weight to the play than to offside.
8. If you see a foul in your area,
give me a flag. But, don’t lose sight of advantage.
9. The closer you get to the goal
area, the faster I want a flag. I can wave you off, I cannot wave
you up.
10. If I wave you off, relax, I
will take the heat.
11. If you see a foul in the
penalty area, look at me first, if I missed it, call it, I can always
wave you off.
12. On PK’s
come in to the 18 and watch the keeper. I will take care of
everything else.
13. On corner kicks, control the
10 yards on your side.
14. On corner kicks, watch the
goal line on the kick, then go to offside when
the ball is clearly in play.
15. Technical fouls on the keeper
are mine.
16. On substitutions, move to
midfield when I am on the far side and control the sub process.
When you return to your position, I will restart or give me a thumbs-up
if midfield is your position.
17. On goal kicks, don’t become
overwhelmed by placement. Just let me know if it is persistently or
excessively out of the goal area.
18. On goal kicks, make sure the
ball clears the penalty area.
19. If a goal is scored, make eye
contact and move up the line toward midfield.
20. Every time the ball is out of
play, look over the field, find me and make eye contact, check the
touchline. Lemme no you are otay.
That is my pre
game. Obviously, some discussion goes with each point. Think
about and develop your own pre game. Steal from other referees.
Take pieces of each pre game you have been through. Think about
what you want to know and what your expectations are; then write them
down.
After the pre
game (or whenever it is convenient), get a ball. Check it
out. For most games, if it is the right size, if it is round and
bounces, if it is safe, that is good enough. At upper levels, check
the air pressure, air the ball up if you need to or get another
ball. If there are ball chasers, give them any instructions you
want them to have. At a minimum, say hello and thank them for their
help.
If you’re alone,
move onto the field and ask for Captains. Don’t yell or be abrupt
unless you have no choice. Face the assistant referees and have the
players between you and your assistants. Greet the Captains.
Be in charge but don’t bark or be disrespectful. The higher the
level of play, the more formal you need to be. Have the players
shake hands and greet one another. Introduce your assistants.
If you have any last minute instructions to pass on, do it now.
Find out who will call the toss if there is more than one visiting
Captain. Show the players the coin. Toss the coin. Make
sure the players know the call and the result of the toss. Tell the
players when you want to start. Give the assistant referees any
last minute instructions and send them on their way.
Once the players
are in position,
1. Count
the players
2. Check to
make sure the assistants are ready.
3. Take a
deep breath.
4. Start
the game.
(to the top)
ARE THERE SPECIAL RULES OF
CONDUCT FOR GOALKEEPERS?
By Brian Caldwell, Referee Assessor/Instructor
Yes, these are covered in Law XII.
For the most part, the goalkeeper
is free to use her hands extensively in her own penalty area. However,
there are three circumstances where that is not true.
1. She may not touch the
ball again with her hands once she has released it from her
possession. Releasing the ball includes placing the ball on the
ground, throwing the ball, or kicking the ball. It doesn't include
tossing the ball in the air or bouncing the ball when in the act of
kicking or throwing the ball into play.
2. She may not touch the
ball with her hands when it has been kicked deliberately to her by a
teammate. This rule does not mean that the goalkeeper may not touch
a ball last played by a teammate. However, this rule may not be
circumvented by trickery such as kicking the ball away from the keeper
but in such a manner that it is assured that the keeper will touch the ball.
3. She may not touch the
ball with her hands when it is thrown in by a teammate.
The goalkeeper is also restricted
in how long she may control the ball with her hands and how she may place
the ball into play. Since the goalkeeper's opponents may not interfere
with her placing the ball into play, a special rule was created to
prevent her from abusing this privilege. Generally this is referred
to as the 6 second rule. The 6 second rule is that from the time the
goalkeeper takes control of the ball with her hands, she has 6 seconds to
release the ball into play. The process of placing the ball in play
includes carrying the ball. Carrying the ball includes tossing the
ball into the air or bouncing the ball on the ground, as long as she is
in the process of putting the ball into play.
If the goalkeeper violates these
rules, the penalty is an indirect free kick for her opponents from the
place of the foul, unless the foul happens in the goal area. If the
foul occurs in the goal area, the ball is placed on the line parallel to
the goal line closest to where the foul occurred.
Things to remember:
1. The goalkeeper may not
receive the ball directly from a teammate.
2. Once the goalkeeper
releases the ball into play, she cannot handle it again until an opposing
player touches the ball.
3. An opponent may not
interfere with the goalkeeper releasing the ball into play.
4. The goalkeeper has six
seconds to release the ball into play.
5. The penalty is an
indirect kick for the goalkeeper's opponents.
The goalkeeper is considered to be
in control of the ball by touching it with any part of his hand or arms.
Possession of the ball includes the goalkeeper deliberately parrying the
ball, but does not include the circumstances where, in the opinion of the
referee, the ball rebounds accidentally from the goalkeeper, for example
after he has made a save. The goalkeeper is considered to be guilty of
time-wasting if he holds the ball in his hands or arms for more than 5-6
seconds.
Note:
A player may pass the ball to his own
goalkeeper using his head or chest or knee, etc. If, however, in
the opinion of the referee, a player uses a deliberate trick while the
ball is in play in order to circumvent the Law, the player is guilty of
unsporting behavior. That player is cautioned, shown the yellow
card and an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team from the
place where the infringement occurred.
(to the top)
direct versus indirect free kicks
By Brian Caldwell, Referee Assessor/Instructor
How are direct
and indirect kicks different?
Let's start with how they are the
same.
1. Both are free kicks.
2. Both are the result of
fouls.
3. Both are taken at the
spot of the foul unless the foul occurred in the goal area or a penalty kick
is involved.
4. Neither team can score
against itself from either a direct or indirect kick.
5. The ball must be
stationary prior to the kick being taken.
6. The kicker may not touch
the ball twice before someone else has touched the ball.
7. The ball is in play once
the ball is touched and moves (unless the defending team is taking a kick
in its penalty area).
8. Under either
circumstance, all opponents of the kicker must move away from the ball
and not interfere with the ball being placed in play, whether covertly or
overtly.
9. Lastly, both are subject
to Law XIII (Free Kicks).
So, how are they
different?
1. When an indirect kick is
awarded, the referee signals with his/her hand held in the air, from the
time the kick is taken until any other player has touched the ball.
2. When an indirect
free kick is taken, if no one but the kicker touches the ball and the
ball enters either goal, no goal is scored.
3. When a direct
free kick is taken, if the ball enters the goal of the kicker's opponent,
whether anyone else touches the ball or not, a goal is awarded. If
the ball enters the kicker's goal, no goal is scored.
Are there any
special considerations?
1. A direct or indirect kick
taken from the kicker's penalty area must leave the penalty area before
it is in play.
2. A direct or indirect kick
taken from the kicker's goal area may be taken from any spot in the goal
area.
3. A direct kick awarded in
the kicker's opponents' penalty area results in a penalty kick.
4. When an indirect kick is awarded
in the kicker's opponents' penalty area, all opponents cannot be closer
than ten yards (distance varies with age) from the ball unless they are
on the goal line. They then may be closer than ten yards from the
ball.
5. When an indirect kick is
awarded in the kicker's opponents' penalty area, the kick is taken from
the goal area line parallel to the goal line closest to where the foul
occurred.
6. You cannot score against
yourself on either a direct or an indirect kick. If you kick the
ball directly into your own goal, no goal is scored.
What are some
things to remember?
1. The ball must be
stationary.
2. The referee gives a
special signal when an indirect kick is awarded.
3. The team not awarded the
kick must move away (or be moving away) from the ball and not interfere
with the kick.
4. On an indirect kick, two
players must touch the ball before a goal can be scored.
5. The kicker cannot touch
the ball a second time until another player has touched the ball.
(to the top)
WHY PROTECT THE BADGE?
By Brian Caldwell, Referee Assessor/Instructor
When do you
become a referee and how do people know it? When you complete an
entry level referee clinic, pass the test, and get your BADGE, you are a
referee. When you step on the field with your uniform and your Badge, you are a referee. So, what is it
with this Badge? When you hear referees say, “You have to protect
the Badge”, what does that mean? What does protecting the Badge
have to do with you? Why do you care?
The Referee
Administrative Handbook, Part III (Standards of Conduct), Subpart C
provides a Code of Ethics for Referees. The Code consists of 12
statements. Each statement begins with the word ‘I”.
The ‘I’ is you. The ‘I’ is me. This is not rhetorical.
Each statement addresses how each of us has agreed to operate when we put
on the Badge. There are certain things we will do, certain things
we will not do, a certain standard we will maintain, and a principal we
will adhere to. All of the statements together define what it means
“to protect the Badge”. Since each statement points directly toward
you and I, it is essential that you and I
understand and abide by the Code. The Code demands that we protect
the Badge.
The things we
will do:
Statement (1)
I
will always maintain the utmost respect for the game of soccer.
·
Do the simple things.
·
Wear your uniform with pride.
·
Speak respectfully with fans, coaches, and
players.
Statement (2)
I
will conduct myself honorably at all times and maintain the dignity of my
position.
·
Recognize that you are the authority figure on the
field and not a player.
·
You will not be respected unless you act like a
referee.
·
Go the extra yard and don’t expect to be respected
just because you have on a yellow shirt.
Statement (3)
I
will always honor an assignment or any other contractual obligation.
·
If you commit, be there. If you cannot be
there, give as much advance warning as possible.
·
Make sure you are prepared for any assignment you
accept.
·
Be on time.
Statement (4)
I
will attend training meetings and clinics so as to know the Laws of the
Game, their proper interpretation and their application.
·
Training is a requirement, not an option. We cannot
be on the same page without it.
·
If you cannot attend formal training, arrange to
meet with an instructor, assessor, or assignor and talk things
over.
·
The main thing is to stay current and consistent
with other referees.
Statement (5)
I
will always strive to achieve maximum team work with my fellow officials.
·
Get to know one another.
·
Develop an effective pre-game process and make sure
you understand what is expected of each team member at every game.
·
Teamwork requires involvement and input. Ask
for it when appropriate and provide it when asked.
Statement (6)
I
will be loyal to my fellow officials and never knowingly promote
criticism of them.
·
As the saying goes, ‘Loose lips sink ships’.
The best way to destroy trust is to spread rumors.
·
People know what you are whether you have a uniform
on or not.
·
If a referee is down, lend them a hand up and not a
put down.
Statement (7)
I
will be in good condition.
·
Be in good enough condition to perform your duties.
·
Develop a plan to stay in condition.
·
You can’t earn your paycheck from the center circle.
Statement (8)
I
will control the players effectively by being courteous and considerate
without sacrificing fairness.
·
The game belongs to the players. The referee is
on the field by invitation.
·
Be a good guest or you may not be invited back.
·
Memorize the V8 clause.
Statement (9)
I
will do my utmost to assist my fellow officials to better themselves and
their work.
·
A chain is only as strong as its’ weakest
link. Whenever possible, strengthen each link.
·
If you ask for advice, listen to it.
·
If you give advice, make it sincere and honest.
The things we
will not do:
Statement (10)
I
will not make statements about any games except to clarify an interpretation
of the laws of the Game.
·
If you weren’t there, don’t guess, say you don’t
know. You aren’t being vague, you’re being honest.
·
Remember the next question may be about a game
you’re calling.
·
Elucidate about the laws and not about somebody’s shortcomings.
Statement (11)
I
will not discriminate against nor take advantage of any individual group
on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
·
The sport is an international sport, get with the
program.
·
If you can’t get with the program, find another way
to spend your time.
·
The sport belongs to the players, all the players.
The standard
and the principal:
Statement
(12)
I
consider it a privilege to be a part of the United States Soccer
Federation and my actions will reflect credit upon that organization and
its affiliates.
·
Be proud you are a referee
·
Recognize that it is an honor to put the Badge on
your chest before each game.
·
Live up to the privilege that has been accorded you.
Your badge
doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to all referees. It
represents all referees. It is what grants you the authority to be
a referee. When you don’t live up to the Code of Conduct, you don’t
protect the Badge. When you don’t protect the Badge, you subtract
from the value of the Badge for all referees. When you live by the
Code of Conduct, you protect the Badge. When you protect the Badge,
you add to the value of the Badge for all referees. Protect the
Badge, for all of us.
(to the top)
ROADBLOCKS TO CONFIDENCE
By Brian Caldwell, Referee Assessor/Instructor
Every referee can (and probably
will) encounter a crisis of confidence. That crisis can occur
regardless of the referee’s grade or level of experience. I believe
there are four separate emotional roadblocks that can lead to that
crisis. They are:
1.
Fallibility
2.
Fear
3.
Frustration
4.
Failure
Without a doubt, refereeing a
soccer game is physically demanding. A hard game will take its toll
on those who are not physically prepared. That can be said as well
for the mental requirements of refereeing a soccer game. Every
referee must have a firm grasp of the Laws of the Game. The
necessity for physical and mental preparation is obvious to spectators
and readily apparent to virtually every referee. There is a third
aspect of the game that most referees ignore. That is the emotional
part of the game and the need for being emotionally prepared.
Failure to prepare emotionally will lead to the referee’s inability to
effectively manage the game. I believe there are four emotional
barriers to succeeding as a referee that will be confronted, sometimes
several times, over a referee’s lifetime.
1. FALLIBILITY
Every referee is capable of making
an error and every referee knows it. It is this part of human
nature that causes referees to question their actions at crucial times in
their game. It is at those moments that it is most essential that
referees believe they are correct in their actions that some referees pause
in their belief in themselves. This pause makes them hesitate and
lose faith in their ability to perform. Even experienced and
competent referees can experience this self doubt. This is not
reflection, but a complete collapse in confidence, even if only
momentary. This collapse is due to our human frailty and our
inability to overcome the certain understanding that each of us has that
we are fallible.
2. FEAR
This is not the fight or flight
fear but the fear of criticism or non-acceptance that stifles a referee’s
ability to make a decision. This fear creates lose-lose situations
on the field. When referees are overcome by fear, they either
become paralyzed and indecisive or defensive and abusive. It is at
these moments that a referee must make a difficult or perhaps unpopular
decision and cannot do so. Players from both teams lose faith in
the referee and his/her every decision becomes suspect. The players
begin to take control of the game through retaliation and/or
dissent. The core of this fear is a sense on the referee’s part
that they are inadequate or ill prepared for the level of play.
3. FRUSTRATION
This isn’t the frustration of the
referee, but the frustration of a player, coach, or fan. Players
have expectations. When those expectations encounter a different
reality, players can become frustrated. Sometimes, that frustration
can be misdirected toward a referee. Very often, the referee
overreacts and unwarranted tension is created between the referee and the
players. This emotional reaction does not resolve the problem, but
spreads frustration and can lead to a continuous series of confrontations
between the players/coaches/fans and the referee.
4. FAILURE
Referees are generally harsh self
critics. There is an old saying that referees are expected to be
perfect and get better. Every referee will fall short of that
requirement and, because of their general propensity to be overly
critical; this can lead to an emotional meltdown. Remember, it
isn’t the failure itself but the referees’ inability to emotionally cope
with his/her inner expectations for performance that creates a confidence
dilemma.
STEPS TO BUILDING
CONFIDENCE
So, what do you do? How do you
overcome the awareness that you are fallible? How do you overcome
the fear of non-acceptance? What do you do about player
frustration? How do you deal with your own crushing comprehension
that you have failed?
To begin with, you give yourself
the FREEDOM to be human. You create within yourself an understanding
that you may make an error, but you will not be destroyed by that
error. When you feel that urge to pull back, you push forward, you
remind yourself that you are making the best decision you can make at
that moment and you will move forward positively from that point.
You know you are going to make a mistake, so what? Coaches make
mistakes, players make mistakes. The successful ones go on.
As a referee, you must go on as well. But, don’t forget that you
have given yourself the freedom to be human, and not permission to be
lazy. Make the best decision you can. Work hard to not be
subject to error.
Accept that you are on the field
precisely because some decisions will be unpopular and difficult.
Then work on making your FRIENDS proud of you. How?
First of all, recognize that you are not on the field to be anyone’s
friend. Second, recognize that the players, coaches, and fans are
not there to be your friend. What the players and coaches want is a
referee who consistently and accurately applies the laws of the game, not
a buddy. If you are lucky, you have assistant referees. They are
your friends. If you are really lucky, you are being
assessed. The assessor is your best friend. Don’t worry about
whether the players or coaches like your decisions. Worry about
making your assistants or assessor proud of you. If you have no
friends at the game, imagine you are being watched by a referee you truly
admire and respect. Make them proud.
Stay FOCUSED.
Remember you are on the field to enforce the laws of the game and not to
defend your ego or sense of self. Treat the players with compassion
and understanding. You must be able to recognize that not all
emotional outbursts directed toward you are dissent. Review, quickly,
in your mind the events immediately before the outburst. Was there
an error on the player’s part or your part? If you overreact,
friction is created between you and the players and generates more
frustration. Once the cycle begins, it is almost impossible to
stop. Soon, needless cards are issued and the game suffers.
Unless that player, coach, or fan is truly inhibiting your ability to
perform, bringing discredit on the game, or disrupting performance on the
field, let it go - but not repetitively.
Be FORTHRIGHT with
yourself, but don’t abuse yourself. Make the best decisions you can
but be honest with yourself. Accept that you will make mistakes but
that you are the final authority. Make yourself as aware of the
laws of the game as you can be. Read the Laws of the Game. There
are 17 laws. If you read one per week, you will read all the laws 3
times a year and still have a week off. Read the Advice to
Referees. Attend training whenever possible. Talk to other
referees. Get feedback from assessors and mentors. When you
fail, don’t quit. Review what you did wrong and determine what you
should have done different. Go do another game and succeed.
CONCLUSION
There you have it, my conception
of the 4 barriers to confident refereeing. Think about them and
modify them to your tastes. The absolute best defense against
emotional collapse is awareness and preparedness. You know you can
make a mistake, you know you need affirmation; you know players will
become frustrated, you know you will fail. In this case knowledge
is power in that you can take action to curtail the impact of each of the
roadblocks to your confident performance on the field.
(to the top)
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