[strangepup]

Just kidding about the "you people" part, but I really would like advice from the referee side of the house on how I can make sure that I stay in the good graces of the officiating crew and if there is a way to speak with the officiating crew about a call without getting myself in hot water.

I played for a long time and am just now getting into coaching and have no idea what the best way of bringing something to the crews attention. For example, this weekend, a girl that the referee had already given 2 verbal warnings to in the first 20 minutes of the game then tackled one of my players from behind with both feet and with her cleats up. It should have been an automatic red. My player caught air and landed on her shoulder and head and was dazed and staggered off the field and the girl that did the tackle stayed on the ground and pretended to be hurt. The referee simply said that he didn't want to give out any cards (these are 16u) and that she needed to clean up her act. At that point she sprung up and got in defensive position. Later that game the same girl upended another of my girls (cleats up again) and still no card of any flavor was given.

So, what can I do to help my team with the officiating crew the next time I have a crazy situation? This was a tournament game and the rules stated that protests were not allowed.

Thanks, and I look forward to your responses/advice!

[o5iiawah]

Games like this are going to happen. You are not going to have Collina at every one of your U16 matches. We expect perfection out of our referees but always bring subs to our matches, bring a "plan B" in case our tactics are imperfect, leave a defender back on a corner just in case the play you drew up doesn't go in the goal.

What not to do:

"REF!!!!! *expletives and screaming* even if you are right, most either wont listen or will become discouraged and quit. U16 is a level where a lot of inexperienced referees get their feet wet for U18-19 matches. its a transition point from U-littles

What to do:

Contact the assignor and raise a concern. There's nothing you can do about a game that has already been played, otherwise every league would need a 15 person panel to handle game protests. The assignor usually has a good idea of who the inexperienced refs are, who the up and coming ace referees are, and who are the old state emeritus refs who dont give out cards and dont leave the center circle. His/her input may be just the answer you are looking for.

On the field: Tell your players and the referee that safety is your most important concern.

[Gary V]

At a tournament, you have one more bit of leverage - you have paid to be there. Contact the organizers and find out what they will do to get referees who will pay attention to the Laws in the future. If you get no response or they don't seem to think it's a problem, you inform them that you will not be supporting their fundraiser tournament in the future and you will advise other teams of your experiences.

[NHRef]

Hmmm, how to get a message to a ref?

Answer varies depending on the ref, anything from:
- good luck, you don't have a chance
- friendly word with the AR
- have a player talk to them

You, the coach/players, ability to discuss anything with the ref depends on a few things. First though you have to realize you don't have the "right", but most better, more experienced refs, can be talked to.

One other thing, you mentioned protests. Keep in mind that nothing in your post would be protestable anyway. You can't protest the refs opinion of a foul, which is what you are discussing here. You saw it as cardable, studs up, from behind etc. That's an opinion that you arrived at from your view on the touch line, with a bias for your team (all natural). The ref has a different view and may have a different opinion.

As for how to "discuss" with the ref. I coach/coached a U18B team. I have the good luck of having 3-5 refs on the team as players depending on the season. One of these ref/players is very well known by local refs. He knows it, I know it, the refs know it and all use it to their advantage. Refs use him to quiet things down, I use him to send a question to the ref (they also know me) and he uses it to get things to the ref. All possibly could be ignored, but since they know him, know he knows the LOTG they often will listen, or at least pretend to listen.

As mentioned above, yelling out is probably not a good idea. However when I am in the middle, if the coach is a yeller, I usually ignore him. However when it's a quiet coach, who then shouts out something, I tend to listen, may not show reaction, but I do hear it. Should a coach like this yell out something to the effect of "that's her third foul from behind" I may make mental note of it and pay attention, maybe I am missing some PI or something.

I will go by player reactions more than coaches. I've had coaches ask for more tight calls, but players perfectly happy with the level of physical play, so I ignore the coach. The game is for the players.

In your case one things I'd suggest is wandering to the AR, or let him come to you, and quietly just mention that it's getting a bit rough and that's the 4th time (or whatever) that #so and so has taken a player down with studs showing. A good AR will start paying attention and relay the message to the CR at half time.

U16 is a pivotal point for refs, younger games are easy to handle, upper takes experience. U16 is used as the proving ground. You could get someone who is a bit over their head, or someone who the game is simple for. Also U16, in my opinion is the toughest age for dealing with "emerging personalities"

You also could get a ref who simply isn't going to listen, for a variety of reasons, if so, there's really nothing you can do during the game.

[Rufusabc]

If he said that he didn't want to use his cards, then he doesn't belong on that field at that level. An out of control player who has been warned receives a card on her next foul, and I truly don't care if it is accidental trip at mid field. She's in the book.

[spectre013]

Hard to say really depends on the referee.

I would say a lot of officials will listen to players, not all will and some dont like to be talked to at all.

When I first started I used to have the additude that I was the one in charge of the field and I would a lot of times be harsh and not listen well, I thought that was how it worked.

As I gained a little experience and put a lot more effort into becoming a better official, I really started to listen more to the people on the field. It wouldn't neccesarly change how I looked at what was happening but often times just listening to the coach calmed things down.

I and a lot of the officials in our area do listen to and talk to the players a lot of the course of a game, and if a player jogs by and say hey watch #10 he's pulling jerseys. I will almost alway watch #10 for a while to see if its happening.

I know it's hard but just stay calm and talk in a level voice and you are sure to get a better reaction then yelling.

[meyers]

Originally Posted by o5iiawah

On the field: Tell your players and the referee that safety is your most important concern.

I have used this before from a coaching stand point, "Ref, you need to protect my players" or "Ref, I don't want my player getting hurt". Something that focuses on safety of the players.

As ref, this gets immediate attention (in my mind), because that is my main objective, to protect the players.

[Ref Flunkie]

Originally Posted by meyers

I have used this before from a coaching stand point, "Ref, you need to protect my players" or "Ref, I don't want my player getting hurt". Something that focuses on safety of the players.

As ref, this gets immediate attention (in my mind), because that is my main objective, to protect the players.

I must admit, when I hear this, I almost get more perturbed with the coach. I KNOW my job is to protect the players, but usually when I hear this line, it is one coach that doesn't like the fact that a team is playing more physically then his team (shouldered off a ball, etc.). Obviously in the OP, SFP was occurring without being sanctioned, and in this particular case it may have been warranted to make this comment. My only warning is, as a coach, to use this phrase carefully, because IMO this is the worst criticism (beyond claiming the referee is biased or the match is rigged) a youth referee can hear.

[Doug the Ref]

Originally Posted by spectre013

I know it's hard but just stay calm and talk in a level voice and you are sure to get a better reaction then yelling.

As a referee I sometimes notice that when everyone is yelling and screaming to/at me in the center, all of that just sounds like noise and I mostly tune it out. However, while that screaming is going on, I often can pick out a lone voice that is calmly making a point. It's like the screaming is traveling 8-10 feet above ground and the calm speaking voice traveling 4-6 feet above ground making it more audible, even though it is not LOUDER than the rest.

[NHRef]

Sorry, funny story, sometimes it can be done without event 'talking' to the ref!

I was AR on a latino league, EVERYTHING these coaches and players say is in spanish. There's even some that don't speak english.

During this game, semi-final match with probably the fastest striker I've ever seen while reffing, the D was playing a trap and the striker was trying to time it "right".

Early in the game, in my opinion, he beat the trap, went in on net and didn't score. The defender right infront of me expressed his opinion of my non-call. I brushed it off but he kept going. I gave the universal "enough" type of response as the CR was slowly heading over to help. The coach saw what was about to happen and said, in PERFECT English "It's ok, the ref made a mistake, just keep playing"

I thought, honestly, "thanks coach" it helped calm him down and we were on our way. A few minutes later I realized that was the ONLY thing the coach said all game to his players in English! He did it for my benefit to get inside my head, not talk to his player.