Question Number: 22527

Character, Attitude and Control 11/16/2009

RE: Boys' Varsity High School

Jack Kapp of Philadelphia, PA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 22496

This is a perfect example of why the flag and the use of A/Rs instead of officials with whistles doesn't make sense as we talked about when you (Larry Kapp) 1st told me about this situation. How do you think your team of officials was perceived by the players, coaches and fans during this? And to boot, the clock is running the whole time while you guys sort this out. That whole FIFA/USSF system is silly and antiquated. It's just like the ridiculous offside rule that soccer people are so intransigent about. Why don't they open up their eyes and realize that the game needs changes? Someday, we can only hope that 'American Rules Soccer' invented by yours truly will be the accepted form of the game, and then it will become 'America's game' in addition to the rest of the world.

Look at the history of other sports and see how they have evolved over the years to become better and more acceptable to the viewer, while soccer comtinues to stew in its own stubborness.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jack
I had a lengthy answer written and I then thought about a quote "Change your thoughts and you change your world"
I believe that if is our collective attitude to the game changed then we would not need to look for the solutions in the Laws of the game..

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The Laws of the Game change in both their wording and interpretations over time - and usually for the better (there have been missteps, of course). Changing the rules of play doesn't make the referees any better or any worse, or make their jobs easier - but it does usually make them harder. Training and experience are the only real solutions to the problem in the question you referenced.

Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, depending on how you look at it, we cannot just unwrap new referees off the shelf, wind them up and expect them to do a perfect job every time. That is an unreasonable expectation.

The Laws of the Game and even the NFHS rules are relatively simple and easy to follow. The premise is the referee is in control and makes the fact decisions. Her job is to see to the safety of the players, the flow and management of the game to make it exciting and fun (if possible - the teams do have to cooperate), and to apply the Laws/rules in the manner intended to provide a fair game for both sides. It's a tall order and one we fulfill more often than not.

As for stewing in its own stubborness (whatever that means), football/soccer is the most watched game in the world, with more fans and more teams than any other sport or sports combined. We must be doing something right.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The history of soccer in the United States is full of experimentation to draw more spectators by making more like other American sports. They failed to achieve that goal. The recent focus has been on developing players and referees who can compete with the highest levels in the world's game, and on making the game fun to play at the lowest levels. Those are goals that I believe can be achieved.