Suited for Success

By Paul Rojas, Ed.D.

Many soccer referees also serve as coaches, some even as players. These individuals get to observe the match from their various perspectives and experiences. The coach prepares the team and the officials make sure the match flows in a positive way while the players need to play their best, be challenged and enjoy their 90 minutes.

The first thing referees need to do is to control the things they can control. Discussing this topic generates quite a bit of conversation at clinics. Active participation by veteran officials explaining what helped them have a successful season and why they continued officiating for many years is always very informative. Participants at clinics have heard from so many quality officials over a period of time that for the things they can control and perhaps, not control, have become routine and even taken for granted. Unfortunately, this is not part of the curriculum for new officials. It must be learned over a period of time.

Players are typically at the site at least 30 minutes before match time to get ready physically and mentally. The referee crew also needs to be there at least 30 minutes before match time and be ready physically and mentally. The 90 minutes of play are important to everyone on the pitch, regardless if they hold the flags, whistle or possess the ball at their feet and pass to a teammate. The coaches get the pat on the back if all goes well. The officials may even get recognized by the players, coaches and even fans if they do a credible job.

As a referee, before the coin toss, it is a good tactic to observe both teams that will be playing and notice the time frame when the players show up: Are the players dressed properly? Is the coach prepared for that first drill and stretch? Which player has the nice touch on the ball? Is there a player acting up during the warmups who, on first impression, appears to be a potential problem for the match? This is the first impression the teams are sending to the officiating crew. The referee crew also needs to make a good first impression to everyone by dressing properly, arriving with enough time to conduct the pregame, checking equipment, checking players’ passes and rosters, and talking to the coaches and perhaps the captains of both teams. These things can be controlled.

When officials enter the site of the match, they must remember that professionalism is a must and they represent a specific organization: USSF, state high school association, NISOA, ECSR, etc. They are a reflection on the entire organization they represent. Upon arrival, the referee team should introduce themselves to the coaching staff and even to the players. The referee should be in proper uniform and act in a professional manner. This is not the time for jokes, reminiscing about prior matches, etc.

The referee team must be prepared for how the coach may react during the introduction. What happens if the coach responds during the handshake, “I don’t want any of my players to get hurt in this game”? Obviously, this match has hit rock bottom even before the rosters are exchanged, almost anything the officiating crew will say or do in the next 90 minutes will not be acceptable or up to the standards of this coach. The referee team has to decide if the coach is really concerned about the safety of the players or if this is just a gamesmanship tactic to seek a call in the team’s favor during the match. No matter, the referee team now needs to be prepared to deal with the coach if there is dissent during the match.

Referees cannot control the rudeness of a coaching staff, players or fans, but they can control how they look and present themselves Proper preparation and execution of prematch responsibilities gives the crew its best chance for success.

Paul Rojas, Ed.D., Morton Grove, Ill., has been a referee for more than 30 years, and is a high-level Assessor and Instructor. He also continues to coach soccer. *

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