Is it possible? The most common complaint I hear from coaches is that the 13 year old refereeing their U9 game "looks unsure" or "lacks confidence". I feel like reaching out and smacking them a few times and explaining that a 13 year old five games into their refereeing career is not Collina and expecting them to be is even stupider than normal rec coach behaviour. My thoughts are that confidence as a referee comes mostly with experience. Sure a good loud whistle and signalling direction on every throw is a big help, but most new referees are still over thinking (Was that a trip? should I call it? would it be IFK or DFK? Blue tripped red, which direction should I point? Oh, play has continued 20 yards while I was thinking about it... now I'm way out of position AND 'look unsure'). They won't appear/be confident until they know without consciously thinking what restarts should be or if a foul should be called, and a few Tony Robbins seminars won't magically change that. Any thoughts or tips for helping new referees be or appear to be self confident?
Have them run line for experienced referees on good, physical matches. That's how I gained confidence as a referee.
There aren't that many "good, physical" u9 matches. (In my experience, most young refrees need low level games before they would learn much from older, physical games -- first, they need to be comfortable with doing the obvious stuff -- flagging out of play, flagging OS, whistling for fouls that happen, and so forth.) RE the original post , I don't know that I really have a lot to add, as NBTHOMCCC flagged some of the key things that help but I think much of my list is: Look professional - young refs who look like they know what they are doing look more confident. Practice signals and whistling. Young referees typically are afraid to blow the whistle loudly, and the feeble whistle sounds uncertain. Young referees often feel self-conscious about and cut short; quick signals look uncertain. I tell young referees (as R or AR) that if they feel like they held the signal too long, then it is almost long enough. Make sure that they know they have support and that everyone makes mistakes. But ultimately, confidence requires comfort, and that requires experience.
Only problem there, is that I find it harder concentrating on the AR job at hand than observing the CR.
One thing I'd like to see more of is clubs coaching their coaches to be more protective of young referees -- i.e., pretty much to count them among their charges, rather than treating them as opponents. And backing that up with enforcement of some sort. Of course, this is probably more easily done if the club also has a good referee mentoring system in place...
Yeah, but being an AR is the job at hand. You need to work hard at that just to get that part right. Personally, I enjoyed watching my son work this year (since I had to drive him to his games). Only observing him, and no interest in the other players. I'd make my list of questions/woulda'/shoulda's to discuss after the match. But either way its a good way for another (new) ref to observe any other ref. Perhaps with a mentor/veteran type ref, taking several newbies to a match and sitting off between the benches while the match is done by another veteran ref would be a good way for them to learn match management. Now then, don't do it at a U-18 select match, do it at say a U-12 or U-14 match, where the CR is by himself. You can now apply what you've learned to a U-10 game.
This is big! When I do mentoring on Saturdays with young and/or new referees doing U-littles, I focus almost entirely on mechanics of signaling and whistle use. Throw in a lot of encouragement and you're set, at least for the first couple of games they do. From there, I think one way to give them confidence is to remind them that mistakes happen to everyone. I remind them that I've been doing this since ~1997 and regularly make mistakes.
I always stress whistling, hold your signals, and make sure there is an adult mentor (or adult member of the crew) on hand to deal with the coaches and parents. I will not tolerate coaches who yell at any young ref. Period. I don't care if the kid is bombing on opening night. He gets a fair shake and a new start. Let's all protect the young refs. I'm desperately searching for my replacement.
All of this is great. The other thing we can do is work these games for them and set the example. I'm not afraid to "work" a u9 or u10 game to help a young referee. I also like the idea of harsh punishment for dissent towards anyone under 16. These games need two things: A field marshal to keep the parents / coaches in line and a mentor or young referee developer to teach during half time or after the game. It doesn't need to be an assessment where everything is critiqued, but it needs to be a learning session where it's and ask and what did you see, why did you do that, can you blow your whistle louder, etc.
Yes, yes and yes. I recall being the assignor/mentor for a 3v3 tournament. We had parents come up and complain about one young ref in particular. I went to watch him. He was perfect! Got all the restarts correct, good foul recognition, etc. The only "problem?" He didn't blow the whistle loudly, took a few extra seconds to think before making a call., and his signals weren't crisp and military. And for this the parents are complaining? Sigh.
I guess you can't underestimate the value of "selling" calls. Our fun coed league is trying to integrate new refs who are also players in the league. It's very interesting to watch them. For sure the whistling thing is surprisingly challenging for them. Several of these folks are pretty advanced players but it's interesting to see who has the mind of a referee and who doesn't. Just because some one has played a long time doesn't mean they really know the game in the big picture sense. But we've been trying to give them small things to work on with regard to positioning or making crisper signals. Maybe we need a whistling clinic.
My daughter's cert class, oh so many years ago now, was in a conference room in the basement of a library. And yes, the instructor demonstrated the use of the whistle.
Having spent a great deal (10+ years) heavily involved in youth soccer, in roles managing recreational programs and referee programs, and having probably refereed a couple of hundred U7-U10 matches myself, I have come to believe that the only way to effectively train and retain young referees would be ensure that all the coaches and the parents are on board with the concept that developing referees is a top priority, and that is their (the coaches' and parents) job, and a primary concern for the whole affair, to create an environment (i.e., sit down and shut up) where this can happen. Without retention of a huge percentage of new referees there will never be enough that are motivated to learn the craft well enough to be good referees at higher youth levels. Monetarily, refereeing the U-littles is barely a break-even proposition, and after the novelty wears off for the kids and their parents who have to drive them to their games, only a few make it through the first couple of years. After ten years, I have given up.
Couple of things I have been doing the past couple of years: 1) On the last scheduled date before the "real" games, the coaches want to scrimmage. I bring more refs than I need, and shuttle them in and out every few minutes, giving them support on the things they did well, and talking to them about things they need to improve on, including blowing the whistle harder. I also have the ones who are not currently officiating, right with me and we discuss what the active refs are doing well and what they need to do differently. 2) Once the season starts, if I have some more experienced refs, I bring them out to shadow the noobs and give them the same kind of feedback. I do this as well, telling them to keep their eyes on the game and listen to the voice coming from behind. It's important to catch them doing something right, and give them verbal positive reinforcement at those times.
You can explain body posture and being confident in your calls. It's ok for a youth ref to be uncertain. But if his mannerisms and procedure on making calls displays uncertainty, the wolves are going to get him. A young ref can be uncertain and not display uncertainty. I find the whole U-9 thing to be a catch-22. We are asking kids to demonstrate their knowledge of the LotG during a game involving ages in which all of the LotG are not enforced. It is a very difficult position to be in. I know I'm in the minority, but to me, a U-16 game is not important in the large scheme. I almost wish kids could learn at that level when kids are in control of their bodies and playing by the full LotG. Obviously, we can't ask 13 year olds to try to be a dominate force with 16 year olds. So I know it is not feasible. Sadly, I find that the biggest problem is that many older referees will not stoop to do a u-9 game. Obviously, we can't ask professional or even college refs to take that step as they are too far tied up with those games. But, there is no reason we cannot enforce a policy that for every 5 u-15+ match you handle, you must do 1 U-9 with a new ref.
Yes. Now to be clear, this is rec ball, not affiliated. Two refs per game, so they both have whistles and are near the sideline. When I communicate with them, I am right behind them and there is nobody else within earshot. I try to keep this to a minimum, compared to discussions between halves or when the ball is out of play. It has the advantage of immediacy, so especially when they do something right, they get the positive verbal cue and hopefully that leads to them continuing what they did right even when I am not there.
OK. I have often done much the same when mentoring young AR's, where I be right behind them and more or less in their ears in a non-"public" way.
Start back at the very beginning, "a very good place to start." Do they have the full proper uniform? Saturday, I was mentoring at a tournament and a newbie showed up, with his dad. White athletic socks and black shorts with white trim. We managed to find an extra pair of referee socks, but that sort of appearance just screams "fresh meat!" The wolves on the touchline will eat guys like that as a snack with their morning coffee. "Oh, but it costs money!" Sorry. It's an investment, like paying for gas to drive to the game. You have to spend money to make money.
Self confidence is directly related to several critical aspects of life, and is a measure of one's self esteem, that is, how comfortable one is in one's own skin. Everyone develops and evolves throughout their lives, building an image about themselves through their experiences and interaction with other people, culture and activities. Any of the rough shod treatment would certainly disintegrate this image of self worth in all but the most confident. Although there are many areas in one's life that would make one person increase their self esteem, the following could be prominent in terms of refereeing: (i) Are you convinced of your abilities? A strong sense of personal worth is inherent here. Referees who are 13y are themselves players, right? That means they already know what to do when the ball goes out of play,in goal, etc. Remember when you got tripped after you challenged the ball? That's was a foul right? So whistle. Whistle twice or thrice with the U9s, as many times they do not hear your whistle as they are running around with the ball and their supporters on the sidelines are giving them multiple instructions. And with the U9s, fetch the ball when goal is scored, or even from behind the goal-line, or side-lines. The parents and coaches will take to you endearingly. Why? Because you are helping the players. (ii) Do you approach each task as something to be accomplished, or, as a challenge to be avoided? Remember the time when you lost the ball, did you give up, or did you go after it? The other team scored, what did you feel then? Same thing here in refereeing. You persevered. You may not master all aspects yet, so keep on. Shortcomings were, either due to inadequate skills, knowledge, or effort, right? You worked with the help of your coach and trainer and worked hard. Same thing here. In the U9 games, work on the basics correctly - start the game with correct number of players on each side, and after each goal, administer substitutions correctly, meaning if there is a line-change, wait until all players are in their positions, for throw-ins, have them re-do if not done correctly, this way they will learn, and if you need to talk with any player, bend down to their level and talk to them. And if a parent or coach comes rushing on field to attend to their player, let them, then after the situation, privately inform them, next time wait for my summons or signal, alright? These aspects could be worked on each game, and before you know, they will become natural action. (iii) Are you aware of all the things that could happen in this game? Probably not all. Remember, not most people do either. However, talking with others [referees] before you or in the same game session, could be valuable in finding these other things. It could be as simple as, the home team in this league always are red jerseys, visitors in white, the coach on this team does a complete line change on substitutions, they do it every 6 minutes, so each player has equal playing time in the 24 minute half, and so on. (iv) Do you share your refereeing experience(s) with others? But I am not a social person, I hear you say. What, that cannot be true? Why? You are already in the midst of the society of 16 to 22 players, you have coaches and substitutes, and probably 100+ people on the sidelines. You are the most prominent person there, with your yellow jerseys, that white striped short, and neon pink shoes. You are drawing attention, so why not make the best of it. Find others who also wear the referee-jersey, and they will set you on the proper path. You will not only be gaining valuable tips, but will also have opportunity to learn from others' experience. In summary, you already are a referee who is more qualified than others as you are also a player. So next time you come to referee, work on the all these other aspects: come ~10 minutes early and introduce yourself with a handshake and your name to coaches on both teams, inform them how many minutes before kick-off, then observe all players are properly equipped (some U9 players are small that wear the shin-guard on outside of sock and roll the rest of the sock completely over the shin-guard), especially someone who has a cast or bandage, bring the ball from the net or beyond the goal line for the kick-off of goal-kick, and everything else you are comfortable with, then work on all the other things you are not comfortable with in your next game. As to the physical and verbal abuse you felt you wanted to perpetrate on that coach, well, methinks there are better responses. Oops, the soap-box just became slippery! Let me get my asbestos overalls.