Exactly, which is why everyone should know the basic pre-game before they set foot on a field. I don't the experience of the vast majority of the people I work with, so rather than doing too little or too much, simply saying "You know the standard pre-game?" is easier and safer.
Why am I reminded of doing the Hokey Pokey? When you change too much or give too many non-standard signals, I'd be likely to forget all of them.
I don't think I really agree with your premise. The point of a pre-game is to communicate among the team that is going to work together. The stuff we all know (or should know) isn't what a pregame should be about. (By "basic pre-game" you seem to be saying "the way we ref" -- but that's not the point of a pregame.) The core issue for the pregame, especially with those we don't know, is to get a sense of -- beyond "the book" -- how we are going to work together and what the R expects. For newbie ARs with an experienced R, some (really, most) of that is the basics that any experienced AR will know and does go back to the book -- becasue they don't know the book yet. With more experienced ARs (and Rs) it becomes more of a discussion of likes, desires, styles, and the particular teams or venue. Saying "you kow the standard pregame" is ditching the entire purpose of having one.
I've actually used this before. My 13 year old Grade 9 AR1 looked at me with a "How am I supposed to do that?" look.
As a lifetime 8 who works mostly with other lifetime 8's I figure the point of a pregame is to get across some of my preferences -- ones that might be different from the other average ref. I try to keep it to 2 or 3 significant points, but whatever. Here goes: "When the ball goes out of bounds, just call it. Boom, this way; boom, that way. Some refs like to presignal, not me. Take all your line and some of mine, if you are nearby. If its my call way down the line, give me a strong signal straight up, so I know it has gone out. I've got those, of course, but if I look at you in that situation for a call, give me one if you got one." [Alot of refs go with the point across the stomach, which might be in the GtP, but I feel like this really diminishes the AR's importance. Anyway, the AR usually has a better view, and I'd rather focus on other stuff.] "Second, I like informal signals. When I know what you know that's a good thing. The two most common informal signals are when the ball is scooting near the sideline... Is it in , is it out...? point to the field of play with an open hand. The ball is still in. The second most common is on balls over the top with an offside decision. You have made a decision and its not offside. He is running, you are running, I am running. Give me the walking the dog signal [demo with a flag] or the free hand out play on thing. Which ever one comes naturally. That way, I look at you once, and see that, I don't have to look a second time, I can focus solely on the action. It also lets the players, coaches and fans know you are plugged in." [Seriously, I can't believe the powers that be discourage informal signals--especially the no-OS signal. If one of the refs has been to regionals, I joke that they don't have to do this since it has been beaten out of them.] "Next on fouls in your purview, 15 yards out or so, if you see something that you think is a foul and you're not sure I would call it, go ahead and call it. Take the flag up, wiggle, and point. I blow my whistle and point which ever way your are pointing. I often call a looser game than I intend, so if you [point to AR1] call one in the first half, and you [point to AR2] call one in the second half, it will work out just right. When you call the foul give me a demonstrative signal of what the foul was. Elbow swing, shirt grab, trip, push whatever it was. That way I know what it was and anyone looking at you knows what is going on." [This, I know, is contradicting the AtR. It also seems like a risk for over involvement, but 99% of the time it works. My games could use the extra calls, and it empowers the ARs in a good way--almost always.] "Two more things, on OS behind my back, hold the flag until or unless the defense gets a clear possession even or advanced to where you are. If so take it down. If not keep it up, they will yell at me, not at you." [I really should work on catching more of those, then I could knock this out of my pre-game.] "Finally, on fouls in the box, call it if you see it. But be 110% sure it happened, and 110% sure I didn't see it. I like to get close to the 18, so find me and think about my angle. Use the flag-at-the-waist signal if I am nearby. On the other hand, if the play is a counter attack and I am way behind play, its all yours. If this happens, remember that you don't just have Offside, you have the whole thing. If you need to signal a PK in this situation, give a big waggle and a point. Sell it. [I might have to rethink my signal preference, since the pocahontas is officially retired now. I heard people opposed to it because they thought it was too obvious. I for one thought it was discreet. Oh, well. I can live with the flag up -- walk to the line signal.] I usually forget one or two of these points. And there are plenty of things that bug me that some ARs commonly do, that I could mention, but don't. IMHO, long pregames are counterproductive because people can only absorb so much info--and its not alot. So, I just like to get a couple of my idiosyncrasies across, while empowering the guys I am working with. __________________ For young newbs, I just try to put them at ease by saying something like: "The objective is to not get yelled at, and the best way to do that as AR is to be in position and make a clear signal. If the coach has a different opinion, but you're in position what can he really say. So just be in line with second to last defender for offside and get to the endline if the goalie might bobble the ball. [Mention field conditions.] Make a strong signal for out of bounds and we are good." [finis]
I remember one time talking to a few referees I train with about a DI men's college game where the AR really made some things difficult for me. One of the guys says, "I know you give a long pregame, but did you tell him specifically to not f&*k up in your pregame? If you didn't, it sounds like this one's on you." I had a good laugh after that one. It's now in my pregame.
One of the senior referees (he's a state emeritus referee named Ed) always ends his pregame by saying to the ARs, "Make me look good out there." Now if I am officiating with experienced referees from my association, I usually end my pregame with "Now let's make Ed look good out there."
I like this and use it I really like this and will start using it. After two years, but only around 15 games as CR of USSF games, foul recognition is still a weak point. I tell my ARs "If you know that you know it is a foul, call it." The additional information as to what they saw will help both me and informing the others.
I use to share some of these sentiments and then I spoke to a former FIFA. They said the pregame is more then what you expect your crew to do; its a time for you to get mentally prepared for the match. I know one poster mentioned that they use the pregame to get their minds set for the match and to excuse me if I same something redundant. I would highly argue against 99% of pre-games being massive wastes of everyones' time. I think it depends on the level of officiating. I have had some older career grade 8 referee's give the standard, the box is mine, don't cross flags, etc etc. But I also think that pregame's are times to talk about player tactics and team tactics. Even with some of the Grade 8's I have worked with doing games its always good to ask "hey have you referee'd this team before?" "This coach always shows up right at game time." "This coach is a yeller but he will be extremely respectful to the referee crew! Let him yell." Of course I have worked with grade 8's that have very little for instructions or very little input for pregame. So I always ask questions. But like you said I don't think for lower level youth and really low level amateur it does not have to be longer then 5-10 mins. I agree some people's pregame's are long and can be massive wastes of time but I think those are the pregame's that are 1-way streets. I try to initiate a discussion: "hey Joel, have you reffed this team before? How many games have you done this season?" or I'll ask "have you been staying busy?"As opposed to saying "what grade referee are you? etc." I would say that USSF could come up with a pregame that is the same across the board however, the games we do are never the same (with the exception of some low level recreation games).
At a recert a few years ago, a card was given out that had a sample pregame, which refs could attach to their bags. Regardless, many pregame's at the "lower level" still degenerate into comments like "Ok, you guys know what to do" or "Remember, your priority is the offside".
I like one I learned early on, and I still use it. The R can commit suicide, and the AR can commit homicide out there. Let's make I get home today. Add a wink and then let them know if you have any preferences. If they are Junior refs, give some advice, ask them if they have a question about something from one of their last games, etc. Involve them early. The guys who have been around a while, they don't want to hear the same regurgitation.
I always mention: Work rate (They'll always complain about calls but people can pick up on body language a mile away) Focus (Forget about what happened before this match, or what your plans are later this evening) Research I've done (I always look up league standings and cards) Anything wrong or confusing about the field Feel free to call me over, but if you do, it's for something that needs to be dealt with Please don't let me do anything technically incorrect Any questions? I like to mention: What I consider a foul (Leg contact, play denying, holding) and not (Most upper-body soft fouls) Eye contact (Always when the ball is out of touch on your lines; I'm just saying hi, not expecting a call) What's yours vs. What's mine (If you know 100% go for it and I'll go with you, if you don't, let me call it and I'll take the heat) Leave the flag up for eternity in case I miss it Substitution procedures and bench behavior (I'm strict) Preventing crossed signals (I like holding the flag in the hand I'm about to go up with) Fouls in/out of the Penalty Area (Run to the corner flag before the skirt) For newbies I might mention: Wait and see (But prevent a collision with GK) BRO - Ball, Referee, Offside Work rate (again) Hopefully this doesn't focus on things the AR is working on, or their skill level, but enables communication and a smooth game.
Note, @andymoss sig reads: "You know all the stuff in the Guide To Procedures? Do that. Smile. Have Fun. DFU." (in case you can't see it... or he changes it )