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Pacific SportsBlogOkinawa-based sports reporter Dave Ornauer on military-related sports in the Far East. |
A word about referees and the hard lot they have
Posted April 29th, 2008 by Dave OrnauerThere's been plenty of discourse regarding officiating in this space, particularly the outcome of the last Yokota-Zama boys soccer match. Players, coaches and yes, referees have stated their cases, in some cases with strong passion and feel for what went on on the field and what referees go through as a matter of routine.
Redcard states correctly, I have taken my turn in that blazing cauldron. Two times, in rather clutch situations:
-- 1990 Far East Girls Volleyball Tournament at Camp Zama. Fifth- and sixth-place match. The tournament organizers arranged for enough officials to cover tower, floor and all four lines; in this case, one of the linesmen did not show. The Pacific's USA Volleyball metro commissioner handed me a flag and, while I sat wide-eyed, gave me a brief tutorial on what to look for. "OMG, I might make a call that turns the whole tide of the match!" I'm saying to myself. Scared? You bet. But I did what any good official should do, even called a service foot fault.
-- 2001 spring soccer season, Nile C. Kinnick at Christian Academy In Japan, Kanto Plain league title on the line. Only one referee was available for the contest at Niiza Park in western Tokyo. A member of the CAJ community and I volunteered to run assistant referee (linesmen). We were briefed accordingly by the head referee on what to look for and how to keep up with play. Guess who made the offside call that negated the only goal of the match? And boy, did I hear it from the team denied the goal.
In such situations you learn -- very, very quickly -- that it's much easier to sit on the sideline and criticize a referee, an umpire, whomever dons the striped or coloured jerseys with whistle between lips, than to actually be one. You are MUCH closer to the action, you have to make snap judgments on the fly. Yes, they are not always right, but face it, that's part of the human element. And yes, especially in this age of entitlement, referees from sea to shining sea and even out here are being subjected to sickening amounts of abuse that my mother and father always taught me was wrong, wrong, wrong and wrong, in no particular order.
That said, I'm also the first to point out when I perceive that a call or series of calls is incorrect. But whenever I do point those out, I am quick to remind myself that a referee's lot is not a happy one ... and yes, I've been there, done that.
Please, the next time you consider posting about something you saw in a game that involved a questionable call ... take a deep breath and remember the above prose.
1991
That is when I started refereeing soccer. It is a passion, now it's story time...I was in Georgia, the year was 1994. This one parent was givin' it to the referee. Every time he made a call, the mom had something to say. On and on she went. Call after call, complaint after complaint. She was about 5 rows up in the bleachers on the side of the field. As halftime was coming to a close and the teams were taking the field, the ref went up and sat next to her. Crazy is what I was thinking and I don't recommend this to ANY referee, regardless of level (this was a U-12 game), The referee said loudly, "Lets play." The mom asked, what are you doing? The ref stated, "from what you have been saying you MUST have a better view than what I have on the field." She said, "Point taken, now please go out there, you're embarrasing me." Ref went out, started the game and everything was good to go. She didn't say another word to the referee. For the parents, remember, the refs go to school to learn the laws. They are not easy. Avg score on tests at the end of week long clinic range between 78-85%. Then once you become a referee on the field, in an instant you have to see the play, decide and react to each situation. We don't use replay. The guys in Okinawa set the standard. Meetings, training sessions, clinics, newsletters....and the list goes on. Carlos Santos, my first instructor/mentor said it best. "The first time a player goes on the pitch to participate in a game, he/she is expected to make mistakes. The first time a referee steps on to the pitch, he/she is expected to be perfect." One of my assesors told me, "Being a referee is hard work, you strive for perfection, knowing you will never achieve it, but you never stop trying." Talk about deep! Now that is deep! Think about it. I must not leave without saying my new slogan...BE THE REF, DON'T BEAT THE REF!!!
Oh yeah, and Dave, the offer still stands. I know they do clinics down there about once a quarter. I know some people who know some people and I am sure, they will let you in!!!
Be thankful
All you soccer people be thankful you don't have to endure AL.
Officiating can be a very ungrateful job but we love it!
Thank you for this article, Dave. Officials appreciate this. As you have been able to experience first-hand, officiating can be a very ungrateful job. But, officials prefer to think that it is a very rewarding job and we love it.
Officials are subjected to pretty “colorful” criticism at times but, because they thoroughly understand the passion that motivates players, coaches and parents, they normally take criticism with admirable patience. This, however, does not mean that insulting referees is “part of the game” which seems to be the popular belief. Every incident involving insults, profane language and questioning the honesty and integrity of officials must be addressed, investigated and sanctions given when warranted or else we would just be perpetuating a known problem.
The same applies to referees who themselves cross the line in their handling of arguments.
Many arguments arise from coaches, players and parents not understanding the rules, referencing outdated rules and even sometimes, yes, not knowing the rules at all.
However, it is also true that arguments also result from referees failing to make calls or making wrong calls for a variety of reason ranging from poor positioning during the game to, I hate to admit it, unfamiliarity with a specific rule.
Soccer Referees, for example, are trained and certified under the international (FIFA) rules. Those of us who work Japanese league games using FIFA rules, find it difficult to adjust to US State High School rules, which are used for DODEA league games. Then, add the “Local” rules by the base’s MWR and it is easy to understand how Referees may end-up making bad calls out of confusion. Regardless of how much classroom instruction an official gets, it is always hard to do one game under State High School rules after having done a hundred games using FIFA rules.
That said, regardless of what rules happen to be in effect, a foul is foul, violent conduct, insults and profane language are all punishable offenses.
Officials have to continuously strive to be the best they can be by training on the rules, all the rules. They have to stay physically fit so that they can be at the right position not just so that they can have a clear view of the action but also so that fatigue does not impair their ability to make a clear decision.
The risk of arguments can be easily be reduced through meaningful discussions. These do not necessarily have to be hour long seminars on the rules. If officials just take the time to introduce themselves to both coaches and iron out a few key points just before starting a game, it is very likely that the game will go smoothly.
More importantly, arguments can be prevented if players, coaches, parents and referees trust that everyone is in it for the good of the game. Players playing, coaches guiding, parents supporting their teams and referees officiating the game to the best of their ability.
Andre’ Colomas
Soccer Referee
Japan-American Sports Officials Association (JASOA), Yokosuka
http://www.geocities.com/jasoa.soccer
Well stated!!!
Well put Andre'!!!