By Jay Martin
It seems to be getting worse. After observing the relationship between coaches and officials for more than 30 years, it is getting worse. It is getting worse at all levels.
The relationship between players and officials and coaches and officials in all sports is difficult at best. Coaches and players just don't agree with all (any) calls. Any call made by an official usually brings the wrath of 50 percent of the fans and participants. And on this level we can agree that will never change. The participants will never agree on the calls. If the disagreements between players/coaches and officials stopped there, it could be acceptable.
But the relationship between the two parties has become antagonistic and even counterproductive. There is a tension between coaches and officials that is apparent even before the game begins. Does the culture of each group breed this hostillity? Do the coaches (most of who are former players) have a deep-seated distrust of officials? Are young officials "brainwashed" by their more worldly elders about the evils of the coaching fraternity?
As the author has often done in the past, an informal e-mail survey was sent to 51 coaches. It was very unscientific and there was a big mistake we will discuss later. The group included men's and women's college coaches from all divisions and NAIA and high school coaches. The three questions were open-ended and were:
- How has the officiating been generally this season?
- How do you best describe the relationship between you and the officials? Before, during and after a game.
- Have you seen any changes in this relationship in your years as a player and/or coach? Please let me know how many years you have been involved with soccer.
As I said, very unscientific and open-ended. The fact that it was open-ended drew many opnions...some very lengthy. The answers may not be surprising, but are definitely cause for some concern, In a general summary:
- The technical side of officiating has been good overall
- The relationship between the two parties was described repeatedly as...TENSE!
- The relationship has become more contentious over the past few years
The big mistake? I didn't ask officials! But I am a coach and it did not occur to me to include the multicolored horde! But, you will soon see that we took care of that oversight.
This relationship is a problem. Assuming that all of us associated with soccer want the game to improve and "catch on" in America, then working together for the common good is imperative. So how do we do that?
Paul McGinlay, men's soccer coach at Trinity (Texas) University came up with a document entitled "The Coach's Starting XI: A Perspective of What Referees Should Understand About Coaches." Paul shared this document with NISOA organizations in the Southwest. He passed it on to me, and I shared it with NISOA groups in the Midwest. In both cases the response from the NISOA groups was very positive.
Here is the Starting XI for the coach:
- Arrive at the game site early and physically prepare for your responsibility.
- Show obvious signs to both teams that the officiating crew is acting together as a team.
- Work hard to stay as close to the play as possible--it is hard to argue a cal if the official is in position!
- Help keep the game flowing.
- Understand the difference between the "letter" of the law and the "spirit" of the law, and always officiate with the spirit of the law in mind.
- On the occasion of a potentially cautionable offense, speak in a non-threatening tone first and caution as a last resort.
- Respect everyone involved and do your part to keep all participants in the game.
- Give clear and prompt signals. In the event that a mistake is made it is okay to to reverse the decision. Players and coaches know that you are human.
- Keep the game safe and fair for both teams.
- Show obvious signs that you are enjoying the game and your role in the game.
- Understand that we should all do our part to leave the game a little better than when we found it.
All good stuff and accepted with enthusiasm from the NISOA groups. It is interesting to note that the focus is on the "professionalism," not on the "calls."
A NISOA group in Ohio asked if they could submit a "Referee's Starting XI: A Referee's Perspective of What Coaches Should Understand About Referees." Of course they could. Dr. Jim Ruether, a long-time official in Ohio and a NISOA National Assesor and Clinician, undertook the charge. He worked with several NISOA groups and came up with the Starting XI for officials in their expectations of coaches:
- Officials believe the match should be decided by the teams playing soccer in a fair, safe and exciting manner, with as little need for official intervention as possible.
- The officials job is to be firm, but fair, and keep "cheating" by the teams equal, which is very difficult.
- Officials do not care who wins the game. There is no reason to favor one side over another.
- Officials will allow the game to flow giving advantage only when player safety and game control are not compromised.
- Officials understand that fouls are not always equal. Some teams foul persistently to offset superior opponent skills or lack of discipline.
- Officials understand that players (and coaches) may dissent as much as when a call is correct as when it is incorrect and will be tolerant if the game continues in a positive manner.
- Officials do not give cards to players; players earn cards for reckless or careless play that has no other purpose than to disrupt or to injure an opponent.
- Officials have a very difficult decision in when to give the first card. Not all fouls against your team merit cards; not all of your team's fouls are immune from cards.
- Officials understand that coaches have legitimate arguments. But when picking battles, coaches should not dissent about trifiling stuff. Who cares about a throw-in at midfield when the score is 4-0?
- Officials have bad days. Objective and respectful feedback, or even silence, is a better way to help the official refocus and get better.
- Officials appreciate it if when they do a good job and give an effort, coaches remember their name and understand that the "third team" on the field also had a good game.
So there it is. Both "sides" have spoken. Will this help? It is very important that officials and coaches/players not only coexist, but work together to improve the game and make it enjoyable for all players, coaches, fans, and yes, even officials.
Let's work together. We should understand that we all have a responsibility to leave the game a little better than when we found it.
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