Question Number: 15137

Other 4/9/2007

RE: Rec Under 15

Todd of Rockford, IL USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15123

This isn't actually a question - but a statement/suggestion in regards to the original question. I coach and Referee, and have for many years, so I have seen and heard a lot. I coach in a rec league and decided for the fisrt time to print out the Laws of the Game and make copies to distribute them to my players and parents for them to read. Whether any of them read them or not, or understand what they're reading, I don't know. I didn't require them to read them, but strongly suggested they do so and come to me with any questions they may have in interpreting or understanding any of the Laws. If I was coaching a competitve league, I would probably hold a special Coach-Parent meeting to go through the Laws of the Game with them. If I get through to just one parent (who actually understands the Laws and their interpretations), then that is one less parent who is 'wrongly' complaining on the side lines and i would fell that I did my job and made a positive impact on the game. Just a suggestion.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The key in any GOOD educational setting is to offer CORRECT useful and understandable communication. Getting through to people is more often a committment by those involved to take the neccessary TIME as opposed to posessing the needed intelligence to understand what is being said or shown!

I fully support the efforts of a preseason, in season and post season educational sit downs with coaches, referees, parents and players in an INTERACTIVE setting where Q&A periods to exchange concerns, dispell myths, offer guidelines, codes of conduct, conflict resolution, monitoring and recording of information methods.

Doing anything or something for the sake of appeasing your concept of well I at least tried is simply not a validation of such nobility.
One can watch hundreds of presentations, read lots of literature /subject matter on the game of soccer be it an official capacity as a referee or as a coach in tactical theoretical or practical application. I have found only an INTERACTIVE two way communication has any kind of a lasting effect to stimulate a desire to know and a desire to share ACCURATE information.

Cheer

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I think it a great idea to hand out the LOTG to parents,coaches, and players. You should also hand out our web site and USSF's official Q&A site at www.drix.net/jim. I have been asked by coaches to speak to their teams with parents to clear up any questions they may have. Much more is accomplished there than by handouts. Kudos to you for at least attempting to educate.