Question Number: 20239

Character, Attitude and Control 10/13/2008

RE: Competitive Adult

Wes of Woodstock, GA USA asks...

I am the center referee on a Division II Adult game. The player in question, not once, but twice tells a player from another team that he can't wait for such and such a player to come back through his position again.

After the game, a player and referee from the other team tells me that threatening another player is a violent behavior and a sending off offense.

In researching this on this website, I felt like my actions were justified by talking to the player and not carding him or sending him off. It was an adult game after all, and the player in question never acted on his 'threat'. No exact mention of a violent act itself was every spoken.

Your opinion please? And when does 'talk' move from blowing off steam to violent and/or un-sportsman like behavior?

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

It depends... if both players were satisfied with your actions and that sort of behavior did not spread on the field, and on one acted on the threat, and no one got hurt... then it sounds like you managed the situation excellently.

If in the same situation the player did hurt the opponent, then you would be to blame for failing to act when a player blatently announced his intent to harm another.

You have to make these sorts of choices, and in the end it all comes out in the wash... how well you do/how correct you are is often not up to you but the players.

Sounds like you did right by this game, but it won't work that way every time.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If you hear a player threaten an opponent, you better deal with it and quickly. You don't necessesarily have to caution or send off the player but he damn well understand you are watching him and will deal with any bad behavior on his part

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

A referee can recognize that emotions and passion will create irritation and confrontation if perceived injustice goes unchecked. Disappointment and frustration will cause outbursts that are not in keeping with actual conduct a person is really going to do. The 'I will kill him' are rages of anger more than a threat of death and while not nice , unless acted on or ranted at length they can be dealt with by a proactive referee.

The key about outbursts is WHY are they occurring? Are you missing something? Can you check it out and solve the situation?

To calm a steamed individual needs you to intervene ASAP , be clear, confident with, 'This stops now! I am sorry if I missed something but this conduct stops now! I warn you such actions are NOT going to be tolerated! Then pay attention, anticipate and communicate. Use the captain to help covey calm assuming it is not the captain. ;o) You could try a come on you are better then this team needs you etc... etc... but this method of personalizing intervention requires it to be part of your character as referee

I have overtly SUGGESTED to coaches the player(s) in question could use a break in unlimited substitutions. In USA high school they have even adapted this as a policy where if a caution shows a yellow card it is a sit out for a rest period, simply to do just that.

The need to caution show yellow is dependant on the conduct as persisting and public. The personal stuff is hard to separate since it is not directed at you. But USB is a great catch all and you will know in your gut when that bubble is burst.

If there is malice afore thought and aggressive posturing or behavior you can caution if the player is simply not responding to your efforts. Where it continues into a malicious or excessive foul or misconduct territory then the player is asking to be sent off as he is essentially out of control.

In conjunction with your ARs, stay focused, anticipate, shoulder check, tune in to the background chatter, use the captain to help keep track and supervise, work hard to get into good positions and angles of view All these helps reconnect and regain the trust as they can see your effort and this in turns brings forth their own. That and sometimes a player is just a putz and you cannot save him from himself.
Cheers