FCArmstrong

Here is a thought I had before US Soccer released their updated policy for abuse of officials that starts this month. I began this post over a year ago. I realize after 15 years of officiating many of these situations, I can avoid by using humor and soft skills. However whenever the actions or words are loud enough or obvious enough that they are public and audible by fans and the other team, I need to know where the line should be drawn.

https://footballrules.com/offences-sanctions/arguing/

From the simpilfied laws of the game by IFAB.

Warning
The following offences should usually result in a warning; repeated or blatant
offences should result in a caution or sending-off:
• entering the field of play in a respectful/non-confrontational manner
• failing to cooperate with a match official e.g. ignoring an instruction/request
from an assistant referee or the fourth official
• minor/low-level disagreement (by word or action) with a decision
• occasionally leaving the confines of the technical area without committing
another offence
Caution
Caution offences include (but are not limited to):
• clearly/persistently not respecting the confines of their team’s technical area
• delaying the restart of play by their team
• deliberately entering the technical area of the opposing team
(non-confrontational)
• dissent by word or action including:

• throwing/kicking drinks bottles or other objects
• action(s) which show(s) a clear lack of respect for the match official(s)
  e.g. sarcastic clapping
  • entering the referee review area (RRA)
  • excessively/persistently gesturing for a red or yellow card
  • excessively showing the ‘TV signal’ for a VAR ‘review’
  • acting in a provocative or inflammatory manner
  • persistent unacceptable behaviour (including repeated warning offences)
  • showing a lack of respect for the game
  Sending-off
  Sending-off offences include (but are not limited to):
  • delaying the restart of play by the opposing team e.g. holding onto the ball,
  kicking the ball away, obstructing the movement of a player
  • deliberately leaving the technical area to:
• show dissent towards, or remonstrate with, a match official
• act in a provocative or inflammatory manner
  • entering the opposing technical area in an aggressive or confrontational manner
  • deliberately throwing/kicking an object onto the field of play
  • entering the field of play to:
• confront a match official (including at half-time and full-time)
• interfere with play, an opposing player or a match official
  • entering the video operation room (VOR)
  • physical or aggressive behaviour (including spitting or biting) towards an
  opposing player, substitute, team official, match official, spectator or any
  other person (e.g. ball boy/girl, security or competition official etc.)
  • receiving a second caution in the same match
  • using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or action(s)
  • using unauthorised electronic or communication equipment and/or
  behaving in an inappropriate manner as a result of using electronic or
  communication equipment
  • violent conduct
  

In the United States the 2023 point of emphasis was an extension of the IFAB updates to the laws of the game are based on adaptations that IFAB has made and US Soccer adopted to manage the behavior of coaches, bench personnel and team managers. If you were to read the IFAB rulebook, you would read all about the spirit of the game. Somewhere in the United States the landscape of football has been showing issues that have been less than civil. In the past high school season 4% of my games had coaches dismissed and shown a red card due to behaviour issues. In the player world 2.5% of my games had red cards issued for violent conduct. Basically the spirit of the game is sometimes missing. IFAB is aware of this and has now adopted cards for coaches and team personnel. The whole soccer world is now using the warning, caution, dismissal approach to improve behaviour on the sidelines.

Validation or just a sign of what’s going on in the world of soccer? I’m not sure exactly where the problem starts, but as a licensed US Soccer Referee for the past 15 years, US Futsal Referee for 13 of those same years and an occaisional US Soccer and HS Soccer Coach over that same time, I realize all behaviour issues should be managed with coaching leadership.

As a US Soccer Coach I realize that managing game officials or league administrators are NOT one of the 6 Tasks of a US Soccer Coach. The most important of all the 6 tasks of a US Soccer Coach is LEADERSHIP. Leading by example and teaching using learning approaches that reinforce experiential learning are key to leading both the player and the team. A US Soccer Coach should lead their players in understanding the laws of the game, teaching sportsmanship and respect for opponents, game officials and the spirit of the game.

As a United Soccer Coaches member I have taken the 7 Cornerstone Pledge and chose to coach by the pledge whenever leading a team from U8 to high school.

Why?

To develop the competencies, U.S. Soccer has defined Six Tasks of a
U.S. Soccer Coach:

• Coaching Games (CG) Create an environment that supports and
  guides players toward giving their best contribution to the game in
  order to further develop and score more goals than the opponent.
• Coaching Training Sessions (CTS) Facilitate an environment which
  supports and guides players on the field in order to develop them to
  their full potential as well as prepare players/the team for the game.
• Leading the Team (LT) Create an environment of inclusion and
  engage players based on agreed upon team behaviors and goals.
• Leading the Player (LP) Give players individual, unconditional
  attention and mentor them to fulfill their potential.
• Managing the Performance Environment (MPE) Influence
  off-the-field circumstances and persons in order to create the best
  possible conditions for the development and performance of the
  players.
• Leadership (L) Demonstrate coaching actions which are guided by
  a player-centered philosophy in order to accomplish defined team
  and player goals.

I know as referees we were all raised to tolerate different levels of dissent, however this next generation may not stick around if we continue to let the dissent continue.