Managing Behavior Of Team Officials

The Problem What irresponsible behavior by coaches and other team officials is unacceptable?

The Problem How many coaches are dismissed for behavior that is not irresponsible?

The Problem How can we tell the difference?

Why do we have a problem?  Referees have not managed bad behavior appropriately at all levels  Many referees have misconceptions about bench conduct  Referees lack tools to manage irresponsible behavior

Objectives  State the LOTG regarding team officials’ responsibilities  State the powers and duties of the referee regarding team officials  Define unacceptable behavior  Demonstrate techniques for managing situations involving team officials

Laws of the Game  Laws 3 & 5: Team officials must conduct themselves in a responsible manner  Referees may “expel them from the field of play and its immediate surrounds”  Technical Area defined; coaching limited

Games  Specific Competition: Four credentialed officials per team. Identified before match.  USSF: Anyone in the technical area is a team official Coaches – Assistant coaches – Trainers -- Managers – Medical Staff – Team Moms – anyone not on the roster  Consideration for children

What a coach should be doing  Technical advice to the team One at a time Return to position when done  First aid for injuries  Calming influence on players

Unacceptable and irresponsible behavior  Dissent Persistent Public Personal Provocative  Entering the field without permission  Refusing to return to the technical area

Unacceptable and irresponsible behavior  Speaking insulting words or making offensive gestures  Kicking objects, such as chairs, trash cans, or bags  Throwing objects, such as clipboards, bags, balls, etc.  Making unwanted contact with opponents

Match the response to the behavior  Ignore or admonish  Manage  Dismiss

When to ignore  Soccer is an emotional game  Use the same standards as with players  Language might be tolerated if uttered in brief emotional outburst  Team officials get caught up in the emotion of the moment  Distinguish anger at play from anger at officials’ decisions

Management - examples  Dissent  Gestures or actions (throwing, kicking harmlessly)  Entering the field  Failing to return to the technical area

Dismissal - examples  Offensive, insulting, or abusive language or gestures  Striking or grabbing an opponent  Throwing or kicking objects at someone  Spitting at someone  Refusing requests to return to the technical area  Persistent behavior after warning

Management tools  Begins with pre-game (Identify team officials in technical area, build relationships, e.g.)  Assistant Referee quiet word  Referee quiet word  Sometimes a look or gesture is enough  The Conference (aka, warning)  Expulsion

Management tools  Smile  Strive for cooperation, not confrontation  Do not argue  Do not challenge “Not one more word…” “If you don’t….”

Management tools  Active Listening – Repeat what coach said in your own words  Be clear that behavior must stop  Try to find alternatives for the coach to use  Handout

Anti-management tools  Confrontation  Lectures  Explain or argue a call  Inverting your priorities  Signaling acceptance = signaling encouragement  Failure to follow through

Discussion topics  What went wrong?  What should the referee do now, given what has happened?  What different management options could the officials have used?

Discussion topic #1 During the first half, the Red team’s coach, trying to get the attention of a player in midfield, steps onto the field a couple of paces. During the second half, the same coach repeats his action, gently pushing the AR out of the way to do so. Later in the half, the coach goes several yards onto the field where he begins to direct a player where to play the ball.

Discussion topic #2 A coach walks down the touchline to a point even with the top of the penalty area. The AR tells him to move back to the technical area. The coach ignores the AR. Later, at a corner kick, the coach returns. This time the referee directs the coach to return to the technical area. The coach looks at the referee, then walks several yards closer to the corner flag, where he shouts instructions to his goalkeeper. The referee returns to the middle of the field and resumes play. Later still, the coach is beside his player who is preparing to take a corner kick, directing play. The AR tells him to go back to the bench, to which the coach replies, “***** you!”

Discussion topic #3 White #3 is injured. When play is stopped, the White coach tries to run on the field shouting dissent and abuse at the referee, who is standing over the injured player. The referee intercepts the coach and dismisses her from the field for entering without his permission and dissenting persistently and flagrantly. She leaves angry. The assistant coach attempts to enter the field of play to attend White #3, who is still lying on the ground behind the referee, moaning. The referee admonishes the assistant that he cannot enter without permission. They argue for several seconds until the referee, after repeated requests, allows the assistant coach onto the field. The referee stands over the injured player while the assistant coach continues to berate him about his calling of the game. When White #3 is finally helped off the field, the referee dismisses the White assistant coach, who is replaced by one of the parents of the team. The parent replacement makes no comments about the officiating throughout the rest of the match.

Discussion topic #4 The referee observes a foul against Blue #9 at midfield and signals advantage. When Blue #9 immediately loses his balance and falls, the advantage does not materialize and the referee stops play and awards a free kick to Blue. The Blue coach then enters the field of play shouting at the referee that he has a right to an explanation. The referee delays the restart of play and spends two minutes explaining his decision to, and arguing with, the coach. The coach finally returns to his bench. During the remainder of the game the Blue coach shouts dissent at a total of thirteen decisions by the officiating crew. Twice more he entered the field demanding explanations of decisions, once while play was continuing. The referee takes no action and makes no report of the incident.

Summary  Define the responsibilities of team officials (coaches and others)  Define the referee’s powers  Give three examples of unacceptable coach behavior  Give three ways of managing coach misbehavior

A brief message… Parents and spectators are NOT  Team officials  Under our jurisdiction  Our problem Deal with them through the coaches Approach as a cooperative effort

Close  “It doesn’t bother me” is not an acceptable answer  Neither is, “She’s always like that,” or, “Oh, I’ve known him forever.”  Smacking the puppy with a newspaper after the tenth time he pees on the carpet only frustrates you and confuses the puppy!

Close PROBLEM! Misbehavior from the Technical Area or the Touchline is a PROBLEM! ALL It is up to ALL of us referees to consistently and fairly enforce the Laws of the Game pertaining to the Technical Area!