Referee Assault

[love to play]

Question for all of you out there. If during the course of play the center referee were to be assaulted by a member of a participating team what should the other members of the referee crew do? Should they try to maintain control of the sidelines and keep members of the teams in their technical area? Should they try to seperate the assaulter and the assaultee?
I ask this because I have been sitting here thinking of what I wold do in a situation like this. This is my third year as a referee and while I have not actually witnessed a situation like this I have heard of 2 seperate incidents of refereee assault in the past year. With all that I am not actually sure what I would or could do in this situation. My being all of 168 pounds and 5 foot 10. While I am 30 I look as though I amprobably 25. So, I do not have the most imposing look. We cover really well what all of our roles are if members of the opposing teams should begin to fight but it has never really been covered in any of my certification classes as to what to do in the case of an assault on a referee during play.
So, what would you do?
Thanks in advance.

[andylovesoccer]

I am a recently certified referee in North Carolina. During my certification class, I was told to assist your center in leaving the field (a.k.a. watching his back). If the center is being "held up", I don't think I could stand by and watch, but I don't think you are going to hear the referee's association condone any intervening action on the part of their linesmen.

[Greyhnd00]

I am even smaller(140) but I think all three need to be there together. Had a coach charge a referee in a tournament last year and I beat the coach to the referee. I would never get involved if PLAYERS fight among themselves but the loyal streak in me wouldnt allow me to let a fellow official acosted without doing something.

[Alberto]

Originally posted by Greyhnd00
I am even smaller(140) but I think all three need to be there together. Had a coach charge a referee in a tournament last year and I beat the coach to the referee. I would never get involved if PLAYERS fight among themselves but the loyal streak in me wouldnt allow me to let a fellow official acosted without doing something.

What happend to the coach that charged the referee?

I have gotten involved on several occasions to break-up fights in matches. My conscious won't allow me to stand by and let men or older youth hit or kick each other. My feeling is that we are there to protect the players. If I can intervene and stop a player from being suspended for a long time and talk some sense into him then it's well worth it. At 5'-10" with a very athletic and muscular build, most players don't mess with me.

[Greyhnd00]

It was a tournament and their last game....The team got two red cards and the coach was ejected.It was thier last game of the tourny......I was AR so I didnt file a report as I should have and I am sure the center did not. I did advise the reff to leave the area immediately and then had a long talk with the assignor about what a cruddy job the guy did. I am reasonably sure that will be his last U19 middle in a long time.

[MPJ334]

...i think i would go help him, but i'm pretty sure on of the phrases from the RAH will stick in my head: passive defense

[Bill Archer]

No question. I'm not gonna stand there watching a ref get beat up. Period. I'm not gonna kick the crap out of you, but if you're hitting my guy I'm gonna make you stop.

I personally don't worry too much about it because, although I'm a big candy-ass, I'm also 6'6" and not a lot of people, once they get up in my face, want to go the next step.

[nsa]

A timely PDF document just up on the US Soccer website.

Mass Confrontation (http://www.ussoccer.com/templates/includes/services/referees/pdfs/position_papers/Mass_Confrontations.pdf)

[wjarrettc]

So reading this thread, I find myself wondering how much damage I could inflict with a linesman's flag in close-quarters battle with a coach :)

Seriously though, I have to say that just as in any other sporting event where a member of my team gets involved in an altercation, I'd try to diffuse and separate the combatants, but would engage if necessary to protect my teammates (whether the ref team, or a fellow player).