So I have this CR...

[LotharDSM]

Not a big deal, but the other AR is getting ticked, so I thought I'd ask what y'all suggest:
I'm an AR in a rec league with games in age anywhere from U12 to U19 and the same CR is there almost every Sunday... and every Sunday he does the same annoying yell of "GOALIE!" anytime he believes the goalkeeper is about to or does have possession of the ball. He warns the other team to stay away from the keeper when this is yelled, BUT many times the keeper drops the shot or screws up and a forward following the shot into the area would normally have been able to at least make a play on it except for this refs decision to shy play away from the keepers. He also talks a lot during the game, usually too much if I were player.

Also, when there is a close play where the ball ricochets off a couple players and I make the call he invariably calls it the opposite way I point my flag and yells "touch" or something indicating it went off someone else. Well, no sh!t, that's why I made the call I did. OK, maybe I'm also frustrated with him at least in this aspect, and he also does this to the other AR and the AR just walks straight to their car after the final whistle.

While he technically has been reffing longer than I have I've been involved with the game a lot longer and know my shtuff, as does the other AR, who has talked about moving to another league.

Do I approach the CR about my concerns and see if he flips out (he also seems to have a touch of littleman's disease) or just let it slide and possibly lose a good AR. The league is small and the refs few, the pay sucks (it's more like community service) so the money won't keep the AR around.

Just wanting opinions, thanks...

[AAGunner3]

Not a big deal, but the other AR is getting ticked, so I thought I'd ask what y'all suggest:
I'm an AR in a rec league with games in age anywhere from U12 to U19 and the same CR is there almost every Sunday... and every Sunday he does the same annoying yell of "GOALIE!" anytime he believes the goalkeeper is about to or does have possession of the ball. He warns the other team to stay away from the keeper when this is yelled, BUT many times the keeper drops the shot or screws up and a forward following the shot into the area would normally have been able to at least make a play on it except for this refs decision to shy play away from the keepers. He also talks a lot during the game, usually too much if I were player.

Also, when there is a close play where the ball ricochets off a couple players and I make the call he invariably calls it the opposite way I point my flag and yells "touch" or something indicating it went off someone else. Well, no sh!t, that's why I made the call I did. OK, maybe I'm also frustrated with him at least in this aspect, and he also does this to the other AR and the AR just walks straight to their car after the final whistle.

While he technically has been reffing longer than I have I've been involved with the game a lot longer and know my shtuff, as does the other AR, who has talked about moving to another league.

Do I approach the CR about my concerns and see if he flips out (he also seems to have a touch of littleman's disease) or just let it slide and possibly lose a good AR. The league is small and the refs few, the pay sucks (it's more like community service) so the money won't keep the AR around.

Just wanting opinions, thanks...

I usually try to discuss things with my fellow ref team during halftime. Have you tried that? I ask for input from my ARs as to what they are seeing that maybe I've missed, and to clarify anything if I overruled them - and apologize if I did so in error. As an AR, I usually try to offer things that I'm seeing, ask questions about calls I was shielded from, remind him that #9 committed 4 of red team's six fouls....

Have you tried that? Opening a discussion with him? Ask him why he overrulled you? You felt you had the better angle and could clearly see...etc.. ?

What were his pregame instructions (if any) to you as one of the ARs?
Have you tried clarifying what he expects of you pregame if he doesn't give you any instructions?

[HoldenMan]

At least I think you should address your concern that he may be baulking the keeper.........

[Gary V]

What does the assignor say?

Having a "warm body" to fill a position this season won't be good for the future if the assignor loses other good refs who don't want to work with this guy.

[kevbrunton]

I would start out talking to the CR.

Perhaps an opening like "I'm curious, do you think that when you yell 'keeper' that you are interfering with the game -- that you're, in effect, telling the attacking players to not even try to make a fair challenge for the ball".


I used to have a referee that I worked with who was overall a good referee. But he talked a lot and one of the things that he did was say things right as the play was about to be made -- like "straight up" right as players were getting ready to try to head the ball.

A few players complained to me about this guy and how much he talked -- that it distracted them and made them hesitate at times on whether to try to play the ball or not. The next time we worked together, I mentioned it to him. I told him that after first working with him, I started talking a little more than I had in the past -- and it has been good. But I mentioned that some players felt he was talking too much -- in particular talking leading up to or before a play. In otherwords, talking after the play was made to "communicate" what you're seeing as a referee is good -- but to impact the play by talking before the play is not good.

He appreciated the feedback and has made an adjustment in how he calls the game.

So I'd start with that and see what this CR has to say. If he says that he doesn't want anyone playing those balls at all -- he wants the keeper to have free access to them, THEN I'd go to the assigner and let the assigner know that this guy is calling something that goes against the laws & spirit of the game.

[IASocFan]

...Do I approach the CR about my concerns and see if he flips out (he also seems to have a touch of littleman's disease) or just let it slide and possibly lose a good AR. The league is small and the refs few, the pay sucks (it's more like community service) so the money won't keep the AR around.

Just wanting opinions, thanks...

Having worked in the same neighborhoods, I haven't run into a CR that yells GOALIE. I would at least yell KEEPER! :)

Overruling the AR on throw-ins shouldn't be that big a deal, I may do it once a game when I'm sure. I usually defer to the AR (unless I have a less than competent club linesman).

It sounds like the yelling GOALIE is the biggest point. I would start by either using HoldenMan's suggest or suggesting that the visiting teams are used to it, and that it's effecting there play, particularly when it's yelled before the keeper has clear possession. Depending on how the CR reacts to that suggestion, you may (or may not) want to address other issues. Unfortunately, some Referees don't like to be told how to do things, and depending how the CR handles the rest of the game, you may want to suggest help through the assignor (especially, if the assignor is also a knowledgeable referee.)

[billf]

Try talking to this guy first, then the assignor if that doesn't get you anywhere. If both of those fail when you work with him again, I'd be inclined to just put the flag neatly on the ground and go home if he is a persistent problem. If he appears to be happier working alone, then give him just that. I'd call the assignor right away and say thanks for the games but I can't work with this guy, find out if he assigns anything else, and if he does ask for assignments in another league. Otherwise, find another assignor on your own and start fresh.

[LotharDSM]

Thanks for the feedback... This league is always short on refs and many times we have 1 official ref and two parents/brothers, etc. calling the throw-ins, etc. The "assignor" is in charge of the entire complex which includes baseball and softball and just schedules the refs, not an assignor I'm sure most of you are used to(?) and the CR has been good to show up for several years for him and gets 1st choice on the games. There's not much pre-game since he sometimes arrives right at gametime and it's about as unofficial as an official match can get.
I'll probably mention something to him about the "goalie!" (yes, not even keeper!) since it affects play. The overruling is fine with me when it's justified and I expect it to happen, but he seems to automatically think the AR is fooled by the fact someone else touched the ball and didn't take it into consideration that the AR's also can see/hear a deflection. Not to mention the fact last weekend the ball was already out of play when the deflection(s) occurred and I was simply calling it out, but he overruled and play flew on...

IASocFan - it's in Altoona... you probably don't travel that far East for U-12 thru U-19 rec soccer!