Officials vs. Coaches

Officials vs. Officials vs. CoachesCoaches

It seems to be getting worse after It seems to be getting worse after observing the relationship between observing the relationship between coaches and officials for almost 30 years, coaches and officials for almost 30 years, it’s getting worse and at all levels!it’s getting worse and at all levels!

Coaches and players just don’t agree on Coaches and players just don’t agree on calls. calls.

Any call made usually brings the wrath of Any call made usually brings the wrath of 50% of the participants and fans. 50% of the participants and fans.

On this level On this level all can agree all can agree this will never this will never

change if this disagreement between change if this disagreement between coaches/players is permitted to continue.coaches/players is permitted to continue.

The relationship between the two have The relationship between the two have become antagonistic and sometimes become antagonistic and sometimes counter productive. counter productive.

Tension between coaches and ref’s can Tension between coaches and ref’s can be apparent even before the match.be apparent even before the match.

Do coaches (most being former players) Do coaches (most being former players) have a distrust of referees?have a distrust of referees?

Are young ref’s brainwashed by their Are young ref’s brainwashed by their elders about the evils of the coaching elders about the evils of the coaching fraternity?fraternity?

A survey was sent to 50 coaches, the A survey was sent to 50 coaches, the group included men and women coaches group included men and women coaches from different levels of soccer. There from different levels of soccer. There were 3 open ended questions.were 3 open ended questions.

1.1. How has the officiating been generally the How has the officiating been generally the season?season?

2.2. How do you best describe the relationship How do you best describe the relationship between you as a coach and the referees between you as a coach and the referees before, during, and after the match?before, during, and after the match?

3.3. Have you seen any changes in this Have you seen any changes in this relationship in your year as a player and/or relationship in your year as a player and/or coach?coach?

The questions drew many opinions and The questions drew many opinions and the answers were not surprising, but the answers were not surprising, but definitely cause for some concern.definitely cause for some concern. The technical side of officiating has been The technical side of officiating has been

good overall.good overall. The relationship between the two was The relationship between the two was

repeatedly described as tense!repeatedly described as tense! The relationship has become more The relationship has become more

contentious over the past few years.contentious over the past few years.

This relationship is a problem. This relationship is a problem. Assuming that all associated with soccer want Assuming that all associated with soccer want

the game to improve and catch on, then the game to improve and catch on, then working together is important.working together is important.

So how do we do this?So how do we do this?

A men’s college soccer coach came up A men’s college soccer coach came up with a possible aide for this:with a possible aide for this:

““The Coaches Starting XI”The Coaches Starting XI” A perspective of what A perspective of what refereesreferees should should

understand about understand about coachescoaches..

““The Coach’sThe Coach’sStarting XI”:Starting XI”:

#I#I Arrive at the game site early and physically Arrive at the game site early and physically

prepared for your responsibility.prepared for your responsibility.

#II#II Show obvious signs to both teams that the Show obvious signs to both teams that the

officiating crew is getting together as a team.officiating crew is getting together as a team.


#III#III Work hard to stay as close to the play as Work hard to stay as close to the play as

possible. It is hard to argue a call if the possible. It is hard to argue a call if the referee is in position.referee is in position.


#IV#IVHelp keep the game flowing.Help keep the game flowing.


#V#V Understand the difference between the Understand the difference between the

“letter” of the law and the “spirit” of the law, “letter” of the law and the “spirit” of the law, and always officiate with the spirit of the law and always officiate with the spirit of the law in mind.in mind.


#VI#VI On the occasion of a potentially cautionable On the occasion of a potentially cautionable

offense, speak in a non-threatening tone first offense, speak in a non-threatening tone first and caution as a last resort.and caution as a last resort.


#VII#VII Respect everyone involved and do your part Respect everyone involved and do your part

to keep participants in the game.to keep participants in the game.


#VIII#VIII Give clear and prompt signals. Give clear and prompt signals. In the event that a mistake is made, it’s okay In the event that a mistake is made, it’s okay

to reverse the decision. Players and to reverse the decision. Players and coaches know you are human.coaches know you are human.


#IX#IX Keep the game safe and fair for both teams.Keep the game safe and fair for both teams.


#X#X Show obvious signs that you are enjoying Show obvious signs that you are enjoying

the game and your role in the game.the game and your role in the game.


#XI#XI Understand that we should all do our part to Understand that we should all do our part to

leave the game a little better than when we leave the game a little better than when we found it.found it.


All good stuff and it is All good stuff and it is interesting that the focus is on interesting that the focus is on the “professionalism” and not the “professionalism” and not on the “calls”. on the “calls”.

In response, several groups of referees In response, several groups of referees from National Referees in college USSF to from National Referees in college USSF to high school and youth referees came up high school and youth referees came up with officials and their expectations of with officials and their expectations of coaches.coaches.

““A referee’s perspective of what A referee’s perspective of what coachescoaches should understand about should understand about

refereesreferees.”.”

““The Referee’s The Referee’s Starting XI”Starting XI”

#I#I Officials believe the match should be Officials believe the match should be

decided by the teams playing soccer in a decided by the teams playing soccer in a fair, safe, and exciting manner; with as fair, safe, and exciting manner; with as little need for official intervention as little need for official intervention as possible.possible.


#II#II The official’s job is to be firm but fair, and The official’s job is to be firm but fair, and

keep cheating by the teams equal, which keep cheating by the teams equal, which is very difficult.is very difficult.


#III#III Officials do not care who wins the game. Officials do not care who wins the game.

There is no reason to favor one team or There is no reason to favor one team or the other.the other.


#IV#IV Officials will allow the game to flow by Officials will allow the game to flow by

giving advantage only when player safety giving advantage only when player safety and game control are not compromised.and game control are not compromised.


#V#V Officials understand that fouls are not Officials understand that fouls are not

always equal. Some teams foul always equal. Some teams foul persistently to offset superior opponent persistently to offset superior opponent skills or lack of discipline.skills or lack of discipline.

•““The Referee’s The Referee’s Starting XI”Starting XI”

#VI#VI Officials understand that players (and Officials understand that players (and

coaches) may dissent as much as when coaches) may dissent as much as when a call is correct as when it is incorrect, a call is correct as when it is incorrect, and will be tolerant if the game continues and will be tolerant if the game continues in a positive manner.in a positive manner.


#VII#VII Officials do not give cards to players, Officials do not give cards to players,

players earn cards for reckless or players earn cards for reckless or careless plays that have no other careless plays that have no other purpose than to disrupt plays or injure an purpose than to disrupt plays or injure an opponent.opponent.


#VIII#VIII Officials have a very difficult decision in Officials have a very difficult decision in

when to give the first card. Not all fouls when to give the first card. Not all fouls against your team merit cards; not all of against your team merit cards; not all of your team’s fouls are immune from cardsyour team’s fouls are immune from cards


#IX#IX Officials understand that coaches have Officials understand that coaches have

legitimate arguments, but when picking legitimate arguments, but when picking battles, coaches should not dissent battles, coaches should not dissent trifling stuff. Who cares about a throw in trifling stuff. Who cares about a throw in at midfield with the score 6-0?at midfield with the score 6-0?


#X#X Officials have bad days. Objective & Officials have bad days. Objective &

respective feedback, or even silence, is a respective feedback, or even silence, is a better way to help officials refocus & get better way to help officials refocus & get better.better.


#XI#XIOfficials appreciate it when they do a good Officials appreciate it when they do a good

job and give an effort, coaches job and give an effort, coaches remember their name and understand remember their name and understand

that the third “team” on the field also had that the third “team” on the field also had a good game.a good game.

Both sides have spoken. It is very Both sides have spoken. It is very important that officials, coaches, and important that officials, coaches, and players not only coexist, but work together players not only coexist, but work together to improve the game and make it to improve the game and make it enjoyable for all players, coaches, fans, enjoyable for all players, coaches, fans, and job officials. and job officials.

We should all understand that we all have a responsibility to leave the game a little better than when we found it!

Documents

Officials vs. Coaches