Question Number: 29708

League Specific 9/17/2015

RE: Rec/select Under 13

Brad Heers of Plymouth, Michigan United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 29705

Regarding the referees' responses, I would like to add that many state and local associations are expanding spectator guidelines and referee empowerment in an effort to curb spectator problems.

In my state association and league, the referee is now empowered to issue cards from the time they arrive at the game venue parking until they drive away. They also can eject individual spectators from games. Further, the state association has defined 'referee abuse' which can result in four game suspensions for spectators. If I had a parent confront me in the manner described, an accurate response to them would be quite close to what was stated in the original question. The referee could not suspend, but the post game report could result in a suspension.

Sadly, it took a referee being killed on the field for these rules to be enacted.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Brad,
the quiet dignity of some, humble us when we witness their composure in the face of pain or adversity. There is a phrase which sounds kind of mean but often is within our character make up, 'WE do not to suffer fools lightly!' The enjoyment and safety of others outweighs the individuals right to stand for the malcontent of society, exercising their lungs in a useless or uncreative manner serving only to inflame or create chaos at the expense of a personal opinion .

In retrospect, we often create issues by enduring their churlish behaviour or prattle in as much we intervene and have them removed or at least spoken to by some authoritarian figure other than the pitch referee. Few enjoy confrontation and yet mob morality will start to pick up on dissent and then choose to follow it along rather then intervene to quash it! A reasonable individual has the ability to agree to disagree, to vent off some emotion or irritation because of their need to want an outcome or result in their favour but still able to move forward and enjoy a match rather than have these incidents foster anger and resentment!

One does not want to ruin a match, people travel, time commitments, expectations all factor into enduring ...some... unpleasantness for the sake of completing a match! However,the unwillingness of the referee to engage those who cannot seem to understand simple concepts of integrity, compassion or forgiveness defeat the banner of the fair play standards under the illusion of just 15 more minutes and we can all go home. Lots of egocentric woebegots, 'No one tells me what I can or can not do or say!' litter the touchlines! Their obscene presence tainting every thing and everyone around them, oblivious of the self centered misery they create. Public shaming, no abuse league policies, training and evaluation of the officials and most of all EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION for all who participate, be they players, parents, coaches, spectators, parents and league officials. We are not one side of a two headed coin but the same side of a mirror always looking back into the eyes of another. A good referee keeps their composure and offers up good clear explanations of actions taken and why . These match reports or special incident reports provide necessary information for those REPONSIBLE for handing down the discipline to make informed and credible decisions.

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brad
Thank you for your contribution. Perhaps the words got lost in communication that the referee would report the after match *abuse* which may result in a two game suspension. As we said it is not the referees decision to make yet as you say local and state associations are endeavouring to curb spectator problems through sanctions when presented with a referee report.