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ARTICLES BY REFS FOR REFS:

     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!

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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!

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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. 

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  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.

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  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, someti