Strange instructions that corrupt the game:

    Here without comment are instructions that have been given to referees by an assessor and by an instructor recently.  I'll leave you to chew them over before I say any more.  If you have a belief in how refereeing can preserve the integrity of the game, you may find them to be tough chewing!

    I'm at the ODP camp in Alabama, and the other day I received this in an email from a referee at another ODP camp.  It is a direct quote, but with the name of the instructor removed for reasons of tact:

... something I found interesting at the .... Camp was that the instructor .... talked about balancing the foul count in our matches. He suggested "control fouls" near mid-field and other non-danger zones to "even out" the foul count, even just to give the perception that we as the referee aren't biased towards one team over the other.

    And then at an assessment, when I was asked (by the referee) as an observer to make some comments, I noted that he hadn't enforced the location of throw-ins throughout the match.  He replied that he had been told by another assessor that he need not enforce the location of throws unless the opponent of the thrower made a fuss about the stolen yards.  Only then, he was told, should he intervene and enforce the law.

    Later!

Comments

[Omg not again]

And we are shocked and astounded why??????????????
The usual suspect(s) doing the same things over and over again. The sad thing is that we continue to let these criminal things continue with almost no reprocussions to the perpetrators. When was the last time anyone heard of an Assessor, or instructor being removed. Not in my lifetime :D

[CSR]

Now. . .I'm just a lowly 7 working toward my 6 so my questions regarding these two scenarios may sound silly -

For instance #1 - If a referee were to follow this advice, how could his foul recognition and enforcement possibly remain consistent throughout the match? And if the goal (as stated) is to avoid appearing to be biased by making the foul count even, what happens if you have one team that is very timid playing against a team who plays "thug ball"? Wouldn't an even/equal foul count make the referee seem extremely biased in this case?

For instance #2 - Was that referee also told that he did not need to enforce the required 10 yard distance on free kicks or the 2 yards on throw-ins as well?

-- CSR

[Dustin Edwards]

Robert- I have just discovered this Blog and I'm glad I've found a place that sees Refereeing as a Science and an Art. I'll be returning often to read what you have to say.

About the above Assessors instructions, I'm a 24 yr old ref who has heard this sort of instruction time and time again. The first I never could understand, I don't usually keep a foul count but I do remember the large infractions and some small ones that I called to control the game. My most trusted assessor has never told me to keep count of fouls but has always told me to be very aware of where fouls occur and what I can do to keep control of a game by calling smaller fouls earlier and in places where I'm not giving advantage or disadvantage. The idea that an infraction when it happens should be punished regardless of if it's the 100th infraction of this team or the 1st is what I generally go by. However of course a referee can take steps to make sure fouls don't persist and break the game up.

The second quote seems to come from the same line of advice I got as a America Football Referee, "Don't trouble trouble, unless trouble troubles you." In other words don't impose yourself on the game, let it happen and only take action when it becomes apparent it's needed for the game to run smoothly. Seems ridiculous to do nothing until you're bothered by the opposing team to take action against their opponent, and it can be equally as damaging leaving you looking indecisive and only acting upon a teams protest. The idea of not imposing yourself on the game isn't in itself faulty advice. However if you are the referee of that game your job is to make certain it runs smoothly, is fair, and everyone is safe. This is your job, you should be doing it. I sometimes like to comment on the difference between American referees and South American or European referees. The idea that you should let a team take an advantage until people tell you that it's ok to stop them seems purely American.

As I see it Americans don't like referees to call certain things. And there are certain other things that they will split a gut yelling at you for not calling (this changes depending on level and nationality). I've noticed American coaches and players don't seem to care too precisely where the throw in takes place (traveling up the line) but are very concerned at how it's thrown in, ball coming from behind and over the head ect. Just something I've noticed when calling it on various teams of different nationalities.

[roger mccain]

One of my favorite goofy instructions is _ "If you're not sure which direction to give the throw in, give it to the defense."

[Paul ~ Sydney, Australia]

I'm glad I don't ref in America if that's the way it must be done. A couple of games ago I showed 1 yellow to 1 team and 7 yellows and 3 reds to the other. Why? Because 1 team came to play the game and the other team wanted to start a rumble.
You have to ref the game and be consistent with the calls NOT the count.
Regards the throw, IMO again consistency is the key. If you are seen to listen to the players you'll loose respect and possibly game control. Ref the laws and apply common sense. If the players start moving down the line, a little toot on the whistle and point the mark fixes the matter. I often get calls from the opposition about foul throws but if I believe the throw to be correct by the LOTG (not necessarily looking good) it's play on and I say something like "nothing wrong there, get on with it".

[Mark]

In terms of keeping the foul count even, what is more important, appearing unbiased or appearing incompetent. A foul is a foul according to how you are calling the game. Keep track of who is doing what and punish accordingly.

As for the location of the throw, does this also apply to free kicks? Can a team get an extra 5 or 10 yards closer to goal if the other team doesn't complain? Hardly seems fair. Remind the players once or twice where the throw is and they remember for the rest of the game.

Glad those assessors aren't working with me.

[michelle maloney]

In all fairness, sometimes what was said is not what is understood and repeated. Yet, unfortunate examples such as these are not surprising or scarce. At Southern Regionals one year, we had a National Assessor tell our (eventual National) referee he called a good game, but to be sure in the future he let the ball roll it's circumference to be in play (several years post change to kicked and moved)! The referee kept his mouth shut rather than disagree with the assessor given his rank versus the assessor's rank, but reported to the SYRA, and it was reported (and hopefully fixed), but how often do these mistakes actually get reported and then corrected so they are not perpetuated? Too many assessors are never assessed as an assessor themselves and way too many instructors and assessors can barely pass the state exam - so often it is the blind leading the sight seekers. Hmm.