How to work with a new AR

[NHRef]

I was scheduled to ref with my son this weekend, however he has a high school game, so got his best friend to cover for him. The question is that this friend, who is a very good kid and scored VERY well on the ref class for grade 8, will be doing his VERY FIRST games. I talked with him on the phone last night and he is VERY nervous about making mistakes.

How do you suggest I work with him? Should I ignore the fact that its his first games? Should I shy towards his end which puts more pressure on the other AR?

The games are U11B 8v8 games, so it won't get much easier than this. There will probably be very few fouls and maybe 1-3 offside calls for him to make decisions on. Most of his calls will be for out of touch balls.

Just wondering how to deal with him.

[BentwoodBlue]

Generally, I tell first time ARs that offsides is first and formost. If they get anything right today thats what I want them to get. Second are the ins and outs. If you are not sure just give me a look and I can help out. I always try to make it a point to signal after they do. I think it builds their confidence when I do that. Finally, for the first few games to not worry about calling fouls until they are completely comfortable with it. I do tend to shade a bit in their direction to get a better look. I think foul recognition is the hardest thing for new ARs because of the three duties that is the only one that requires true judgement. There are no grey areas in offside and ins and outs.
If they say they feel fine about calling fouls then I let them have at it.

For me, I love to work with new referees. I just wish there were more Adult refs in my area to work with them and help them progress better.

[Gary V]

Some new refs have a harder time with ball out of play (they know it's out, but haven't kept track of who touched it last). Others have problems with offside - maybe not staying in position, not differentiating between position and involvement, etc. Most new refs don't know yet that they can't watch the game, they have to focus on offside and the touchline - and they have to learn which is more important at any given point.

The fact that this new ref is apprehensive is a good sign. It shows he wants to do a good job. Once he gets out there he'll probably do just fine, provided he doesn't blow his first call and get spooked. That happened to my daughter a time or two, the ref overruled her, and then she didn't want to make any more calls.

Run a little deeper on his end to double-check for offside until you get a feel for how he is doing with it. If you get a chance, a short conversation about a close call will be beneficial. "Did you see #11? Was she in an offside position? I know she wasn't involved in play, so it was good that you didn't flag. I'm just checking to see if I can still spot them when they go offside." Or after a goal where you thought someone might have been offside, check with him before signalling.

Encourage him that even if he doesn't know who touched it last, to put the flag up for ball out. That's especially important if it's hard for you to see the line.

Reinforce that he has to move down to the goal line when the ball goes there. U11 keepers aren't the most experienced, and they will bobble the ball. They'll turn around the wrong way and carry the ball over the endline. He's got to be in position to see if the ball goes out or stays in. Also, in the melee that occurs in front of the net when the ball is in the PA for more than a few seconds, he'll be a valuable set of eyes.

Make sure he knows that for balls that go out and quickly re-enter the field, the signal is a flag straight up to stop play. Then signal for the restart - throw-in, goal kick, etc. This is especially important when a goal is scored - if he just runs back up the line, it looks like he's getting back into position for the next phase of play.

It goes for granted that you back him up and protect him from any sideline abuse. You might speak to him about it beforehand, letting him know that you are there if he needs you, but that he must expect expressions of disappointment when he makes a call against a team. If it gets to dissent, for example calling into question his abilities, you will take action.

[Claymore]

Don't make a big deal out of it. You may have made him nervous by talking to him about it days before the game.

He scored highly on the Grade 8 exam, so he knows the Laws. Just give him a thorough pre-game talk and tell him to relax and enjoy himself. Unless he's completely screwing up, don't correct him until half time.


Just my $.05 (adjusted for inflation) :)

[kevbrunton]

I have spent a lot of time nurturing young referees and have done a LOT of games with a first time AR.

What I have learned over the years is to only emphasize a couple things at a time.

Before the game, emphasize the importance of offside and the importance of being in position to call a goal. Those are both game changing decisions -- so start with the big ones. I have learned over the years that following a shot in is one of the things they almost NEVER think about doing on their own, so I'd emphasize it and also explain the importance of doing it so they understand why you are asking for it.

At half time, if things are going well, then mention one or two other things. If it has turned out to be a REAL easy game to call, start talking about things like mechanics -- proper arm location, proper way to signal etc. One thing I mention is that at U10, U11 where it's a real easy game, pay close attention to proper mechanics. But if it's a game where they have to be on their toes just to stay with the game, don't worry about mechanics at that point. Getting the correct call is much more important than having him do things exactly right.

I'd also recommend that you see if the assigner can hook you up with this kids a few more times over the next couple weeks. It gives you the opportunity to reinforce what you've been teaching him and to add one or two more pieces each game or each half.

Remember -- KISS.

[NHRef]

Thanks for the advice. The phone conversation was prompted by him. He called to ask some questions and mentioned to me how worried he was. I told him he would be with me ( I have known him for several years) and that we would go over anything he is nervous about before the game.

I will probably run a bit deeper in his end for his first few Offside decisions and run a bit more to his side at first.

I will make sure to get him a thumbs up or two extra and make sure he is comfortable.

Which side of the field do you feel is better for a new AR? I see benefits to both sides. My son prefers to coaches side, but typically this is the SAR side. I hear more comments and questions when on the parents side.

I am sure he will do fine, he just needs to make a couple of decisions, see that players will follow his lead and he will relax. I will stress that when he puts up that flag to pop it up strong and high to convey confidence.

[IASocFan]

...Which side of the field do you feel is better for a new AR? I see benefits to both sides. My son prefers to coaches side, but typically this is the SAR side. I hear more comments and questions when on the parents side.
...

For a first game, I put him on the coaches side, because parents and fans are less predictable or accountable. If you suspect, one of the coaches to be more of a problem, you might run a diagonal so that the new AR is by the better behaved coach.

I'd then take care of substitution issues until he has a good handle on his other responsibilities.

[kevbrunton]

For a first game, I put him on the coaches side, because parents and fans are less predictable or accountable. If you suspect, one of the coaches to be more of a problem, you might run a diagonal so that the new AR is by the better behaved coach.

I'd then take care of substitution issues until he has a good handle on his other responsibilities.
Yes, put him on the coaches side. You easily have more control over the coaches -- in fact, if you have a coach that you know is a problem, go to him before the game and tell him -- new ref, I don't want to hear anything directed at him.

I have put a new referee on a problem coaches side a number of times with the more experience referee on the other side. That has always worked well for me because the coaches all know that I mentor the young referees and that I will put up with exactly zero with respect to them getting on a new one.

[NHRef]

Just to follow up, it went ok. The kid doing his first AR is a VERY smart kid in school and knows the rules inside out. It was applying and recognition that he had some nervous issues with.

We did two U11B 8v8 games, first one was a blowout so that was good for him. His ref class, or his understanding, of AR signals was somewhat lacking, or atleast the application of them. He knew the "book" answers to everything. I told him not to worry about anything other than ball over the line and which direction should it go, and the 2nd last defender. I "cheated" towards his end for offside calls. Only 1 occurred and he got it right, but took him a good bit to get the flag up, I waited on him since it was far from the net and when he flagged it, I called it and gave him the thumbs up and good call signals.

He was a little funny at one point, during play he noticed subs waiting to come in at mid-field and while running his line he was trying to hold the flag up with the "subs" signal, I got a chuckle out of that. :D

His second game, and even his second half of the first game, was better, I talked to him during the breaks and gave him pointers. His biggest issue, which most have, it confidence, pop that flag up and keep it up. If he needs my attention, put it up, I will see it.

He did good and he had a lot of fun!!

ahh a new ref is born

[pasoccerdave]

My son has just started refereeing as well. He was made welcome by the Center Referee and right away made a part of the team before the games started, so he felt he had an ally in the middle.

If they know the game, which your student did, then you're correct - it's all about confidence. Once you get that first call made, then that first half, then that first game, then you can proceed to the finer points like flag position and signaling style.

The other point to remember that I learned from umpiring softball - you don't have to make the call immediately. Nothing feels worse than calling a runner out, only to have someone point out that the ball was dropped. Don't anticipate the ball going out of bounds. Make sure it is out, and then make the call. There is always time to make the call correctly.

And also - just like players and coaches, realize that referees will make mistakes, either by calls they make or calls they don't make. That's part of life, and the more games you do, the more opportunities you will have to succeed and fail.

[Alberto]

Great advice from kevbrunton and IASocFan. Keep it simple with emphasis on offside and staying even with next to last defender and stress the positive. Don't cheat towards his side of the field. At half time cover the mechanics of being an AR. Position on goal kicks and corner kicks. What to do after a goal is scored. Say something positive first then; if and only if you notice something offer some constructive advice. Say something like to take it to the next level why not try....

[neilgrossman]

The biggest thing to emphasize with a first-year linesman is eye contact. Bring it up at the meeting before the game. Remind him at half time. Look at him everytime he has to consider making a call.

If he maintains eye contact with you, you can give him plenty of help. You can let him know what calls you want him to back away from.

[Laggard]

First year referee here. The biggest confidence boost for me was a center who actually looked my way and talked to me about the game before, at half-time and after the game. The really good centers discuss the game before hand and make you feel that your input is important.

I don't like to AR when there's a teen centering. In my fifteen games, I've found that few care much about communicating anything with their AR. You're lucky to even get a "hi" or "see ya later." The best centers I've worked with tend to be those closer to my age (38). They're the ones that want to discuss any problems or issues with the game and in general seem to take their jobs much more seriously.

[chrisrun]

I don't like to AR when there's a teen centering. In my fifteen games, I've found that few care much about communicating anything with their AR. You're lucky to even get a "hi" or "see ya later." The best centers I've worked with tend to be those closer to my age (38). They're the ones that want to discuss any problems or issues with the game and in general seem to take their jobs much more seriously.

As a former teen who is now closer to your age, I think that often they are intimidated by the older ARs even though they are the center. They don't want the "senior" ref pointing out all their mistakes, and what better way to avoid that then to not speak to them!

I now find that with younger refs I wait for them to initiate dialog, but if that doesn't happen, I do it in a way that tells them that they are the center I'm there to assist them. Often this helps put them at ease, builds confidence, and starts the dialog going. Before a game I'll say stuff like "How do you want me to handle the subs?" or even "Anything in particular you want me to look for?". At half and after the game I'll say things like "Anything you think I missed or could improve on?" or if they made a good call I'll offer my support of it.

Remeber, even though they are the center, they are still teenagers who often are not confident, especially in front of a more senior ref. Some are doing it just for the money and could care less, and there's not much you can do with that. Others want to do a good job and just need some support, though...

[NHRef]

I'll second that, most of the teenage refs work with are fairly new and very un-confident to the point of not being comfortable giving me pre-game instructions or even talking to adults. I do what was described above, start asking them questions asking how I can help them.

Best thing I ever did as a ref was got lucky and did an AR for a U18 game that had a grade 5 CR helping out the assignor. For the first time I got a REAL pre-game, covered tons of stuff, LOTS of communication during the game etc etc etc. Showed what it was like to work with a seasoned ref.